New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-09-06
BOYLE FAILS
IN SWIM TO
SANDY HOOK
Covers f8 Miles Before At
tack of Cramps Makes
Him Quit Water.
SPEED AND STAMINA
ARE REMARKABLE
Pittsburgh Man Within Four
Miles of Goal When He Gives
Up After Game Struggle.

Raymond Boyle. Of Pittsburgh, failed
yesterday TO accomplish his proposed
swim from the Battery TO Sandy Hook.
yet his was one Of the most brilliant
performances ever made over the elas-
sic marathon route.
He covered the eighteen miles be-
tween the Battery and a point within
one mile Of Roamer Shoal Light in the
splendid time OF hours 5 minutes.
Then, with only four miles 20 20, and
the racing ebb tide due 20 continue
for more than one hour in his favor,
so that il seemed certain he would
reach the goal and break the record OF
hours Is minutes, set by George
Meehan, Of Boston, in The Tribune
marathon swim last year, violent
cramps in both legs suddenly seized
him.
He fought gamely against them for a
while, merely shouting 20 his handlers
70 stand by, and turning on his back
TO knead the knotted calves and try TO
work out the cramps. But the attack
was entirely too severe 70 yield 20
such awkward treatment. Eventually
he had 20 admit himself defeated and
ask for assistance. lie was lifted into
the motor boat in helpless condition
and carried 10 a bunk, where he suf-
fered hslf-hour of torture before
the taut muscles responded 20 care
and relaxed
Inc unfortunate seizure was the
more regrettable, in that Boyle had
shown no sign of weakening through
out the long grind, and was thrashing
along with clean, steady. powerful
stroke when the trouble overlook him.
None doubted at the time that success
was within his grasp.
Boyle reported at the Battery at
3:l5 a. m, accompanied by Edward
Smith and John Archer, OF Elizabeth,
n. j., depended upon 70 show him the
way in a rowboat, and a dozen swim.
mers and press representatives, come
10 witness the trial from a motor
launch.
At 400, or nearly one hour before
calendar high tide mark, the Pitts.
burgh man dived in from the Battery
wall and struck out for the easterly
end of Governors Island.
Dawn had not broken and the cloud
ed sky made the darkness intense, but
the glitterng lights on the island gave
clear marks by which to sail, and a
9 CSsnC course was made to Buttermilk
/ Here Boyle Rugged closely the west.
erly shore, thus avoiding the worst OF
the still flooding current, and by $50
he had weathered the southern tin OF
Governors Island.
Beyond the sheltering land he met
the flow of the dying food, but his
strong trudgeon stroke enabled him TO
advance against it, and he kept on
making good Roadway After leaving
behind the Bush Terminal the swim
mer began to feel the change of tide.
so he edged out from the Brooklyn size
toward the middle of the bay and then
pointed straight for Hoffman Island.
The Crescent Athletic Club was passed
at 1925 and Fort Wsdsworth at 1855.
On nearing Hoffman Island Boyle
complained OF the monotony Of the
lonesome journey, so L. de B. Handlev.
Of the New York Athletic Club. went
in and made the pace for him. This
seemed TO Immediately revive his
spirits, and for several miles he trailed
th- Mercury Footer with renewed
energy. The pair drew abreast of Nor
tons Point, Coney Island, at 1892, and
shot by West Bank Light at 9:39.
For another mile and half BOYLE
pressed on vigorously and confidently
toward the fast approaching beach OF
Sandy Hook. Then, most unexpected
ly, came the cramps-and the end He
was taken from the water at 1914.
Notwithstanding the failure to ac-
complish his object, the visitor gave a
remarkable exhibition of grit, speed
and endurance, and il is not unlikely
that the direct causes of his trouble
were unusually cold water and lack OF
sleep, which sapped his vitality. He
travelled from Pittsburgh on Friday
night, and had precious little time for
rest on Saturday, reaching the starting
line at the hour he did.