CAPTAIN BOYTON NOT DEAD !

Dunstan Times, Issue 1000, 17 June 1881, Page 3

CAPTAIN BOYTON NOT DEAD !

A short time since we inserted a paragraph asserting that Captain Boyton, the pioneer of Channel swimming, had shuffled off this mortal coil; but we now learn on reliable authority that he is safe and sound,although a prisoner of war in the hands of the victorious Chilians. Previous to bis capture he had been acting as superintendent of the Peruvian torpedo operations directed against the Chilian fleet While serving in this capacity he undertook to execute a swimming reconnaisance of the enemy’s squadron before Callao, which he shortly afterwards approached in a small sailing boat. When his tiny craft was within range of the guardship, he slipped into the water and swam towards the squadron ; but, her ng perceived and fired upon, was compelled to take refuge in a cave upon the coast, where he passed the whole day without food or drink, in the society of several walruses, which caused him considerable alarm by frequent demonstrations of resentment at his intrusion upon their privacy. His boatmen, after cruising about for some hours in search of him, had given him up as drowned or captured by the Chilians, and had returned to Callao. At nightfall he emerged from his place of concealment, took water again, and struck out at.a steady swimming pace for his original starting-point, Callao,'" which he reached at five o’clock on the following morning. The Chilian authorities appear to have behaved magnanimously enough towards him, for they have allowed him to he at large, taking his parole not to quit Lima, and promising to set him altogether at liberty within a few ' weeks, as well as well as some other prisoners of North American nationality.