Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-03
ATTEMPTS TO
SWIM CHANNEL
ENGLISHMAN MAKES A BRAVE
EFFORT, BUT FAILS
Is Swept Back by Tide When Within
Few Miles Of the French Coast.
Remains in Water Nearly
Twenty Hours

lnat riddle OF all great swimmers,
the English channel, has again proved
more than the power of mortal man,
and T. w. Burgess, who came within a
short distance of the French shore, has
failed in his third attempt this season to
cross the treacherous waters.
The tug Canada, which accompanied
rim, returned recently to Dover and on
landing the details of one of the most
sensational channel swims ever carried
out were supplied.
An extraordinary feature of the days
proceedings was that Burgess swan
across the Goodwin Sands, where it was
impossible for the attendant tug to fol-
low him. This part of the journey was
commenced at 9:35 a. M, two and three
quarters hours after the start from ST.
Margarets bay.
The 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 so bad that the swimmer had to use
the breast stroke in order to keep high
enough out of the water and lessen the
punishment. 1t 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 10:30. The struggle
over the Sands had been exhausting,
and Burgess 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, think
ing the Canada was in distress, as it
had the mot under control signal fly
ing. On finding what was happening
the Hull man gave Burgess an encour-
aging cheer, with shouts of Good old
Yorkshireman''
At noon Burgess rested and enjoyed
good meal, consisting principally of
chicken and bovril, followed by grapes.
The haze still kept very thick, and all
around the dismal noise of sirens and
tug signals of shipping could be heard. !
1t was estimated at 1920 by the posi-
tion of the East Goodwin lightship that |
the French coast was fifteen miles off, |
and that a strong current was setting
in that direction. The swim continued
successfully, and at 315 Burgess was
judged to be nine miles from Calais, and
within the next hour the swimmer was
with his pilot as to the posi-
ton, and requesting that he should be
shown the chart.
Considers Success Certain
Burgess considered success certain,
and was greatly encouraged. The sea
was quite smooth and with warm tenn
perature Q3), the haze partially keeping
the scorching heat of the sun off the
swimmer. A Boulogne smack was
fallen in with at 5 o'clock. and in reply |
to a question as to the swimmers posi- |
tfon, the Freedmen stated that it was |
fifteen kilometers off Calais, which the
party could hardly believe.
1t was after z o'clock before the first |
correct bearing could be obtained, this
being when the coast lights were picked
up. This gave the swimmers position
as eight miles off the French coast
By o'clock the distance had been re-
duced to five and one-quarter miles off
France, and an hour later it was four
and one-quarter miles off Calais.
The tide was still driving east, and an
hour later, with the shelving away Of
tht French land, Burgess had the heart
breaking 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 afterward and was given
some champagne, and this revived him.
Weldman Joined him in the water in
case of anything happening, as Bur-
CESS had complained of cramp. The
position of the lights shortly after mid
night showed Burgess was now six
miles off Calais on the outer Ruytin-
gen bank, driving away toward the
North sea.
AT 1880 Burgess was again in trouble
with muscular cramp, and Horace New
got into the feeding boat ready in case
Burgess showed any sign of collapse,
Weidman swimming in very close COM
pany. His condition got worse, and
shortly after 1 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
in the morning Burgess was compelled
to give up the struggle, and was as
sisted into the tug.
Forced to Give Up
He had been then swimming just
over eighteen hours, and in that time
had covered forty-two miles. After
medical attention 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 seventh attempt to
swim the channel, and his third (and
finaD this season.
His best previous performance was on
August 8, 1906 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.