Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07
BURGESS SW|MS
ENGLISH CHANNEL
Duplicates the Feat Performed
by Captain Matthew Webb
SO Years Ago.
SWIM COVERED SIXTY MILES
Calm Sea Favors Attempt Though
Part of Trip Is Made in Fog
Currents and Jelly-Fish
Troublesome.
SWIM COVERED SIXTY MILES

of swimming the English channel mas
been duplicated by William r. Bur
CESS, "A Yorkshireman Dy birth and II
nnturalized Frenchman. 1t was Bur
gcss's sixteenth attempt. lie arst es-
sayed the task in 1904
BurRoss started from South Fore
land. Dover, at 11:l5 o'clock Tue day
morning. He landed at lie Chatelct, d
little village two miles Of Cape Gris
Nez at $50 o'clock this morning, dc
complishing the passage in % hours
and 81 minutes. a motor boat "a
companied the swimmer. and II is es-
timated that Burgess. owing to the ziz
gag course he was compelled to take
because of the battling tides, covered
sixty miles.
Soon after the start a dense fog set
tied down over the channel and no fur
ther tidings OF his progress were re-
ceived until the announcement was
made that he had successfully accom-
plshed the task and landed on the
French side.
Throughout the trip Burgess was
favored by calm sea. but strong
tide was running. and severe strain
was put on the swimmer to get past
the Goodwin Sands. Twice he was at
tackled by sickness and several times
was only held to his task by the strong
est Will power and the encouraging
words of the men in the boat. lie re-
manned on French soil just long
enough 10 teles aph word of his sue
cess to his wife ani 9artake OF
freshnent in bath ng 1OE. Then he
returned by motor boat u rest and
sleep.
When ne landed AT Deal this even
mig burgess received a tumultous ova-
tIon and with difficulty made his way
. through the cheering throng to
hotel Speaking Of his achievement. he
said In the time the swim occupied
| should have been able to cross the
channel twice .ut for the adverse cur
, rents. Against these l had d territc
fight. and again came within an ace
Of failing. When approaching Cape
Girls Nez the strong outward set of the
current forced me to alter my course
three times. 1t was held up some time,
but when l had rounded the corner, /
found slack water and then knew that
| was assured Of SUCCESS
1T was Just in the slack Of the tide that
l got IN. II | had not managed 1t then I
| might have missed It and drifted TO Cal
! ais II took three full tides and two part
| tides TO bring me over. Il was severely
| stung several times by Jelly fish and
while IN mld-ohannel after a sick spell
felt heart broken. For a I,..ile I was al
most delirious, but my pilots began to
| sing. and this gave me fresh courage to
| persevere."
! Tho end Of the flood tide on which ho
started found him three miles north Of
/ the South Sands head lrhtshp. Tho ehr-
tide WAS tremendously strong but tho
weather rapidly improved. Burgess spir-
its revived, and after seven hours ne was
| three miles south Of Narne Buoy, or
roughly speaking, half way across
BY niRhtfall the wind had suhsided alto
gether and there was an oily calm on the
water. Burgess had completely recovered
and was swimming powerfully. He was
! bright and cheerv, and from time to time
rhattcd with his companions in the boat.
lie was repeatedly stung by Jelly fish,
hut made little OF this trouble.
The next flood tide set him right back
towards England over the dreadful Ridge
shoal, where he noticed the chill Of shall
low water. This shoal lies about two and
a half miles from the body of the Narne.
( He asked that soundlnes be taken, ana
on being informed that the depth was
p fathoms he concluded that he was
! nearer England than France.
The swimmer Wedman dived in and
accompanied him from nine O'Clock until
after midnight. The night was ideal with
"A hrigh moon. but there was haze on
the water. Burgess took hot milk, grapes
l,,I
At 4:20 o'clock in the morning the dawn
Ing light showed Sansate three miles
distant burgess complained of feeling
weak and llcht-headed. He said he could
see mirages and had ft Of the blues and
If the boys didn't sing to him he would
soon "chuc it"
The party thereupon cheered him by
singing the "Marseillaise" and other
songs He had an attack of muscular
cramps in the region of the heart which
he attributed to the eXertion OF the over
arm action. but he continued swimming
YEARLY with frequent inquiries as to his
position until nearly eight o'clock Then
thinking that he was still many miles of
he asked for 20 drops of champagne every
hour and not another drop IF l 70 down
| on my knees for H.
| Very soon afterwards another attack
OF stomach cramps weakened him. He
made no hendway, and the situation be
came critical The westward tide was
sweeping him off shore and he decided
to change his course ana made a dash
for the nose Of Gris Nez
He followed the determination and
made better progress, but was greatly
handicapped by illness. At $50 the point
InA,