GREAT SWIMMING. Long Distances Covered in Fast Time.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 298, 12 September 1888, Page 4

GREAT SWIMMING. Long Distances Covered in Fast Time.

This recent feat of Steve Brodie, bhe newsboy, who a few years ago leaped from Brooklyn Bridge, in swimming from Albany to New York in a little over six days, thus beating Captain Paul Boynton's record, is without parallel in the history of swimming. Even Leander, who nightly swam across the Hellespont, a distance of four miles, to visit his lady love, would probably have demurred at a six days' trip. The unfortunate lover was finally drowned., while making his nightly voyage, but this has not deterred several who wished to imitate his example. Lord Byron, who was well developed in his arms, and che&t, succeeded in swimming the Hellespont in an hour and. ten minutes, and it is much to be doubted if the lover ever made better time. The poet was a great swimmer, and proud of his accomplishment, yet he nearly lost his life at one of the English watering-places, being rescued in an exhausted condition by the lookers-on. The annals of our navy record many similar gallant deeds ot sailors who have risked their lives in the water, while every I year the Government awards medals to people who have saved others from drowning by their ability to swim. Indeed, one of the greatest Americans, Benjamin Franklin, was a famous swimmer, and wrote two essays on the subject which are intei fating reading. Few men have possessed such command over themselves in the water as he, for he was not only able to lly a kite while floating, but on one occasion floated asleep on the water for an hour. While in England working at his trade of printing his swimming feats caused him to be &o much talked about that at one time he had serious thoughts of opening a swimming school. The exploit of Brodie will doubtless lead many to undertake tasks of long-distance swimming, but it will do iar more good if it awakens general interest in an accomplishment which is not likely to prove of great use to its pos&es&or&, but which can honestly be clasned as an innocent and healthy amusement.