CAPTAIN BOYTON AND THE TORPEDO.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1230, 25 September 1885, Page 3

CAPTAIN BOYTON AND THE TORPEDO.

New York papers of May 6 coo~ tain full and rather sensational accounts of Mr Paul Boyton, the professional swimmer. It appears that when ti.M S Garnet, Captain Henry Hand, way lying off Stapleton, Staten Island, New York Harbor, it occurred to Mr Boyton that it would be capital fun to create a scn-e in her Majesty’s shin by towing a dummy torpedo off and making it fast to the cables, and then raise an alarm. Accordingly Boyton donned his aquatic dress, towing the torpedo behind him, floated down with the tide, and made it fast to the ship’s cables Having completed his work he was about to paddle away, when the marine sentry above him on the knightheads challenged. Boyton returned for answer that he w;is only fishing, in the meantime paddling away with all his might. When he had got away about ono hun dred yards he attempted to raise a scare by shouting out, “You have got a torpedo alongside," or words to that offset, continuing Ins flight. He had just reached the row boat waiting for 1 him, and was yet in the water when

an armed party in the Garnet’s pecket boat ran alongside, and -whilst the marines covered the Boyton p.rty with tVir rifles, the hero of the hour was hauled unceremoniously into the picket-boat, previous to m iking the whole party prisoners and taking them to the ship. Mr Boyton and his confederates, then finding whatjjwas |intended for a jest likely to become grim earnest, made a clean breast of it, and explained the sorry joke, and the party were then allowed to depart for the shore. It may be added that had Mr Boyton been detected in the perpetra tion of his trick he probably Sl would have lost his live, and would only have bad himself to thank for it. As it is, the officer In charge of the picket-boat, who, good naturedly let him go, thinking the whole affair a very thin'sort of “ lark,” has been put under arrest, and will be dealt with by court-martial.