A TERRIBLE SWIM.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume III, Issue 137, 17 December 1875, Page 23 (Supplement)

A TERRIBLE SWIM.

A eoKUEsroNDENT of the London ' Times ' thinks that at the present day, when swimming is a subject of such great interest, some particulars may be worth printing of a wonderful swim by a Yarmouth beachman, named Brock, in October, 1535, Avho, Avhen about six miles to the eastAvard of Newark Floating Light, off Winterton, on the Norfolk coast, Avas capsized Avith a number of other men in a yawl, in a squally sea. It Avas six o'clock when the accident happened, and the nearest land Avas about six miles distant. With the aid of a rush horse-collar, which had been one of the boat's fenders, he was enabled to cut off his petticoat trousers, as -well as his striped frock and his neck-cloth. He then abandoned the horsecollar, as though it assisted in keeping him afloat, it retarded his swimming. He saAv the last of his companions sink beside him Avithout a struggle or a cry, and "he Avas left in the cold, silent loneliness of night, more aAvful than the strife of the elements that had preceded." Shortly as if to try the poAver of human fortitude, the sky became overclouded, and " darkness was upon the face of | the deep." He no longer kneAV his course, and a sudden short, cracking peal of thunder burst Avith stunning loudness just over his head, and the forked and flashing lightning throw its livid fire around him. This passed aAvay, and sgain the moon threw her light over the ocean. He noAV saAv the LoAvestoft Lighthouse and the cliffs beyond Gorlcston, on the Suffolk coast, and the SAvell of the sea carried him to the cnequered buoy of St. Nicholas Gat, off Yarmouth nearly opposite to his oavu door but distant fiive miles. He had been five hours in the water, and here Avas something to hold on to hi the hope that some vessel might pick him up ; but the cold night air might soon finish him, so he let go the buoy and steered for the land. At last an unexpected trial Avas at hand ; a large gray gull, mistaking him for a corpse, made a dash at him, and its shurp !cry brought many more of these formidable birds. These, however, he scared away by splashing with his hands and feet. He iioav felt issured that he could reach the shore ; but the surf broke heavily on the beach, and he knew that if he could get through it he could not climb the cliffs and get to a hotise, and before morning he Avould die of cold ; so, turning his back on it, he struck out for a brig anchored in Gorton Roads, and •with all his prevailing strength he hailed her. His cry Avas heard and answered; and at half past 1 a.m., having swum seven hours and a-half in an October night, he was safe on board the Betsey, of Sunderland, Captain Christian, nearly 15 miles from the spot where the boat Avas capsized." Brock was only sft. oin. high, but in other respects his bodily proportions wero Herculean; his Aveight, 14 stone; his age Avhen this happened, 31.