The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-19
PAUL BoYToN AT TYBEE.
Three Thousand People Witness tn
Aquatic Navigator's Feats.

Aquatic Navigator's Feats.
Between 1900 and 2. 500 people went down
to Tybee yesterday afternoon TO witness
the aquatic feats of Capt Paul Boyton, the
world AIMED aquatic navigator.
The sun was hidden by clouds, and the
afternoon was delightful one on the beach.
The exhibition did not begin until 4:30
O'Clock. The inlet fronting the Chathams'
| club house was selected, and better place
could not have been chosen. An immense
crowd lined the beach, and the sand knobs
were covered with people. The Chathams
club house was filed and the wharves were
| black with them.
Boats were anchored out in the inlet in
| full view # the navigator.
Capt. BOyton carried out his programme
as advertised. His private car stood upon
the railway track near the beach and the
| navigator and his assistants changed their
| dress in it. The first exhibitions were given
by Wallace Ross, the famous oarsman, and
McPaul, the water spider. Ross showed
that he was at home in his scull, and he
received applause when he sped away into
the water, darling here and there in the
sleek little scull. He was graceful and easy,
and won the admiration OF the yachters at
once.
McPaul performed the feat of walking ON
the water. His shoes were not so large as
those worn by the spider" Oldrieve, who
gave an exhibition here Merchants week.
The shoes McPaul wore are small and re-
manned on top of the water all the time
After the two aquatic sportsmen had fin
lshed their programme, Capt. Boyton be-
gan his performance He was accompanied
from the car to the water by J. b. Delcher,
who had charge of the performance. Capt
Eoyton's appearance at the waters edge,
clad in his Ife-saving dress, which is made
OF vulcaniZed rubber in two parts, consist
ing OF pantaloons and tunic, Joined at the
waist by steel band, leaving only his face
bare, was the signal for loud cheering. He
walked out into the water and blew into the
tubes, Initiating his rubber suit, and was soon
floating In the water. He used double
blade paddle, and moved about in the water
gracefully. He lay on his back, his head
resting upon an air pillow, and seemed to
be perfectly at ease. After propelling him
self bout the inlet few minutes he went
across to one of his boats. full rugged, lying
near him, and took out couple of flags and
attached them to his feet by means of
sockets, showing the manner Of signaling
when he was voyaging. He padded about
with a bonnie blue flag minute,
when he changed it for a large
United States flag. BY moving
his feet he moved it gracefully in the air and
TINS was signal for applause; Then he
went across to ''Baby Nine" little boat
made of copper and modelled after the hull
OF an iron-clad which he always tows be-
hind him s-ocked with necessaries He
TOOK from the boat two pigeons and, turn
ing them loose, showed how they could be
used to carry news in time of war. He
then constructed a raft of planks floating
about on the water, and cooked bis supper
on 1t. Taking pole, with hook and line,
sta ding out in the water, he
dropped the hook to the bottom of
the inlet and drew out a trout.
This act was accompanied by cheering, as
1t showed the sportsman to be fisherman
as well as swimmer. He held the fish in
his mouth until he walked across to the
boat. Sealing it, he chopped it up and fried
1t and ate 1t. Having eaten his meal, he
recllned in his rubber suit, resting his head
upon his inflated pillow, and smoked cigar,
holsted large umbrella over his face, and
took things easy. Then attaching sails to his
feet, he showed how he could dispense with
the use Of oars. Taking Winchester rifle
from his tender he stood up in the water
and, with remarkable rapidity, shot every
cartridge out of the gun, turning around
as he shot. He then gave display of fire.
works, shooting rocket after rocket.
The ease with which Boyton can rescue a
drowning person was shown by the manner
In which he picked up 9-year-old Jos. Ger
tree, who was thrown out of a boat near
the captain. When the boy arose the
urchin on his breast and padded off to the
boat with him. The youngster waved his
hand and sat upon the captains breast very
snugly.
The best feature OF the performance was
the blowing up of one of the full-rigged
steamers which Boyton had in the water
near him. The ship was about fifteen feet
long, and was floating with flags of all
| colors. Before the captain placed his bombs
under the vessel he told the people on the
wharves and in the boats to the westward
OF him that the wind would blow the frag-
ments of the vessel that way. The little
boys and girls who had been whisrling
and shouting speedily made room. Touch
ing off the bomb. the captain padded for
| dear life to get far enough away to keep
from being blown away. The explosion was
complete, and the full-rigged vessel disap-
peared and scarcely fragment of it was
seen within fifty or one hundred feet of
where the ship stood. This performance
concluded the programme. The entire ex-
hibition consumed a little over an hour.
Capt Boyton said that his performances
are very tiresome when he encounters
| spring tides, and are very hard work For
| that reason he chose the early season to give
his exhibition. He will leave for Washing
| ton to-day, where he will be few days
He was here ten years ago, add performed
4 the feat OF walking from a point opposite
| Sylvania down the Savannah river to Sa-
| vannah.
Capt. Boyton and his managers and their
| friends were entertained at the Hotel Tybee
after the performance. An elegant dinner
| was served. Fifteen covers were laid. Wine
was served, and Proprietor Dub made it
exceedingly pleasant for the party. A brass
band was stationed in the pavilion and
played during the rest of the afternoon and
evening. The hotel was thronged with
| visitors.