The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-05
A MIDWINTER SWIM.
Young SickIes Swan Acroes the Se-
tauket Lake for Bet.
IT WAS FOURTEEN DEGREES BELOW
S6O-TOOk Him Four
Hours and q Half Minute.

Ereezing-WOn S6O-TOOk Him Four
Hours and q Hair Minute.
To win q bet of $50 William Sickles of
Setauket, n. Y, swan across Setaukes
lake the other night. The lake is quarter
of o mile wide, and the thermometer was
IA degrees below freezing point at the
time. To reach open water Sickles had to
walk out over the ice that had formed
along the edge of the lake. 1t took him
about five minutes to get across the lake,
and he has shown no i'll effects of his eX-
posure since. He says that he would re-
peat the performance any time for the
same amount of money.
His opponents in the betting were Ellis
H Davis DR.. Bates and James Fallon,
all we'll known Setauket men, all four
having met on Sunday for the purpose of
settling the free silver question, the South
African troubles and the Venezuelan
puzzle, as is the custom in Setauket every
Sunday afternoon. They passed from these
TOPICS to a consideration of the case of a
horse which had, few days before, broken
through the ice, been hauled out and had
died of the effects of the cold bath.
'That horse was a mighty poor animal
or he wouldn't have died of q little cold
water said FalIon.
"What are you talking about?" said
Davis "That water would kill man in
ten minutes
''There's where you're of, Davis" put
in Sickles ''I've been in the water my
self in winter, and 1 tell you man can
stand good deal of cold water, more than
a horse
''That amt common sense, % remarked
Fallon. "a horse has got his thick hide
and hair to keep him warm How about
that, doctor?''
'sWater like that the horse fell into,''
said the doctor, would very quickly ex-
Il i'm
20 strokes in it,
"I'll bet 1 can swim across Setauket
lake, said Sickles.
bet you can't" cried the others in
unison.
"Put up your money, and I'll do it to-
night
Nonsense, exclaimed Dr. Bates.
"Even if you got over you'd be SO injured
by the exposure that your life would be in
danger
I'm bet that can swim across that
lake tonight and not hurt myself If you
fellows have got enough sporting blood to
make it worth while. speak up
"I'Il put 500 on said Davis.
"I'I go another $780," put in Fallon,
and DR.. Bates said that as long as the 9th
ers were going in he might as we'll, though
he warned Sickles against it.
''That's all right, said the young man.
'Ill take tho risk and the bet. My $50
W III DC T6dQG. IL ul66b you db Hall pcSG
at Davis hotel I'll undress there and
swim across to Hudson's mill. One of you
fellows can be there with a blanket and q
pair of shoes for me-
At the hour. named the four men met at
the appointed place. SickIes quickly IN
dressed, wrapped himself in blanket and
started for the shore on run. Davis had
preceded him to get ready boat in case OF
necessity. The thermometer stood at IS
degrees. 1t was light enough for the men
to see the outlines of Hudson IS mill plainly.
'I'u make a bee line for that" said
Sioklcs, land I'll get there pretty fast.
All ready Here goes"
He flung off the blanket and ran out
upon the ice until it gave way under his
feet, then plunged forward head first.
There was a great splash, a snort, loud
putting and then the sound of water part
ing under the rapid strokes of the swim
mer.
How is it out THEREOF called one of
the men on shore.
"Whoop! Wet-puf-puff--g get around
to the other side.''
The three ran around, carrying blanket
and shoes, and waited, calling out from
time to time to make sure that the swim
mer was all right. Each time the answer
came back strong and CHEEKY Presently
voice from out of the waters cried:
Hey I'm up against ice!'' And then:
'Al right. I'm past it. Here's bottom.
Give me a hand, you fellows"
They helped him up on the fringe of ice,
wrapped him in tho blanket put on his
shoes, poured whisky down him and ran
around to the hotel Then they asked
him how he felt.
Elegant" he replied. Haven't felt
as much alive in ten years. At first, when
I struck the water, felt sort OF electric
shock, needles pricking into me and all
that sort of thing, but that was soon over,
and all the rest was easy. What time did
I make?'
-Four minutes and half" replied one
of the others who had kept the time.
The bet wasn't paid Immediately, but
when, after three days, Sickles was still in
fine condition, without even a cold in the
head, the others settled up. By way of
putting fine finishing touch of contrast
to his swim Sickles went out the following
night and walked over the entire course
which he had swum on the previous night.
1t was frozen to safe bearing thickness.
Now York Sun.
Fu0ef1 a naod f1ar,a S,,.-A