CHANNEL SWIM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1227, 8 September 1911, Page 5

CHANNEL SWIM.

BURGESS SUCCEEDS AT LAST. HIS FOURTEENTH ATTEMPT. By Telegraph—Press Asgociatton-Oopyvight London, September G. T. W. Burgess, the Yorkshire swimmer, has successfully accomplished tho feat of swimming across tho English Channel from England to France. Tho attempt was the fourteenth made by Burgcs. He left the South Foreland at 10.50 on Tuesday morning, and readied Capo Grisnez at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday. Ho mado fine progress at tho outset, but a thick fog came on in the evening, and as there was no news of tho swimmer and tho accompanying motor-boat, some anxiety aroso oil land. The sea remained calm, at a temperature of GG degrees, as compared with 62 degrees when Webb crossed. Burgess made a plucky struggle against rapid sea tides and driftage. Tho swimmer had a great reception on returning to Dover, none tho worse for his experience. Ho wins a 250-guinea cup. CONGRATULATIONS FROM THE KING. (Rec. September 7, 9.35 p.m.) London, September 7. The King has sent a message congratulating Burgess on tho determination and endurance- he displayed in accomplishing a wonderful feat. WEBB'S FEAT RECALLED. SOME RECENT ATTEMPTS. Prior to Captain Webb's successful effort to swim tho Channel, when, starling from the Admiralty Pier at Dover, he landed on Calais Beach alter swimming 21hr. •iamin., there are only two attempt on record, tho first being 24, 1672, when J. B. Johnson quickly relinquished the task, alter swimming for an hour and five minutes. Thenthrco yeais later Matthew Webb announced his intention of attempting the feat. This resolve was, uo doubt, the outcome of a pendrmanec by Captain Boyton, the inventor ot a patent lite-saving dress. Clad ia an inflated costume, tuo American, alter one unsuccessful attempt, succeeded in paddling his way across the Straits of Dover. On August 12, ]H75, Webb, then twentyeight years of age, having accomplished some lino perlormances in practice, mado his first attempt, which ended in failure. He was swimming for Chr. ISmin. 30scc, during which time he' covered 13.1 miles, when the rough weather and the fact that ho had drilled eastward of his coui'S9 some ten. miles caused him to givo up. Twelve days later, however, he started on his successful attempt, and astonished tho world • with his great achievement. Where he landed at Calais is 21} miles from his starting-point as the crow Hies, but in crossing he took tlnoe full lidos, in addition to lj hour south-west stream at the start and about lorty-fivo minutes slack at Calais Pier at the finish, which prevented him being carried back on the ebb tide, which was just commencing. Siuco Webb's time there have been something over fifty unsuccessful attempts made to repeat the feat, and a writer j in the London "Telegraph" remarked some timo ago that he could not recall another record which, still stood after 3G years. This year two swimmers havo tried their fortune again—J. Wolft'o starting from the French coast and giving up when a mile off Dover, and Heaton, who set out from Dover and abandoned his attempt when five miles off Cape Grisnez. Burgess's thirteen unsuccessiul attempts were mado as' under:—

ISM. September 7.—Retires when six miles from Franco. 1905._ ~,.,.. July 28.—Retires four'arid a half miles from France. August !).—Retires after 142 hours. August 2'!.—Retires alter Slir. Smin. August 30 and 31.—Retires after coverSeptember 18.—Retires after 9hr. 2min. 1906. August 18.—Retires after Bhr. 49inin. August 28.—Retires after G hours. August 30 and 31.—Retires after covering 40 miles in 18hr. Imin. September 13.—Retires after 9hr. 2min. 1907. No attempt by Burgess. 1903. • •• August 18.— Retires ono mile off Capo Grisnez, having covered about 50 miles in 20hr. llinin. August 21 and 22.—Retires when 1\ miles off the French coast, having covered over U0 miles in 22J hours. September B.—Gives up after having covered 10 miles in 1 hours; a heavy sea running. / Woltie, who failed a few weeks ago after a determined elfort has made no fewer than sixteen attempts, XI. A. Holbein made six, and F. Holmes four. Miss A.Kellermann, in 1905 and 1900, essayed the feat, retiring after G hours and 2 hours respectively. The only previous lady 'competitor was Aladamo Isacescu, who, in September, 1900, gave up after having been 10 hours in tho water.