The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-26
SWAN BRITISH CHANNEL.
McNaIy Makes a PIucISy Attempt to
Guido Can't Webh

OuGQO Cbpt w eDD
LONDON, July 25.-Peter McNalIy, the
Boston swimmer who scheduled TO
make an attempt to swim the English chan
mel on July T. telegraphed to the Associated
Press today from Calais that he made the
crossing yesterday. He says that he started
from Dover at 1870 O'Clock yesterday morn
ing and in the water fifteen hours in
which he covered thirtyfve miles, He
landed at 2:30 o'clock this morning at
point three miles from Cape Griznez.
McNally left the admiralty pier at Dover in
the presence of a crowd of onlookers at II 20
o'clock, intending to go merely for trial
swim.
A lugger, manned by two local sailors and
trainers, accompanied him.
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 GO degrees, and the weather had be-
come very foggy, which necessitated very
great care to avoid getting in the way of
numerous passing steamers. Six miles out
the fog lifted and all the circumstances of
tide, wind, ETC., were so perfect that Nc
Nally announced his determination to try and
cross the channel.
At O'Clock the Varne lightship was seen by
the swimmer One and one-half hours later
he had passed the Varne, which proved Capt
Webbs greatest 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 2 o'clock the tenn
perature of the air and gradually lowered
McNally suffered severely, the swelling of
his ldlluS giving Hill great ITOuD-6, While
from time to time he seized with cramps
in his legs, neck or arms, causing a drawn
haSEard look about his face, and the passage
of his nose and mouth became so swollen that
breathing was difficult
AT 2:30 he had reached point within three
miles of Cape GriZneZ. Here he commenced
to splash wildly and 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 per-
suade him to get on board. This he refused
to do, whereupon he was forcibly dragged
into the beat, where he Immediately became
unconscious, but upon being rubbed gradually
revived.
Owing to the change of. tide the boat had
great difficulty in reaching Calais 1t ar
rived there, however, at 80 O'Clock
AS the circumstances precluded the possibil-
ity of Independent reporters being taken
aboard the boat for the trip, the five occupants
of the craft which accompanied McNally made
affidavits in the presence of'the American con-
sui describing the feat.
McNally quickly recovered from his eXhaus-
ton, and crossed to Dover by the midday boat
Tonight he looked fairly well. In an interview
this evening he said: q discovered Il at the
channel is much longer than l thought and
found the currents to be all that Boynton
Webb and others told me- | am of the opin-
ion that it is impossible for anyone to swim
pInoM slu9LIn0 9ql Sc 'sIeIBO OF L9AoQ moLJ
be against them. I shall make more at
tempts this year, and will probably sail for
home August z. ii