WEBB DID SWIM CHANNEL

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11657, 23 October 1923, Page 10

WEBB DID SWIM CHANNEL

THE FRENCH DENIAL A CORRESPONDENT'S STATEMENT In a recent issue of the “Times” the following paragraph appeared : DID WEBB SWIM CHANNEL? The "Petit Parisian” publishes a letter from an old resident who denies that Captain Webb swam the EngMsh Channel unaided. The paper declares that tho correspondent is ■ right, and that his allegation is supported by other old residents who remember Captain Webb’s swim in 1875. They state that Captain Webb crossed the Channel with the aid of a floating suit which he had invented and which made the task a comparatively easy one. All he had' to do, it is stated, was to ns© his arms and legs; the suit kept him afloat. Other residents state, that Webb was not a great swimmer, and then when he swam the Loire he used his floating suit. The “Petit Parisicn” has not the slightest doubt that he used this suit in crossing the Channel.

(To the Editor "N.Z. Times.”) Sir,—Referring to a paragraph appearing in the supplement of your issue nf 2Cth inst. I wish to point out that it is always desirable to give credit whore credit is due. The correspondent to “Le Petit Parisien" is in error, as Captain Webb did swim the Channel during the ’seventies and performed the exploit without artificial aid. The correspodent is evidently confusing Captain Webb with Captain BoXtOn. The latter inventedl an inflatable rubber suit in which he floated and swam from Dover, I think it was, to Cane Gris Nor. The performance of Boxton is therefore nothing to bo compared with the powers of endurance shown by Webb, who was a good swimmer. In corroboration of the above I would point out that Boxtoh’s suit was made tho subject of a British patent and an extract can be found among the British records in the New Zealand TVitent Office Library T write this in justice to Captain Webb and for the information of your readers, who may not 1* acquainted with the facts. H. C. YOUNG. 193, Grant road. Wellington, Octobe - 22nrl, 1923 [We may add from our recollection of the report of Captain Webb’s swim nt the time, that the captain, before entering the water, was rubbed with shark oil. a thing incompatible with a rubber suit, end unnecessary.—Ed "N.Z.T.”I