The Successful Swim Across the Channel.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7244, 20 October 1890, Page 2

The Successful Swim Across the Channel.

DETAILS OF DALTON'S FEAT. (Pall Mall Budget.) On a recent Monday afternoon Davis Dalton, the American back-sivimmer, ao>omplished his projected swim from France » England, landing on the beach itone at 3.28, about a thousand yards on the irest side of tho new Victoria Pier. The scene at the landing was one of great exntement. Dalton was thoroughly exhausted, and dropped down in a faint. He had beon seen for a long time before he touched land, and a large number of boats gathered round him, while thousands of people congregated on the beach. TWBKTY-THBBE HOtJBS IH THB WATBB. Dalton was accompanied by Captain Henry Dunn, who acted as his pilot on tho lugger lifeboat Ocean King. The swim is the longest whioh has been accomplished in the Channel, the distance traversed, allowing for the drift of the tides, being about sixty miles at least. Dalton covered it in two ebbs and two floods, being in the water altogether 23 hours and 28 minutes, and swimming nearly the whole distance on his back. At 4 p.m. on Sunday, the weather being favourable. Dalton jumped off the stern of the Ocean Sing about a hundred yards from the head of Boulogne Pier, the flood tide taking him towards Cape Grisnez, when he had to contend with a strong ebb tide setting very fast to couth-west. He was apparently swimming quite easily, aided by one or two short rests. At 6 p.m. he was still proceeding with the ebb tide, going with a strong, steady stroke with his legs, uever, even when resting, having been in any other position than on his hack. At 7 o'clock Dalton was swimming well, and. asked for some refreshment. He took a cup of bovril, made hot by means of a spirit kettle. The weather "was beautiful, and the sea comparatively smooth. ' Very slow progress was made off Cape Grisnez on account of the strong tide. HOW THE SWIMMEB BESTED. The night was extremely cold, and small quantities of bovril were frequently taken by Dalton. Cape Grisnoz still bearing north-east by east at 10.30, the rate of progress improved. Dalton was still cheerful, and his leg strokes were firm and strong and slightly quicker. At 1.30 a.m. Dalton was getting away from Cape Grisnez and drawing towards the east; end of the ridge. The weather had improved and tho water was smooth, but very cold for the time of the year. At 2 a.m. Dalton was making very little progress, and took some more beef tea, saying he felt rather tired and cold. At 3 am. a shower of rain came on, prior to which Dalton had a long rest, lying on his back in the water, spread-eagle fashion. At four the day began to dawn, and Dalton, though Bwimming fairly well, had drifted, and continued to drift, a long way eastward. The sea being very cold, bUpok small quantities of beef tea frequently. His rests in the wator usually lasted about ten minutes. COED WIKD AKD BAltf AHD XI3IITHIHG. At 6.30, after a hard struggle, Dalton reached the Varne lightship, when he evidently was pretty well fagged out. He had been in the water abont 14J hours, during which time both the sea and the wind had been decidedly cold. There had been a good deal of thunder and lightning, with occasional rain. Seine spring tides, Dalton had some hard work to do in battling with them. At 7.30 the ebb tide was setting west from the Varne at a great pace. Squalls of rain were frequent, the sea and wind being very cold. At 9.80 Dalton was aetting fast towards Hythe with a strong currant. At 10.20 he rested for ten minutes and complained of the coldness of the wuter, but started off again much refreshed, showing very evident signs of fatigue. " i am bosb trp." At 11.30 Dalton, very muoh exhausted, i was supplied with more bovril, his strokes appearing very much weaker. At 12.15, just off Hythe,Dalton, very much exhaustedj had a short rest, and then proceeded, haying now got the benefit of the flood tide. At 2.30 Dalton was abreast of Sandgate, and in a terribly cold and exhausted condition. At three o'clook Dalton was gradually getting weaker and taking longer rests, until it was quite painful to see him in the water. When spoken to he only said, " I am done up." About this time he used the ' breast stroke a little. His face had now % semi-livid appearance. When within a quarter of a mile from the shore Dalton swam quite powerfully again, and struck the shore at 3.28, amid the loud cheering of tho spectators. damom's pbbvious swims. Dilton is an American, haying been born in New York in 1851. He haa had great experience in swimming for the last twentyfive years, and has had long distance swims in the Pacific, Atlantic, Bay of Biscay, German Ocean, and the rivers Amazon and Mississippi, but he does not appear at any time to have swum for wagers. Eighteen months ago he came to England with the speoial object of training for his big swim. Three months ago he went to Folkestone, sinco which time he has subjected himself to a severe course of training, rising at four o'clock in the morning and entering the Bea for a'two hours' swim, besides spending eight hours a day in the Folkestone Swimming Baths. In addition to this, he took long walks from six to eight miles Ally. Dalton is a thick-set, muscular man, hCving powerful thighs and chest, and is about sft sin in height.