The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-01-22
A REMARKABLE FEAT.
PERI rmod by the Champion Swim
mer of Australia
He Swins Across the Golden Gate at
San francisco In One Hour and
Fifteen Minutes Against
the Tide.

The most important feat in swim
ming in the history of the coast was ic-
complished recently by Charles Cavill,
the champion swimmer OF Aus, raiia.
Cayill managed to breast tides ard cur
rents between Fort Point and the Mar
in county shore and swan across the
Golden Gate. 1t was 3: 80 O'Clock when
CaviII left DEVILS Point, and just l
hour and - minutes later he touched
the rocks about 200 yards seaward
from Fort Winfield Scott, having COW
cred II distance, as the crow flies, of
over 70 miles.
The Australians performance drew
big crowd. The STORE about Fort Point
was lined with people and the waters in
the gate were crowded with small craft
of every description. The fcrryboat
Sausalito had place in the stream
with almost thousand people aboard.
From n swimmers standpoint the day
was an ideal one. The water was as
smooth as could be desired, its surface
only rippled by the curling edges OF tn.
long syvells that came .-5m the ocean.
There was sIiglit wind bl-w. .ng. but i;
was not STRONG enough to kick up any
disturbance.
Caviil left the Sausalito when the boat
arrived in m;dstream off Line Point.
He had as compan .ons Adolph Kahn.
the high DIVER of the California Swim
IN L" club. and Prof. l. .,,cll, of the
Sutro baths life saving crew. The tide
vas at = standstill. and the three MN
chose rs a starting point Tor the SWIM
mCr unch Cf rocks about 1CO yards
of Ire Po'nt. y selected crew from
the EcIPh.n Boat club acted as escort
in a whitehall boat.
Cavill wore the regulation tights. He
dipped INTO the water easily AID natur-
ally. ard started for the San Francisco
shore with energy, killick and Kahn
and the Dolphin crew accompanying
him in beats. The swimmer led of with
long. easy, right-side stroke, and for
the first few hundred yards of the
course the way was easy ard his pace
WAS Iag ID. About Il quarter of a mile
from shore the Australian encountered
what he says was the swiftest 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.
and threatened to engulf the boats
Cay.ll struck into it bravely. and at
tempted to stay its progress by turn
ing his face toward Sausalito and swim
ming north. The rowers in the boat
attempted similar tactics, but the rush
of waters toward the ocean carried
everything with it. Seeing that it was
useless to attempt to withstand the
- e 4 l.. i J..
He was carried out almost to the Heads
before he encountered the counter
currents on the Presidio shore. The
eddy opposite Point Lobos caught him
i'm its grip and whirIed him back again
toward the bay. From this time on
Cavill's work was comparatively easy.
He swan leisurely and easily toward
the fort. followed by half hundred
boats and tugs. \ half n mile from the
landing point he picked up an old felt
hat that was float no in the water and
put ii on his head, much to the amuse-
ment of the s-ectators.
As he neared the shore Cavill in
creased his speed. The Dolphin crew
and u boat from the life-saving service
os-arcd the way. There was long,
slow swell smashing against the rocks,
Cavill landed easily. There was grea-
crowd awaiting his arrival, ard as the
swimmer walked up the beach he was
given an ovation by everything and
everybody. from the small boy on the
fort Tarapcts to the big whistle of the
steamer Sausalito. Cavill returned to
the water almost .mmed lately and swan
to the Dolphin clubs boat. from which
he was transferred TO the Sausalito.
Cavill's performance adds a new
notch to the swimming record of the
coast The time spent in covering the
distance is remarkably short, consid-
ering 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 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 to the point of use
leSsneSs.
The swimmers physical dimensions
are: Height. ; feet 10 inches; weight. 1SO
pounds; chest measurement, 40 inches.
with the phenomenal expansion of
9$. inches. He is the son of Prof. Fred
Cavill. of England, who swan across
the English channel in IL hours. max
ing a worlds record.-San Francisco
Chronicle.