Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-12
SWAN THE GOLDEN GATE.
Charles Cnvilrs Remarkable Per-
fcrmance Against Adverse Tides.


formance Against Adverse Tides.
From the San Francisco Chronicle.
The most important feat in swimming in
the history of the coast was accomplished
yesterday by Charles Cavill. the champion
swimmer of Australia. Cavill managed to
breast tides and currents between Fort
Point and the Marin county shore and
swan across the Golden Gate. 1t was
$3.50 o'clock when Cavill left DEVILS Point
and just one hour and fifteen minutes later
he touched the rocks about 900 yards sea-
ward from Fort Winfield Scott. having
covered distance as the crow flies Of over
one and one-half miles.
The Australians performance drew a rig
crowd. The shore about Fort Point was
lined with people, and the waters in the
gate were crowded with small craft Of
every description. The ferry boat Sausal-
ito had place in the stream with almost
thousand people aboard.
From a swimmers standpoint the day
was ideal one. The was as
smooth as could be desired. its surface only
rippled by the curling edges of the long
swells that came from the ocean. There
was a slight wind blowing. but it was not
strong enough to kick up any disturbance.
Cavill left the Sausaliio when the boat
arrived in midstream off Lime Point. He
had as compa Mons Adolph Kahn, the high
diver of the California Swimming Club
and Professor Killick of the sutro baths
life-saving crew. The tide was at stand
still. and the three men chose a start
ing point for the swimmer 4 bunch of rocks
about one hundred yards north OF Devils
Point and mile north of Lime Point. A
selected crew from the Dolphin Boat Club
| acted as escort In Whitehall boat.
Cavill wore the regulation tights. He
dipped into the water easily and naturally.
| and started for the San Francisco shore
with energy, Killick and Kahn and tn.
Dolphin crew accompanying him in boats.
| right-side stroke. and for the first few
| hundred yards Of the course the way was
| easy and his pace was rapid. About
quarter of a mile from shore the Australian
| encountered what he says was the swift
| est current he ever met.
| The tide had turned since he left the
| ferry, and was now pouring through the
channel with the speed of mill race
| The ripples roared like a miniature sea
| and threatened 20 engulf the boats. Cavill
| struck into it bravely, and attempted to stay
Its progress by turning his face toward
| Sausalito and swimming north. The row.
| ers in the boat attempted similar tactics.
| but the rush Of waters toward the ocean
| carried everything with 1t. Seeing that
it was useless to attempt to withstand the
force Of the tile Cavill drifted with 1t.
He was carried out almost to the Heads
| before he encountered the counter-currents
on the Preside shore. The eddy opposite
FONT Lobos caught him in its grip and
whrled him back again toward inc bay.
From this time on Cavill's work was COM
paratively easy. He swan leisurely and
| easily toward the fort, followed by half a
| hundred boats aud tugs half mile
| from the landing point he picked up an
old felt hat that was floating In the water
| and put it on his head. much to tine simuse-
nent of the spectators.
| AS he neared the shore Cavill increased
his speed. The Dolphin crew and a boat
from the lfe-saving service cleared the
| way. There was long, slow swell smash
ing against the rocks. and or top of one
| nf fhaSo VII 1A6 c;lx
There was a great crowd awaiting his ar
rival, and as the swimmer walked .p the
beach he was given ovation by every
thing and everybody, from the small boy
on the fort parapets to the big whistle of
the steamer Sausalito, Cavill returned to
| the water almost Immediately and swan
| to the Dolphin clubs boat, from which
he was transferred to the Sausalito.
| CavilPs performance adds a new notch
| to the swimming record of the coast. The
time spent in covering the distance Is re-
markaDly short, considering contrary tides
and currents and the fact that he was
| carried almost mile out Of his course
| Throughout he swan on his right side,
using a side stroke.
At the finish he was almost as fresh as
when he started. The water was cold
and when he touched shore after his long
swim his right arm and leg were benumbed
i, | to the point of uselessness.
The swimmers physical dimensions are
Height feet 10 inches; weight, $50 rounds
| chest measurement, 81 inches, with the
phenomenal expansion of 3 81 inches He
, is the son Of Prof. Fred. Cavil Of England
who swan across the English chanrel ir
eleven hours, making a worlds record.