Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-10-28
Endurance of a Swimmer


The tug Canada, which accompanied T.
w. Burgess on his attempt TO swim across
the English channel recently returned TO
Dover and and on landing the details of
one OF the most sensational channel swims
ever carried out were supplied by our
special correspondent, who was on board
the tug.
An extraordinary feature of the day
proceedings was that Burgess SWAN across
the Goodwin Sands where it was impos-
sbIe for the attendant tug to follow him.
This part Of the journey was commenced
at 9:s5 a. m. two and three-quarters hours
after the start from st. Margaret's bay.
Tho small feeding boat accompanied the
swimmer on the hazardous swim over the
Sands, which occupied about an hour. The
sea was in quite a boil, and the swirling
badly broken water was 50 bad that the
swimmer had to use the breast stroke in
order to keep high enough out of the water
and lessen the punishment. II is the first
time on record that any channel swimmer
has been across the Sands.
The tug was able to get into company
with him again near the South Goodwin
buoy shortly after 1890. The struggle over
the Sands had been exhausting, and Bur
CESS was compelled to take It easy for
time after getting clear.
An interesting incident happened about
noon. The Hull trawler Colonial Empire
bore down onto the tug, thinking the Can
ada was in distress. as 1t had the mot
under control signal flying. On finding
what was happening the Hull man gave
Burgess an encouraging cheer, with shouts
Of Good old Yorkshiremanl" At noon
Burgess rested and enjoyed a good meal,
consisting principally of chicken and bow
I'll, followed by grapes. The haze still kept
very thick, and all around the dismal noise
of syrens and tug signals Of shipping could
be heard. 1t was estimated at leo by the
position OF the East Goodwin Lightship
that the French coast was fifteen miles
or, and that a strong current was setting
in that direction. The swim continued sue
cessfully, and at 3:t5 Burgess was Judged
to be nine miles from Calais, and within
the next hour the swimmer was consult
ing with his pilot as TO the position, and
requesting that he should be shown the
chart.
Burgess considered success certain, and
was greatly encouraged. The sea was quite
smooth and with warm temperature (6s),
the haze partially keeping the scorchIng
heat OF the sun on the swimmer. A Iou-
loGne smack was fallen I'm with at o'clock,
and in reply TO a question as to the swim
mer'S position, the Frenchmen stated that
it was fifteen kilometers off Calais, which
the party could hardly believe. 1t was
after o'clock before the first correct bear
ing could be obtained. this being when the
coast lights were picked up. This gave
the swimmers position as eight miles of
the French coast. BY o'clock the dis
tance had been reduced to Ave and one
rte mil Off M
later 1t was four and one-quarter miles
of Calais.
The tide was still driving east and an
hour later, with the shelving away Of the
French land. Burgess had the heart break
ing experience of finding himself half a
mile further from his goal. He had now
been swimming for sixteen hours, and he
experienced a very bad time shortly after
ward and was given some champagne,
and this revived him. Weldman TONED
him in the water in case OF anything hap
pening. as Burgess had complained Of
cramp. The position Of the lights shortly
after midnight showed hat Burgess was
now six miles on Calais on the outer
Ruytingen bank, driving away toward the
North sea.
At 1850 Burgess was again in trouble
with muscular cramp. and Horace New got
into the feeding boat ready in case Bur-
CESS showed any sign Of collapse. Weld
man swimming in very close company.
His condition got worse, and shortly after
/ O'Clock hot water from the tugs boiler
was poured over him in the sea to attempt
to relieve the cramp, but was ineffective.
and at 1:25 this morning Burgess was COM
PEELED to give up the struggle, and was
assisted onto the tug.
He had been then swimming Just over
eighteen hours, and In that time had
covered forty-two miles. After medical at
tention on the tug he was at once put to
bed. and was also taken straight to bed
on arriving at his hotel at Dover.
This was Burgess's seventh attempt to
swim the channel, and his third land fnaD
this season
His best previous performance was on
August Q, 1905, when he covered twenty
nine and one-half miles In fifteen hours.
He then got within four miles OF the
French coast. only to be driven back by
the tide as on the present occasion.-Lon-
don Standard.