The San Francisco call., 1896-09-21
He SWAN THE
GOLDEN CATE
Extraordinary Feat Yes
terday of a Determined
Swimmer.
CROWDS ON THE SHORE
Over Seven Miles in the Tide
in One Hour and Fifteen
Minutes.
A VERY EXCITING FINISH.
The Afternoon in the Bay Closed With
an Exhibition of Lofty
Diving.
VERY EXCITING FINISH.

Man has conquered the sweeping food
of waters at the Golden Gate.
Charles Cavill Yesterday afternoon swan
from shore to shore, accompanied by a
feet of sailboats and many screaming
steamers and tugs. When his feet touched
the sand at Fort Point and he stood up
and bowed to the multitude the occupants
of almost numberless rowboats added
their cheers to the toot of whistles and
the clang of bells. Cavill is said to be the
first and only man who ever accom- plished
the feat of swimming from shore to shore
where the bay and ocean meet.
Many persons left the fort before the
swim had terminated. This was owing to
widespread report that Cavill had de-
cided not to attempt the feat on account
of the swift tide and cold waters. Yachts
loaded with spectators also left the scene
without seeing the swim.
Instead OF star ting from the Fort Point
side. as advertised, and swimming to
Lime Point, Cavill plunged into the swift
waters on the Lime Point side. He did
not wade out to his armpits and calmly
float on the bosom of the deep. He took
header from the rocks with the surf
boiling around him and thenceforward
upon coming to the surface he rode on
top OF the wave, slipping the foam, a bold
horseman OF the deep, as proud as any
Neptune.
Two Whitehall boats accom- panied Ca
viii to lend him assistance in case of
emergency. Their services were entirely
supernumerary. He joked and chatted
with the occupants from shore to shore
The ferry boat Sausalito, crowded to the
hurricane deck with people, and large fleet
OF sail and row boats saw the swim and
the finish. The management of the Sau-
salito was very poor. The crowd that had
been out all afternoon were furnished
with only hardtack and tea in the boats
restaurant, and the walters varied the GUS
tomary situation on Sunday afternoon.
They promenaded the lower deck while
passengers raced around and helped them
selves to knives and forks and spoons.
Cavill was 1 hour and Is minutes in
swimming across the gateway OF waters.
The distance straight across is only about
one and a quarter miles, but before his
feet touched bottom on the opposite shore
Cavill had swan seven miles. The tide
very strong ebb stTeam-did it. He
went into the water at 80, and at 4 As he
walked ashore on the other side. Thou
sands of spectators dotting the heights
applauded the finish.
He was taken from the shore to the ferry
boat Sausallto in one of the w hitehall boats
the boat. On shore large crowd rushed
to shake him by the hand. The boats
blew their whistles and the scene for few
minutes was one of intense excitement.
The swim was under the auspices of the
California Swimming Club.
Directly after Cavill landed on the Sau-
salito an exhibition of lofty diving was
given by Adolph Kahn, champion high
diver OF California, from the hurricane
deck of the Sausalito.
Cavill went at once to the stateroom of
Captain Wilson. He wss chilled through.
he took drink of brandy and was thor
oughly rubbed down by attendants. In
an interview with CALL reporter he said
u did not know whether could do this
thing or not but / thought / could and
determined to try. My father, Frederick
CaVlil, was the champion swimmer of the
world. he swan the English Channel,
very choppy water, seventeen years ago
in eleven hours, distance of twenty-one
miles. l am twenty-five years old. The
water was cold this afternoon, and my
right arm was useless nearly half the way
across. / punched the bag yesterday art
ernoon and I think / exercised too much.
That was what was the matter. But ielt
all right. had no idea Of giving up, |
can float If can't swim.p
What stroke did you user"
The underhand side stroke. did not
swim on my back at all, no sir. / swan
all the time, and on my right side. l
took advantage of the back current from
the other Shore"
What is the secret of long distance
swim ming?"
THE secret of long distance swim
ming, he said, sis the proper stroke.r
CavilI says he gave an exhibition swim
before Queen Victoria when he was 3years