The Portland daily press., 1891-07-22
POLO AND FUN AFLoAT.
Paul Boyton and His Experts at Sc
hago Lake.
Something About the Famous Swim.
ner and His Feats.

The famous Captain Paul Boyton and his
company of experts gave highly amusing
| and very wonderful exhibition, illustrating
the possibilities Of properly equipped man
| in contending with treacherous elelheht'
| upon the surface of Sebago Lake yesterday
| afternoon.
CAPTAIN BoytOn visited Portland several
years ago and gave similar exhibition on
the ocean dozen miles at sea, the specta-
tors being on board the steamer Empire
State. He has had wonderful career in
the air inflated rubber armor invented nv
himself. One of his first exploits was tn
leave an ocean steamer ia very rough wealth
er long distance at sea, off the Irish coast
and padded himself safely into the harbor
Oh CORK scarcely SO hours afterwards. Sub.
sequentiy he crossed the British channel.
and later has visited all parts OF the world
and naVigated in his suit abont all
tne noted rivers. He made sensation
some years ago as the outcome of
decidedly risky wager. by fixing a dunn
my torpedo to an English man-of-war lying
In New York harbor. 1t being in the days
OF the Fenian excitement it demonstrated
what might have been done had the torpedo
been genuine.
The threatening weather and the other ex-
cursions in progress or on the tapis doubtless
inteifered with the attendance yesterday.
There were not over 1000 people present and
goodly percentage of them had come from
the immediate vicinity. The water was in
excellent condition for the display, the sur
face of the lake being just stirred by gen.
tie and refreshing breeze
The exhibition opened with walking, foot
racing and games upon the surface Of the
water by Messrs. Vail. Nagle and Whistler
OF Captain Boyton's company in their water
shoes. These are simply pair of pontoons
attached to the feet about four feet in
length and six inches in width, of air inflated
rubber, stiffened with wood. OF course it
requires considerable skill to manage them
successfully. but the performers were equal
to it. They would tumble over just to show
how easy it was to get on their feet again.
The polo game upon the water was very fun
ny and the numerous duckings sustained by
the three contestants tickled the crowd i'm
mensely and the beach and wharf where the
spectators had located rang with merriment.
Then came Captain Paul Boyton swiftly
spinning out into the lake, lying
comfortably on his back and Wig
orously plying double bladed
paddle. After various feats, he spread a
little set of snowy sails and went Swimming
over the surface in fine style. He proceeded
to construct raft, mounted it, waved his
hat. gave blast of bugle, fired off rockets,
exploded bombs, etc. Next he built fire In
a little stove on the raft, caught fish, cut it
up and proceeded to cook 1t, making an
omelette and coffee at the same time just as
he has frequently done on some of his long
river journeys He illustrated the running
of line from the shore to wreck, and let
off water rockets and bomb rockets in the air
that exploded with such tremendous report
as to awake the echoes.
But the browning feature of the exhibition
was the miniature naval engagement be-
tween two stable fac SMILES of war ships.
They banged away at each other in highly
realistic style and one Of them was blown
up with tremendous report and column
OF water shot into the air 300 feet. A
large piece of the wreck went up at least
200 feet.
The afternoons sights closed with single
scull race between Harry Vail and Dick
Maggie. Wallace Ross was to have taken
part but was prevented by illness. They
doubled half mile course in about ten
minutes, pulling handsomely and making
pretty exhibition of the science of the oar.
Hamilton came in ahead.
The PRESS reporter took look into the
baggage house after the exhibition where
Capt. Boyton and his assistants were pack
ing up. Their delicate race boats are made in
three sections and are taken apart for snug
packing. Capt. Boyton and his party are
booked for engagements several months
ahead. They 60 from here to Lowell and
thence to Worcester iu which places they
have appeared before this season to immense
audiences. They then take In all the
prominent cities westward, going as far as