The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-30
CAPTAIN BOYTON's MARROW ESCAPE.
The Adventurous Swimmer Lost in an Ice
FlOe off Chicago for Fifteen Hours.

CHICAGO, March 29.-Captain Paul Boyton.
the noted swimmer, had an experience in Lake
Michigan tuesday that he thinks he will not for
get for some time The Captain has grown
heavy during the winter. and TO reduce his flesh,
has recently been taking little pulls out into the
lake in his rubber suit Tuesday 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 great ice foe, was carried
many miles out into the lake, atrpped of his nav
igating instruments, and lost for fifteen hours
in the cold bleak waste of drifting ice, hanging
clouds and struggling ducks and guls. From
o'clock in the morning until midnight the Cap
tain 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. so that he would not chill
and perish in the lake. at midnight when he
was rescued at the crib his vitality was almost
gone. Stimulants were applied and the daring
navigator put to bed. A telephone message was
sent to the police that the CAPTAIN was saved
and by them taken to his little family-a wife
and son-who were distracted by his long abb
sence and supposed he had perished. Captain
Boyton was in bed when reporter called at his
home last evening. He was exhausted, the re-
action from his desperate excitement of the Cay
before having made him weak and sick.
when l entered the waters at o'clock" the
Captain said, ''there was fre sh west wind. I
SWAN about two miles, intending to clear the
crib for trip to South Chicago just about the
limit of my east, began to meet ice. I
pushed through it for a time, and then ran
across some foes, on to which climbed. Mean
while heavy sky had shut out all view of the
sun, and the wind had got the ice together.
struggled quite while in what thought was
the western border of the field, and then
into what l thought was pocket 1 pulled
through it. and came again to struggling foes 1
must have fought them until 10 o'clock before
missed my compass. When / looked to get
bearings. having noticed that the city had faded
from view, / found the band which bound the
compass to my body had either been severed by
a piece of ice had become unbuckled.
It was gone. The sun was hidden, and
there nothing by which could get my bear
ings. The water was cold, and had been in it
long l began to get drowsy. Chills
through my veins in quick succession. and saw
/ must either pull out for somewhere perish.
looked about and saw the field of ice at
my feet-I swim feet foremost-and then con-
cluded had only to pull from the ice to reach
Chicago. So l started, and vigorously. too.
For five hours worked as | never did before.
The water was heavy and lifeless. had to
fight for every inch made Chicago was still
nowhere to be seen, and had notion of the
time of day. Then / changed my
course about half way round and pulled hard
for awhile. The ice gathered about again,
and when night came was fighting again for
my life Sometimes 1 could dodge the drift at
others / climbed upon the cakes and crossed
them. When the moon rose got flash of
crossed the field in the morning, when
| entered what / thought was a 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 a faint light in the sky and hour later
perceived it was from the furnaces at South
Chicago Then got my bearings and sighted
the lights at the CRIB. l pulled up there at mid
night and blew my buRle. must have called a
half dozen times before an answer came. Then
Captain Mckay answered my signal and
shouted. Crib, ahoyi" AYE, who's therel7
the captain answered.
81 must stay here tonight
'.Puil round TO ths port
When got there they dropped bit of rope,
into whirh fixed my foot and then they drew
Up. They gave me refreshments. put me to
bed, and telephoned 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 because tho swim in would
take absut the time used. I lave swan greater
distances but that was the first time / ever was
lost and the battle with the ice and cold was
more thrilling episode than care 10 experience
again