Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-11-14
SWIMMERS OF FAME.
Feats of the Poet Byron, Benjamin Frank
lin and Other Noted Men.

Feats of the Poet Byron, Benjamin Frank
lin and Other Noted Men.
The recent feat of Steve Brodie, the
newsboy, who a few years ago leaped
from. Brooklyn bridge, in swimming
from Albany to New York in little
over six days, thus beating Captain
Paul Boyton's record, is without paral-
lei in the history of swimming.
Even Leander, who nightly swan
across the Hellespont, distance of
four miles, to visit his lady-love, would
probably have demurred at a six-days'
trip. The unfortunate lover was finally
drowned while making his nightly voy-
age, but this has not deferred several
who wished to initiate his example.
Lord Byron, who was well developed
in his arms and chest, succeeded in
swimming the Hellespont in an hour
and twenty minutes, and it is much to
be doubted if a lover ever made better
time. The poet was a great swimmer
and proud of his accomplishment, yet
he nearly lost his life at one of the
English watering PLACES, being rescued
in an exhausted condition by the look
ers-on.
The English channel has long been a
favorite resort for swimming feats.
Captain Boyton swan across from
France to a little town in Kent in less
than a day, while Captain Webb, thir-
teen years ago, swan from Dover to
Calais, distance of thirty miles, in
twenty-five hours and forty minutes,
One of England's Admirals, who
rose to his position from that OF a cabin
boy, got his first commission for his
prOwess as q swimmer. During the
naval war between England and Hol-
Land two centuries ago the Admiral of
the English feet found that he was lost
unless he could communicate with
number of his vessels that were hidden
from his sight beyond projecting point
of land. The only way to send an order
to these vessels was by swimming for
it would have been impossible for any
boat to make the passage. A cabin
boy, a strong, athletic young fellow,
who had run away . sea, undertook to
carry the order Holding it in his
mouth he swan through the smoke of
the battle to the reserve vessels,
brought them upin time, and saved the
day.
The annals of our navy record many
similar gallant deeds of sailors who
have risked their lives in the water,
while every year the Government
awards medals to people who have
saved others from drowning by their
ability to swim. Indeed, one of the
greatest of Americans, Benjamin Frank
lin, was famous swimmer, and wrote
two essays on the subject which are In
teresting reading. Few men have pos
sessed such command over themselves
in the water as he, for he was not only
able to fly kite while floating, but on
one occasion foated asleep on the water
for an hour. While in England, work
ing at his trade of printer, his SWIM
ming feats caused him to be 80 much
serious thoughts of opening a swim
ming school.
The exploit of Brodie will doubtless
lead many to undertake risks of long
distance swimming, but it will do far
more good if it awakens general inter-
est in an accomplishment which is not
only likely to prove of great use to it's
possessors, but which can honestly be
classed as an innocent and healthy
amusement Globe.