The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-27
HoLBEIN GAVE IT UP.
Was Five Miles from Dover When
 Taken Out of the Water.

Dover. England, Aug. 26.-Mr. Hol- bein. who on Saturday, the anniver- sary of Captain Webb's swim from Dover to Calais. started from Cape Gris-Nez between Boulogne- Sur Mer and Calais) in an attempt to swim to Dover. narrowly escaped being drown- ed. He covered the course to a point within six miles of Dover and then collapsed. after having been in the water twelve hours and forty-six min utes.
 The tug which accompanied him took him from the water and brought him to Dover yesterday. He was carried to a hotel in a semi precar- ious state and subsequently. on the advice of medical attendants. was re- moved to a hospital, where he lay for some time in a serious condition. It was found that his eyesisht had been badly affected by the salt water. Last night. however, he had recovered and he announced his intention to renew the attempt.
 His exploit was very remarkable. considering the roughness of the sea, and has established a record. He wore a white cap that covered his head. partially protecting his face. and also a mask from brow to nose in or dhr, to protect his eyes. He found it Impossible to take solid food without swallowing sea water. and he there fore subsisted mainly on raw eggs as he was able to suck these while lying on his back. He took hot milk from feeding bottle.
 The sea was heavy and there was a nasty swell. Hls attendant became SeaSiCk
 He swan with a powerful stroke. al teInately on his back and on his ! D.eAst, making a good pace. The first six miles from Capt Gris-Nes was covered in two hours and twenty-five minutes. At sLndown he found great difficulty in keeping a straight course Much of the time he swam with his eyes closed. owing to the irritating effects of the salt water. | Instructions to Holbein were shout ed through a megaphone lighted to guide them. | In the middle of the channel the wind was fresh and the water very rough At the end of the sixth hour he was swimming well, but he began to com plain of an injury to his left hip. sus- tained on the rocks at Cape Gris-Nez but not mentioned before. At this time he was about six miles off the British coast and Captain Lambert was of the opinion that he might make Dover on the next tide. He continued to swim well, mainly on his back.
 After II o'clock he was only lost for five minutes, a big wave having swept over him. He kept going steadily, but curing the tenth and eleventh hours a westerly tide drifted him much out oi his course and it was evident that the heavy seas were having a bad effect.
 During the twelfth hour his stroke weakened considerably. He was swimming with breast low in the wa ter and head much down. He was making almost no progress and now seemed unable to grasp the directions given him. Twice he turned complete ly round. making for the French shore | A 4:20 a. m. a council was held or the tug. and it was decided to take him out of the water. He was turning like top and hopelessly blind. If he had been left longer he would have gone | oown.
 Allowing for his zigzag course, it ,s estimated that he swan twenty-s six miles. When he was taken from the water Dover was about five miles northeast.