The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-26
FEAT OF AN AMERICAN
PETER M'NALLY ATTEMPTS TO SWIM
THE ENGLISH CHANNEL.
He Covers Thirty-Five Miles in Fiji
Water Near Cape Grimes.

LONDON, July 25.-Peter AIcNally, the
Botson swimmer. who was scheduled to
make the attempt to swim the English
channel on July 4, telegraphed to-day from
calais that he made the crossing yester-
day He says that he strated from Dover
at u:5O yesterday morning and was in the
water hfteen hours, in which he covered
thirty-five miles. He landed at 2:30 o'clock
this morning at a point three miles from
Cape Grimes
McNally left the Admiralty pier at Dover
IN the presence of a crowd of onlookers at
n:2O o'clock, intending to go merely for
trial swim. He wore blue trunks on which
were pinned miniature American and Eng
hsh Hags. lugger. manned by two local
sailors, accompanied him. McNallys train
er, Brown, of Boston, the proprietor of
music hall at Dover and one London jour
nallst were also aboard the accompanying
ooat The temperature of the water was 81
degrees. McNally swan steadily at the
rate of one and one-half miles per hour
AT point four miles out the temperature
was found to have fallen to g. degrees, and
the weather had become very foggy, which
necessltated very great care to avoid get
ting in the way of passing steamers. Six
miles out the fog lifted and all the circum-
stances of tide, wind, etc, were so perfect
that McNally announced his determination
to try and cross the channel He had been
heading direct for Calais, but a strong
westward current had drifted him to a po-
sition nearly off Fokstone. He now took
refreshments, consisting of beef extract
and ginger and long piece of American
chewing tobacco, which, he says, prevents
MS tongue from swelling He swan almost
continually with breast stroke, with oC-
caslonal changes to a side stroke for re-
lief, but he never swan on his back. which
ne explains, interfereS with the action of
the muscles. At O'Clock the Varne light
ship seen by the swimmer. One and
one-half hours later he had passed the
Varne which proved Captain Webbs great
est difficulty when he attempted to swim
the channel
AT 10 O'Clock McNally began to show signs
OF exhaustion, but pluckily continued at his
task From this time until o'clock the
temperature of the air and sea gradually
lowered. McNany suffered severely, the
swelling of his hands giving him great
trouble, while from time to time he was
seized with cramps in his legs. neck or
arms causing drawn, haggard look about
his face, and the passages of his nose and
his mouth become swollen so that breath
ing was difficult. AT 2:30 o'clock he had
reached a point within three miles of Cape
Grimes. Here he commenced to splash
wildly and to swim in a circle, calling for
light. 1t was evident to those in the boat
that he was blinded by the salt water which
had got into his eyes, and they tried to
persuade him to get on board. This he re-
fused to do, whereupon he was fOrciby
dragged into the boat, where he immedi
ately became unconscious, but upon being
rubbed gradually revived. Owing to change
of tide the boat had great difficulty in
reaching Calais. 1t arrived there however,
at $50 o'clock. AS the circumstances pre-
cluded the possibility of Independent
porters being taken aboard the boat for the
trip, the five occupants of the craft which
accompanied MeNally made attidavits in
the presence of the American consul de-
scribing the feat.
McNally quickly recovered from his ex-
haustion and crossed to Dover by the mid
day boat Tonight he looked fairly we'll
considering what he had gone through. In
an interview this evening he said: Il dis
covered that the channel is really much
longer than L thought, and found the cur
rents to be all that Boynton, Webb and
others told me. / am of the opinion that
it is impossible for any one to swim from
Dover to Calais, the currents would all
be against them. / shall make no more
attempts this year and will probably sail
for home on Aug. 7."s'j af-