Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-03-30
FIGHTING ICE FIOES.
The Thrilling Experiences OF Captain Panl
Boyton In Lake Michigan.

The Thrilling Experiences OF captain fahi
Boyton In Lake Michigan.
CHICAGO, March 29.-Paul Boyton, the
noted swimmer, bad an experience in Lake
Michigan that he thinks he will not forget
for some time. The Captain had grown
heavy during the winter and to reduce his
flesh has recently been taking little pulls
out into the lake in his rubber suit. Tues
day morning at o'clock he left Fullerton
avenue for swim to South Chicago and
return, and met with the most thrilling
adventure of his life, in which he battled
for hours with a great ice foe, was carried
many miles out into the lake, stripped of
his navigating instruments and lost for
fifteen hours in the cold, bleak waste of
drifting ice and hanging clouds and strag
Cling ducks. From 8 o'clock in the morn
ing until midnight he was without food or
drink and the chill Of the icy waters had
driven him to the desperate resort of hard
work all that time TO keep up vigorous
circulation 30 that he would not chill and
perish in the lake.
"Wnen entered the water at o'clock,
the Captain said there was a fresh west
wind. / swan about two miles, intending
TO clear the crib for a trip 10 South Chi
cago. Just about the limit of my run east
| began to meet ice. | passed through IL
for time and then ran across some foes
onto which climbed. Meanwhile heavy
sky had shut out all view Of the sun, and
the wind had got the ice together. /
struggled quite a while in what thought
was the western border of the foe, and
then ran into what thought was pocket.
l pulled through it and came again TO
struggling foes.
WITHOUT COMPASS OR GUIDE.
must have fought there until 10 o'clock
before / missed my compass. When /
looked to get my bearings noticed the
city had faded from view. / found the
band which bound the compass TO my body
had been severed by piece of ice. The
water was cold and / had been in it so
long | began to get drowsy. Chills ran
through my veins inquick succession aud
saw must either pull out for somewhere
or perish. / looked about and saw the
field of ice was at my back. l swan feet
foremost, and then concluded had only
to pull from the ice TO reach Chicago. SO
started, and vigorously, too. For five
hours worked as / never had before.
The water was heavy and lifeless. / had
to fight for every inch l made. Chicago
was still nowhere to be seen, and had no
notion of the time of day. Then / changed
my course about half way round, and pull
ed hard a while. The ice gathered
absut me again, and when night came /
was fighting again for my life. Sometimes
/ could dodge the drift, at others climbed
upon the cakes and crossed them.
THE MOONS KIND OFFICES.
When the moon rose got fash or view
of it and then saw my mistake. / had
crossed the field in the morning when /
entered what thought was pocket, and
all the long pull of the day with the ice at
my feet had driven me toward Michigan.
| The turn had taken had sent me South.
set about and pushed from the moon.
At 10 o'clock saw faint light in the sky
and an hour later perceived 1t was from the
furnaces at South Chicago. Then / got
my bearings and sighted the lights at the
cribs. pulled up there at midnight and
blew my bugle. must have called half
dozen times before an answer came; then
Captain Mckay answered, and / shouted
Crib, ahoyr "Aye! who's there?' the
Captain shouted. al must stay here to-
night"
"Pull round to the port"
when got there they dropped bit Of
rope, into which fixed my foot and then
they drew me up. They gave me refresh
ments, put me 70 bed and telephonsd my
wife that was safe"
Captain Mckay says: "When left the
ice at night it was fully fifteen miles from
shore and ] think he is about right, be-
cause this swim in would take about the
time used. / have swum greater distances,
but that was the first time ever was lost,
and the battle with the ice and cold was a
more thrilling episode than ! care TO expe-
| risnce again"