Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-07
Burgess, England, Swims
The British Channel.
Makes About 60 Miles in z
Hours, IS Minutes.
Duplicates Capt. webb's Feat, Per.
formed IS Years Ago.

of swimming the English channel has
been duplicated ~ William r. Burgess,
a Yorkshire man by birth, and n
naturalized Frenchman. II was Bur
CESS 18Th attempt, he having first
tried the' task in 1903. burgess start
cd from South foreland. Dover at Ills
o'clock Tuesday morning. He landed
at Lee chattalet little village two
miles cast of Cape. Girls Nez. at $50
O'Clock this morning accomplishing the
passage In 20 hours, 35 minutes. a
motorboat accompanied the swimmer
and II is estimated that Burge SIS, ow-
ing to the zlg gag course ne was COM
PEELED TO take because OF the bathing
tides. g. sered 80 miles.
A, the time Of the start dense fog
settled down ever the channel and no
further things of his progress We're
received until the Announcement was
made that he had successfully accom-
plished the task and landed on the
French side.
Throiehout the trip Eurgess was favor
ed by, i calm ga. but q strong tide was
running and a severe strain was put on
The swimmer 10 get past the Goodwin
Sands Twice he was attacked by sick
ness ard several times was only held to
his rasln hut the strongest will power and
the encouraging words of the men in the
boat. lie remained on French soil just
long enough, To telegraph word of his sue
cess 10 his wife and partaKe of refresh
rnents IN a bathing box Then he return
ed by .alatorboat--to rest and sleep.
When. he landed at Deal. Burgess re-
cersed. g. tremendous ovation and with
difficulty made his way through the
cheering ihreng 10 hotel Speaking of
his great achievement he said:
IN the, time the swim occupied | should
have been able To cross the channel twice
but for the adverse currents. Against
these had terrific fight and again
came within an ace Of failing. When
appHeaehing Cape Girls Nez the strong
outward set of tho current forced me to
altHrmy course three times. ! was held
mp for some time. but when had rounded
tho. corner | found slack water and then
knew thai was assured of success"
ItgfYas : O'Clock In the morning
wheni the swimmer sighted Girls NeZ
seniaphore. He was then two miles
to the lest southwest. In those two
miles II was q battle with the cur
rents, hut when Burgess got within
the shelter of the cape he swan east
ly ashore. He.ssiumbied for two or
three steps. then walked steadily
without assistance. He looked remark
ably fresh, considering his long INNER
slrn.
Enr the trip across the channel
Burgess was we'll creased. He wore
pair Of goggles and a rubber bath
ing cap 4 party OF II accompanied
him in the motor boat Soon after
the start the wind freshened, and for
II, t!fpe The swimmer had a bad eZ-
psrence in a lumpy sea. The water
Penetrated his goggles and especially
aiGce.a1 the right eye. small pool
collecting in tho eye-piece and neces-
stating change in the goggles many
times
Finally both eyes became badly in
famed. Altogether. according to Bur
CESS, bc never before suffered 50 much
from ealt water. and during the first
few hours the chances of a success
fnl issue seemed remote, After four
hours the wind began to drop and
with this change, the sea fell smooth
again. The swimmer ate some sweet
Chocolate, which made him sick and
he consulted with the pilot as to the
advisshilitv of his continuing. Being
informed that the wind was lessenlng
he datided to go on, although feeling
III bad condition.
Tile end of food tide, on which he
started. found the swimmer three
niffrs north of the South Shoals Head
hgfstship. The ebb tide was tremend-
tu1k Al, 4, u
~ improved. Burgess spirit revived.
am after seven hours he was three
miles south of Varne buoy. or rough
itsSpeaking, half way across.
Fly niehtfall the wind had subsidized
altogether and there was an oily calm
on the water. Burgess had complete
ly' recovered and was swimming pow
erfuliy. He was bright and CHEEKY
and from time To time chatted with
hfsi companions in the boat He was
repeatedly stung by jelly fish, but
made little of this trouble.
Tho next food tide set him right
back awards England over the Dread
Full Ridge shoal, where he noticed the
chill OF shallow water This shoal lies
about. two and a half miles from the
hneV of the Varne. He asked that
soundings be taken and being inform
ed thaeIthe depth was p fathoms, he
concluded that he was nearer England
than France
THE swimmer 'Weidman dived in and
Accompanied Burgess from . O'clock
until after midnight. The night was
ideal, with d bright moon but there
was haze ON the water. Burgess took
hot milk, grapes and chocolate at half
hour intervals.
Al 4.20 o'clock in the morning the
dawning light showed them Sangatts
three miles distant Burgess COM
planned of feeling weak and light
headctiGHe said he could see mirages
andahad fit of the blues, and If the
hoysodidn't sing to him he should soon
'schtcf it,
The party thereupon cheered him
singing the ''Marseillais" and other
songs: He had an attack of muscular
cramps in the region of the heart
which he attributed to the exertions
of the over-arm action, but he con-
tinq4f. swimming YEARLY, with fire.
QuS4 Inquiries as to his position unit
nearlV s O'clock Then fhirlSiroA fha,