A SWIMMING FEAT.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume IV, Issue 316, 18 September 1875, Page 3

A SWIMMING FEAT.

A eejiarkable oxliibition of natatory power and skill took place in the Thames on July 3, when Captain Webb undertook to perform the unprecedented feat of swimming from Blackwall to Gravesend, a distance of twenty miles, Mr Webb is a sturdy, wellproportioned Engl is hman, twentyseven years of age, stands sft Bin, and weighs Mst. Master of a merchantman trading between Liverpool and Ireland, he lias not hitherto appeared in the capacity of professional or amateur swimmer, but he lias from early life accustomed himself to the water, and lias succeeded in accomplishing' more than one notable exploit. Chief among these was a gallant display of heroism from on board the Russia, one of the Canard line of steamers, when in mid-Atlantic, on her way from New York to liverpool, in April, 1873. While the si tip was going at full speed through a heavy sea. against half a gale of wind, a sailor fell overboard, Mr Webb, then serving as able seaman, jumped after him immediately, but the sailor had disappeared iieur to rise again.

ami the bravo man who had plunged in mas somi left fur behind, out of sight. huTuting witli tin 4 waves. I:or thirty-five minutes Id fate was un(;4 rtuin, until tho ship put ahonb and a boat which had bom lev eivd succeeded in picking him up. For this courageous action Mr Wold) was rewarded by a subscription of £IOO. raised by the passengers, the silver medals of the Liverpool and Loyal Humane Societies, and the Stanhope gold medal given by the latter society for tho best, “ ease'/ of the year. This medal was presented to him hy the Duke of Edinburgh as, chairman of the 100th anniversary dinner of the society at tho Freemason’s Tavern in May/ 1873. Tho present was undertaken for a small wager of £2O to £lO accepted by the adventurous voyagem*. Mr Beckwith, teacher of swimming, and a small party ol friends, went down per steamer Falcon to Blackwell, and ’followed Captain Webb on his course. He plunged into mid-channel of the Thames at twenty-five minutes past two on the first of slow ebb on a calm and rather dull afternoon. Feeling confident-that lie could sustain himself against the coldness of the water, and knowing also that swimming was to him as walking to an ordinary mam Mr Wold) took his work gently. Striking well out with his hands, and resting on his chest, he drove himself steadily along with- smart strokes by tho feet. At first it would seem that the power of of so small an object as one man in a vast expanse of water would bo altogether inadequate to cover twenty miles ; but when in little more than an hour and a half nearly one half the distance had been accomplished, and Captain Webb was still vigorous as ever, the chances became decidedly in his favour. On receiving at this stage three successive sips of brandy and water, lie declared himself still quite fresh, and to all appearances showed no signs of falling off. A thunderstorm of heavy rain passed over without interfering witli the steady progress of tho swimmer, who, lying chiefly on the chest, took an occasional change to the side for a brief period, Tho expedition was not generally known, but at various stages of tho course, arid‘especially in passing the training ships, tho gallant swimmer was warmly cheered. At Loshcrvillo and Gravesend quite a flotilla of boats gathered around the still active and vigorous form of the swimmer, and at eight on minutes past seven, off Gravesend Town Bier, Captain Webb was taken on board Ida attendant boat amid, general plaudits. The twenty miles was done in four hours fiftythree minutes, on a tide running about four miles an hour. Captain Webb was pale and seemed somewhatdrilled by liis long immersion, but according to fits own outspoken and manly words, was “ all right.” The feat is undoubtedly one of tho most extraordinary of the kind ever accomplished. It is said that a swim, across the Channel will bo next attempted. Captain Webb is a native of Shropshire, and tho sou of a surgeon in that county.