New-York tribune., 1911-09-11
TIDES REpuLSE SWIMMER
Alfred Brown Forced to Quit
Within Mile of Sandy Hook.
IN WATER OVER 7 HOURS
EQUALS Performance of Charles
Durburow, Yielding Only After
Fighting Adverse Currents.

Alfred Brown. commodore Of the Flush
ing Bsy District Of the American Life Saw
Ing Society, was forced TO succumb to the
tides when within three-quarters of a mile
Of the coveted goal in his attempt to swim
from the Battery to Sandy Hook yesterday.
After ploughing through the water for :
hours minutes as seconds Brown pulled
himself aboard the Official boat
The distance between the two points is
twenty-three miles, and he emerged from
the water at Flynn's Knoll. Brown and
Charles Durourow, Of Riverton. n. j.. share
the honor Of being the only swimmers who
have succeeded in getting so near the fin-
ishing point In his endeavor 70 reach his
goal Brown battled off shore for forty-nine
minutes against the incoming tide Dis
covering that he was being swept up Rari-
tan Bay, he decided 10 retire from the
water though in splendid condition at the
finish.
Brown waited until after 10 o'clock to
start at which time the tide had been
ebbinS for fully an hour. The surface Of
the water was Ike a mill pond through
out the swim. except when Brown ad-
vanced beyond Hoffman Island when a
southeasterly wind began TO blow After
taking his usual quart OF beef tea. prior
20 his attempts 10 swim a long race. he
did not request any more stimulants until
he found the tide changing, when he drank
another bottle of the beverage. He had
another quart after he had finished his try
Ing swim.
The course Of the swimmer extended
from the Battery through Buttermilk
Channel and into the Lower Bay. thence
by the ship channel toward the Hook. He
was accompanied by a motor boat. which
contained his wife and a dozen of his
friends
He found difficulty in getting across the
Battery into the Buttermilk Channel
where he encountered slack water. He
passed the southerly end Of Governors 5
Island at 11:17 While off Erie Basin
Brown was Joined by Paul Drusch, pupil
who swan at his side for more than ten
miles. Brown began 10 derive the full ad-
vantage OF the tide when off 52d street
Bay Ridge. where his guides had pulled
him out into the centre of the bay. He
made great progress and reached 65th
street a distance Of six miles in , hours
1s minutes. Eddie Humm, a fourteen
year-old pupil jumped overheard and
Joined Brown and Rrusch for almost
mile
AS they approached St George il be-
came necessary 10 steer out near Quaran-
tine, where Brown soon found that he was
being swept down the bay by a terrific
tide When between Fort Lafayette and
Fort Wadsworth ne had covered ten and
a half miles at 1924 p. m A few hundred
Yards of the latter fort II was necessary
10 head directly for the Hook. Hoffman
and Swinburne islands We're passed with
out incident, but when Brown came abreast
Of Steeplechase Pier. at 2:34, in the actual
swimming time Of hours and % minutes,
he had made the best time recorded at the
point by any swimmer.
Brown was still moving along strongly
with the tide. but upon reaching Romer
Shoal Lighthouse, at AIS. he found that
the tide was beginning TO come in He
bucked against il bravely, making fair
progress and passing the Spit Buoy No.
al 4:30. II was then struggle against
the strong tide. which could not be con-
quered. and Brown finally quit the water
forty-nine minutes later.