A MEMORABLE FEAT.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 31, 6 October 1911, Page 14

A MEMORABLE FEAT.

Burgess mi Siss Oreat Ghahnel Swim,

After thirteen, attempts to swim the English Channel, W. T. Burgess, an Englishman, succeeded on September 6. He left. South Foreland at 10.50 m.m. on Tuesday morning, and reached Cape Grisnez, on the French coast, at 10.30 on Wednesday morning, being in the water practically 24 hours. /Burgess- made fine progress from the start, but in the evening a thick fog «ame on, and matters became mere difficult, considerable anxiety being manifested by those on shore. The sea,

lipwever, remained calm, and Burges3 battled through, landing on the Freneii jcoast but little the Avorse for his long jst<ay in the Avater. On returning to Dover Burgess met ;with a great reception. He wins a tJSO-guinea cup by liis feat. Sinoe Captain Matthew Webb accomplished the feat, from Dover to Calais, in 1875, there have been scores of attempts, but all have failed, until jthe success of Burgess; ... Burgess is a poAverf ully-built bearded Iman OAcr 6ft., and is a native of Yorkshire, though resident in Paris. He swims for the fun of the tiling, ibeing iii a fairly good condition financially. His only recreation AA'as his repeated attempts to conquer the Chan3Mel. Again and again he was on the !>oint of accomplishing the feat, only at the last moment to fail. "I must sAvim the Channel," he used to say. "It appeals to mc. No man «wtce'."he tackles the business can leave Jt alone. He will probably never get jacross. But he will go on trying." * Burgees' _ perseverance has been re i.twarded, his persistence and giant tefcrongth carrying him through.