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King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 389, 23 August 1911, Page 2

The recent attempts to rival the feat of the late Captain Webb ir swimming across tlie Knglish Chan nol naturally attracted considcrabb public attention. But it was smal. to the interest created in Fngland or

August 24, 187.". when, on a scconc trial, Captain Webb accomplished tin extraordinary feat. This undaunteo swimmer—who eight, years later lost his life in attempting to swim the Niagara Falls —plunged into the watej from the Admiralty Pier at Povci just before one o'clock in the after noon. He was attended by a lugger and two rowing boats. Bight througt the afternoon and throughout. the whole of the night, with ceaseless

energy and pluck, the captain kept tc his self-imposed task, relying alniosi entirely on the steady breast -st roke to achieve his success. From time tc time brandy, beef tea. and eo'.Tee were served to him by attendants in the boats, but no solid food passed his lips, and lie did not touch a boat or his way. Of course, when daylight broke it was seen that the swimmer was struggling terribly to maintain his progress, and he gallantly responded to the encouraging shouts ol his admirers as they came well within two or three miles of the Freud coast. But at this critical period ;

breeze sprang up. and the tide carried the swimmer, within sughi of tlu goal, eastwards towards Calais. No thing daunted, by this unexpectee difficulty, the intrepid captain still managed, yard by yard, to lessen the distance between him and the shore,

and at length he landed triumphantly on the west side of Calais Harbour—"in good spirits and condition"— about half past ten in the moraine. When his feet touched ground he wa,< too weak to stand, and a couple of his companions went to his assists* net and enabled him to limp slowly ashore. Altogether he had been in the water twenty-one and three-(jnat-ter hours, and, after a refreshing, sleep, he appeared to he none tinworse for his exploit. 1210.