EARLY SWIMMING.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Art of Swimming—Feats in Natation—Life Savers.
Lord Byron and the Hellespont—The Art of Swimming a Necessary Accomplishment—The Numbers Lost from Drowning—A Lamentable Accident—Captain Webb’s Advice to Beginners—Bold and Timid Lads—Best Places to Learn in—Necessity of Commencing Properly—The Secret of a Good Stroke—Useful and Ornamental Natation—Diving—Advice—Possibilities of Serious Injury—Inventions for Aiding Swimming and Floating—The Boyton Dress—Matthew Webb—Brave Attempt to Save a Comrade—The Great Channel Swim—Twenty-Two Hours in the Sea—Stung by a Jelly-Fish—Red Light on the Waters—Cape Grisnez at Hand—Exhaustion of the Swimmer—Fears of Collapse—Triumphant Landing on Calais Sands—Webb’s Feelings—An Ingenious Sailor Saved by Wine-bottles—Life Savers—Thomas Fowell Buxton—Ellerthorpe—Lambert—The “Hero of the Clyde”—His Brave Deeds—Funny Instances—The Crowning Feat—Blinded and Neglected—Appreciation at Last.
“But since he[64] crossed the rapid tide,
According to the doubtful story,
To woo ...
And swam for love, as I for glory;
“’Twere hard to say who fared the best: