The St. Louis Republic., 1900-08-08
GAME BOYS TRY TO
SWIM FROM ALTON,
Evans Brothers Make a Plucky At
tempt to Break John G.
Meyers's Record.
HIGH WIND STOPPED THEM.
Then the Backwater of the Missouri
Turned the Mississippi Up
stream-Both Are Col +
lege Athletes.

When John C. Meyers swan from Alton a
few days ago the feat gave occasion for
deal Of controversy among local athletes.
AS is usual in such cases, the result vas an
attempt to beat Meyerss achievements.
Yesterday morning two weli-known ST.
Louis young men, the Evans brothers
Dwight and Gwynne-went to Alton, accom-
panied by special representative of Inc
Republic and Newman Samuels of Wasning-
ton University, with the intention of ascer-
tanning, for their own satisfaction, how far.
they could swim with the current OF the
mississippi. Several experienced persons
were consulted In Alton and each ene cs.:
them advised the yal,ns men not 10 at
tempt to make the swim against the strong
"ihd. But they insisted upon swimming as
lar toward st. Louis as they could
Alter eating hearty meal at 10 o'clock
ana resting for three-fourths of an hour.
p'th iads were given thorough soakia, in
caster Oil to keep the water from ths skin
as long as possible At 11:S0 they started
on swim of sixteen miles, just two miles
ioIser than Meyers made in his first trial,
uhder ABOUT the same conditions.
Inc first five miles We're made at a fast
rate; then waves were met, a turn In the
swimmers battled gamely against them
thouSh both suffered from severe head
Rehes as the result OF The continual poun,i-
iilS t, oi the water on their heads.
ABOUT TWO miles above the mouth of tba
Missouri River it looked as II thew Wonld
lave to give up. They not only had To
c@oiiiDat @ the nigh waves. but the back wa
Ter OF the Missouri as well The latter ia
go strong that when a boat is left 10 Itself
IL VIII drift upstream. the Missouri being
ther W1 Mign ,ro,Ih at present fh The boys fought
any protection from the accompanying
r., When the Chain of Rocks was in sight
Dwight Evans had to be pulled into fhs
tat poat as he had then been swimming for
tWenfy minutes without using his legs
which were entirely numb
. Two miles farther down the stream
Siwynne, the younger brother, showed
sisnS OF distress, but would not give up
until his arms cramped.
The distance which the Young mon swar,
- sixteen miles, according to the Govern
ment charts. and 1t Is certain that neither
IN INNER ,h touched the boat during the time
'1al they were in the water.
Each ate six Graham waters. four mailed
mix tablets and drank one draft Of a
GWvn3s,a GGoI11neSa s prepssration during the trip.
pounds. and at the finish I47 pounds. willis
Dwight weighed 157 pounds at the finish.
fourteen miles.
Gwynne Evans says that he is now satis-1
mnder ,,gd .haI an,,1 ne can swim the fun distan
starno, "iiy ,,iEs IKE faVorabie circuth-
stances and Will make another trial before
the summer closes. He will enter the Pam
tnalon games at the Exposition this fall.
dwight trained just one week for his trial
yesterday and had never swan over five
miles In his life before. The extent Of his
training was the sacrifice of tobacco for
two days and three swims In the Mera-
mec River.
A comparison Of the swim made by John
&. Meyers and that made by the Evans boys
Yesterday is favorable for the latter. Meyers
is a. seasoned man and he Is in condition
at all times. In his first trial this season.
over the Alton course. he quit at fourteen
miles on account of severe wind and rain
storm.