CAPTAIN BOYTON

Evening Star, Issue 3890, 12 August 1875, Page 3

CAPTAIN BOYTON

[The Times ) Captain 'Boyton’s second attempt to cross the Channel in his life-saving dress was successful. On. Thrxrsday, May 27, he left Boulogne for a small village near Capo Grisaez, and took up his quarters at a little inn. About half-past 2 a.ra. on Friday he proceeded to the water-side. At that hour the Prince Ernest approached the French coast, it having been placed at his disposal by the Directors of the South-Eastern Railway Company. She had left Folkestone at 1 o’clock with about sixty representatives of the English, PVench, and American Press on board, together with nearly twenty private guests. The vessel was under the command of Captain Dane, to whose complete knowledge of the tides and currents of the Channel, Captain Boytou gratefully attributes a great portion of his success. When within about half-a-mile from the Cape, a boat left the steamer for the shore, where a large bonfire had been ignited. The boat, however, could not get through the surf, the consequence being that Mr M. P. Boy ton was unable to communicate with his brother before he commenced his journey ; but lie remained in the boat until exactly three o’clock French time, when a rocket from the beach indicated that Captain Boytou had entered the water. Presently he was distinguished, through the thick mist, paddling steadily in the direction of the small boat which was to be rowed in front of him during his journey. At a quarter past four Captain Boy ton

came alongside the steamer, the passengers cheering him heartily. About six o’clock a feeling of drowsiness came over him, and continued more or less until eleven o’clock. When hailed from the steamer, however, he replied cheerfully, and made no complaint. At a quarter to eight he hoisted his little sail, but found that, in the absence of any wind, it was of no service to him. No incident of any interest occurred until eleven o’clock, when Captain Dane ascertained that he was feeling sleepy and rather stiff. Upon this Dr Howard conveyed to him half-a-pint of strong green tea and 3oz of beef sandwiches. The tea revived him, and he paddled on with almost automatic regularity. At a quarter to one p.m. he approached the steamer and reported “All well.” Alter this he made fair progress under sail, which had done him good service since ten o’clock. In the course of the afternoon the steamer Victoria, gaily dressed with bunting, came up and saluted him. About three o’clock there was a tolerably strong wind, but it did not adversely stop the traveller. After four o’clock he again experienced the Hood tide, and was carried in the direction of the lightship at the south end of the Goodwin Sands, with a shoreward tendency. He had since el oven o’clock taken nothing but a second half pint of tea, and another three ounces of sandwiches ; but, to from his ceaseless paddling and his replies to questions, his strength was not diminished. Night was fast closing in when the Dover life-boat brought the intelligence that he was about six miles from the shore, between Dover and the South Foreland Lighthouses, and that when the tide turned at nine o’clock he would have the advantage of an ebb current. Captain Boy ton was rather disappointed at this intelligence, having imagined that he was nearer the end of his journey. By means of his sail, which had been taken down for a time, he made fairheadway, only occasionally ceasing to work his paddle, in order to give his arms and wrists a short rest. At halfpast nine he had a supper of tea and sandwiches, and an hour afterwards three gentlemen came up in a small rowing boat, with the congratulations of the members of the Boyal Cinque Ports Yacht Club and the Dover Bowing Club on his having got so far. All doubts as to his sue cess had by this time been dissipated. The current was slowly but surely taking him towards the clifls, which could be seen by aid of the Foreland lights. Some local fishermen indicated to Captain Boyton a spot where he could land without risk, and at twentyeight minutes past three, or within twenty-two minutes of a twenty-four hours battle with the waves and currents of the Dover Straits, he landed a few hundred yards on the west side of the South Foreland, A rocket was ined from the boat which had conveyed him, and the steamer displayed colored port-fires.

After a very brief delay, Captain Doyton was taken from the shove to the I rinee Ernest. He seemed to have suffered very little from his prolonged exposure. The doctor found his temperature to be only one degree above its normal condition, while the pulse beat at the rate of seventy-two u-minute. He was divested of his dress and wrapped in hot blankets, the sveamer having in the meantime started for holkestone. As the Prince Ernest passed the Dover Admiralty Pier a salute of eleven guns was fired, and the cheers of a number of persons who had assembled there, in the expectation of welcoming him, were faintly heard by those on deck. Folkestone was reached at four o’clock.