A DARING DIVER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4021, 1 October 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

A DARING DIVER.

Paul Boynton*, a somewhat noted pearldiver of Atlantic City, is soon to go to New York to make arrangements for what might reasonably he termed a hazardous undertaking. C. S. Merriman, of New York, the patentee of the life-dress, has offered §500 to Mr. Boynton to make a sea-voyage in his suit, in order to demonstrate to the public its merits as a life-preserver. He has accepted the proposal, and on or about the 25th ot September lie will be carried from New York by an outward-bound steamer to a distance not less than two hundred miles from land, when he will be dropped and left to the mercy of the waves until he shall meet a passing vessel. He will carry with him m a rubber bag sufficient rations, consisting or dried meat, &c., for one week, as well as a good quantity of fresh water. He mil also carry signal-lights and flags, with a sectional staff twelve feet long for raising them all of which'are to bo stowed away in the unlimited nortala of the rubber bag, which is about two feet square, and is little or no inconvenience, strapped to and floated'at the side of the swimmer. The feat by inany maybe considered' as' 'deliberately challenging death,

but Mivßoyntonis very sanguine o£ success, and even says that lie would "willingly allow hiilself to-be left a thousand miles out, i£ necessary, "without the slightest fears regarding his safe recovery.* " He places implicit confidence in the Merriman life-suit, and feels an anxiety to have its merits thoroughly tested and'laid before the'public. ■ In order-to accomplish this object he has chosen the mentioned date as the one when he "will be most likely to encounter the severe equinoxial gales.