CHANNEL SWIMS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4900, 16 October 1901, Page 4

CHANNEL SWIMS.

Montague Holbein made a splendid attempt to swim the Channel on August 24, starting from the Erench side. The sea was heavy, especially during the second half of the journey, and a strong current carried the swimmur a good deal out of his course but when he was taken out of the water he had ewum in all nearly 26 miles. Holbein was then about five miles from Dover, and had been in the water for 12hrs 46aiin. As the distance from Cape Gris ~Ntz to Dover is only 21 milee, there is little doubt that with calmer weather BLoibein would have beeu successful Captain Matthew Webb's famous swim was begun on August 24, 1875, and occupied nearly 22 hours. A heavy choppy sea caused him great inconvenience, but he kept on with idomitable pluck. Holbein intends to make another attempt next year, and in favorable weather should establish a Dew record. He Viae demonefcraiecl the power and speed of tbe back Btroke on long journeys. Captain Webby who used the breast stroke almost nlwafs, made a preliminary attack on the Straits of. Dover on August 12, 1875, but was compelled to give up owiag to high wind and heavy sea. The first attempt was that made by Johnston, the ' hero of London Budge,' in 1872, his failure being attributed to tbe intense cold. On August 17, 1890, Davis Dalton, an .American, started from Boulogne aDd reached Folkestone in 23^ hour«i having swum more than 50 miles. Dalton nsed the back stroke for the greater portion of his long journey. Tbe channel has been attacked many times in the last ten years. Dalton and three others proposed to make the attempt together in 1891, but were prevented by heavy weatber. In 1897 Peter M'Nally, of Boston, started from the Dover side, and was taken out. of tbe water in a delirious state some 17 hours later. Frank Holmes came nearer success in September, 189S, but when near the French coast swam into a dense fog and bad to give up, though he waa far from exhausted. The great difficulty to be faced by all Channel swimmers, even io calm weather, is duo to the necessity for taking food frequently. Webb confined himself to beef tea,bot coffee, ale and brandy) takiag no solid food. Holbein was fed every twenty minutes, sucking raw eggs, eating small sandwiches and taking hot milk food from a baby's bottle.