GREATEST SWIMMING FEAT ON RECORD.

Patea Mail, Volume I, Issue 61, 10 November 1875, Page 3

GREATEST SWIMMING FEAT ON RECORD.

The great topic of tlic day is the extraordinary exploit of Captain Webb, ■who without the assistance of any support at all, has crossed the Channel from Fngland to Franco, thus at once eclipsing Captain I’oynlons voyage in his life-preserving dress. A IVw short "weeks ago Captain Wehh’s name was unknown to out of every i,<K)O of the dwellers in our tight little island, hut almost now, and in a few more days most certainly, it will ho spoken of by every admirer of pluck and endurance in the habitable globe. To Captain '1 toy ton undoubtedly belongs the "credit of (Irsi crossing the Channel without the aid of boat or raft, but to Captain Webb, as yet, alone all honor is duo of having accomplished the feat without any assistance at all of any sort or kind. Captain Webb lias been known for some time to a select few as one of the best and strongest swimmers, as a man of undaunted pluck, and as one who, having'" once taken anything in hand, spared no pains to cany out his object out. He has also saved many lives at sea, and received the medals of the Humane Society, &c., for his bravery. l>nt until lately he has not been a public man. Now he is the hero of the day, the idol of all hearts. A good deal of betting took place upon the n suit, but whether Webb himself had any pecuniary interest in it lam not aware; however, it is said that the first bet laid was +SO to nothing (longish odds), and others were quickly quoted. The first trial trip the Captain took was down the .River Thames, when he did some largo number of miles in an incredibly short space of time, never for a moment receiving support of any kind, arresting from Ids long, continuous stroke, which averaged 20 to the minute. After this he essayed to cross the Channel, but wind and weather were against him, and lie failed in his first attempt. To a man like Webb," however, a slight reverse did not mean defeat, and he therefore took Tip his quarters at Dover, and waited for propitious skies and a favouring tide. At last the time arrived, and at 12.55 p.m., or about an hour after high water, on Tuesday, the 24th August, he commenced Ids arduous task. The weather was superb ; not a ripple on the vast expanse of sea; and everything promised well as, at the hour named above, he look a header off the end of the Admiralty pier at Dover and struck out manfully in the direction of the French coast. Good beginnings arc everything ; and attended by a lugger and two small row-boats, lie made grand progress, doing eight miles in the first six hours without showing or feeling the least distress. To hark back a little, 1 must mention that he had engaged for his pilot one Captain Toms, who knows the tides and the currents between the two shores as well as the oldest omnibusdriver does the way from Bayswatcr to

Hie .Bunk. A representative from the Field,” and another from “ Land and Water,” acted as umpires, and the lugger was provided with cooking utensils, hot lirieks(in case of cramp), good stores of beef tea, brandy, rump steak, beer, tea, ami an expert diver was ready, with belt round his waist and long line attached, should any unforeseen accident take the swimmer under water ; no such casually, however, occurred, and the diver’s assistance was not required. Ail through the long night Webb kept gallantly on, swimming very strong, ami treading the water in an almost upright position when refreshments, of which he partook frequently, were given to him. Dawn came at last, and the sun rose, the water became warmer, and success seemed certain, although Webb’s stroke, which was somewhat ([nicker, was certainly weaker, and occasionally ho wore an uubouhted expression of fatigue. At about (I u.m., however, a slight breeze sprang up which, unfortunately, gradually increased, ami a swell got up which sadly relauled Die progress of our hero, and the tide at this critical juncture actually carried him back again, and all hope appeared to have gone. Tin.’ breeze, however which caused the swell also cleared away Hie haze, and the welcome sight of laud ahead cheered all. But a weary time had yet to pass before the. shore- was reached. Webb had been 18 hours in ihe water, and was evidently getting weak. At 1) o’clock a mail packet-boat came out from Calais, and, by lying off on the weather side of Hie weather side of the swimmer, materially assisted him, by acting as a breakwater and staying the force of the rolling waves. All went well after Hus, and at 10.41 he touched ground in Calais harbour, but lie was so weak that he fell forward; fortunately, lie was caught by two sailors, between whom lie walked on shore, having been 2 hours in the water, during which time, it is computed ho traversed ;->f> miles. Webb lias returned to England, where ho hi.s now feted wherever he goes ; and subscriptions arc flowing in which will, let us hope, make a testimonial worthy ot such a tn an.