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Salati, Giovan Maria - 16/08/1817
Description
Dover to Boulogne
Swimmer(s)

Salati (Saletti), Giovan Maria
Date
16/08/1817
Duration of swim
00:00
Notes
Saletti is said to have dived off a Dover prison hulk and swam to Boulogne beach. French sourcs say 16/08/1815. Italian sources say 16/08/1817
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Johnson, John Baptist - 24/08/1872
Description
START 10 40 am. FINISH 11 45am. TIME; 1h 05m. umped from the Palmerston Steamer, at the end of Admiralty Pier. Breast stroke, Side stroke. Food; Beef tea
Swimmer(s)

Johnson, John Baptist
Date
24/08/1872
Duration of swim
01:05
Notes
On Board; Peter Johnson (Brother), Mr Collard
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Webb, Captain Matthew -12/08/1875
Description
Start 4:59 pm Aug 12th. Finish 12:00 midnight. Time 7.02. E-F. Admiralty Pier to 3 miles SSE of East Goodwin Lightship - about 10 miles. Food; Coffee. Ale. Beef Tea. Cod liver oil. Roast beef. Breast stroke 24 per min, with some side stroke.
Swimmer(s)

Webb, Captain Matthew
Date
12/08/1875
Duration of swim
06:59
Pilot
George Toms, Mate James Bowles
Pilot boat
Lugger Ann and and two rowing boats
Notes
Start at begining of flood tide. Rough conditions and many on board sick; some found difficulty taking niotes in the conditions with just the light of a tallow candle. At 10:05 the wind changed and rain came, during which they lost sight of Webb and his row boat. At 11:45 Webb called out 'it is no use going on, there is too much sea'. A few minutes later he sprang out of the water as if nothing had happened, as strong as ever. The wind was now whistling through the rigging. On board; James Bowles (mate), A.G. Payne and H.F. Wilkinson (referees from Ilex Swimming club), H. Ward (Webb's cousin), Charles 'Boy' Baker (swimmer/lifeguard) age 16
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Webb, Captain Matthew - 25/08/1875
Description
Temp 65°f. Porpoises sighted at 3:08 and 4:30. Mainly Breast stroke some side stroke. Start 26 strokes per min, after 1 hr 22 for 2 ½ hrs then a steady 20.
Swimmer(s)

Webb, Captain Matthew
Date
25/08/1875
Successful swim number
1
Successful swimmer number
1
Successful swim number England - France
1
Duration of swim
21:45
Pilot
Capt George Toms, (Mate) John Dodd. Five crew - Bowles, Jell, Gates, Gates, Decent, and Stanley.
Pilot boat
Lugger Ann, two rowing boats.
Notes
START 12:56 pm. Tue, Aug 24; FINISH 10:41am. Aug 25; TIME 21h 45m E-F. Step at End of Admiralty Pier to Calais Sands. Recognized by C.S.A. 16-8-1928. Grease; Porpoise Grease. Neap tide, started on half ebb. Start; 3½ hrs before high water. Tide 15ft 10 inch. Food; Ale. Beef tea.Coffee.Brandy.Cod liver oil. Allotted Witnesses were; Mr. A. G. Payne and Mr. Harry F. Wilkinson, of the Ilex swimming club. Others on board; J. B. Jones, (Editor Dover Express) Mr Warman (Dover Chronicle) Mr Bell (Illustrated News) taking pictures. George Ward (cousin). At the start the sea was so calm that the sweeps had to be plied to keep the Lugger up with the swimmer. In the last two hrs large waves were breaking over the swimmer and Webb’s haggard face could occasionally be seen above the waves. The Porpoise grease was provided by the Athone Boot Company. His woolen costume weighed 10 lbs. A French Doctor thrust himself into the room uninvited, then sent a bill for 50 Francs. On Capt George Toms Tombstone is recorded the fact that he piloted Capt Webb when he swam the Channel. Webb presented him with a gold ring. Webb had already swam 21 miles, from Blackwall to Gravesend. And Dover to Ramsgate.
Success/failure

Successful (681)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Ratified

Independent (34)
Cavill, Frederick - 15/08/1876
Description
START; 1:42am. Aug 15 1876. FINISH; 1:04pm. TIME; 11h 22m E-F. Admiralty Pier to 8½ Mile from Calais, 5m from the nearest point of land.
Swimmer(s)

Cavill, Frederick
Date
15/08/1876
Duration of swim
11:22
Pilot
George Toms, 6 crew.
Pilot boat
Ann. Lugger, & Stag. Capt. Webb on board Stag.
Notes
Water Temp. 65° – 66°f. Food; Coffee. Beef Tea. Ale. Cocoa. Whisky (½ pint). Grease; Porpoise Oil. Tight fitting oiled merino shirt (which held a lot of water). Side stroke and Breast stroke. 20 per min. On Board; Dover Surgeon Mr Clement Walter, David Pamphlin the well known swimmer, G Terry, Mr A.G.Payne. Capt. Webb accompanied the swimmer, with the Boy Baker. Exhaustion; a sheet was cast under him to lift him from the water - he was unconscious for 20 minutes. Grease washed off with Brandy.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
McNally, Peter S. - 24/07/1897
Description
START: 11:20am. July 24 1897. FINISH: 2:30am. July 25. TIME: 15h 10m. E-F. Temp. 60°f. - 64°f. Admiralty Pier, dove off the Boat to 3 miles off C.G.Nez.
Swimmer(s)

McNally, Peter S.
Date
24/07/18971897
Duration of swim
15:00
Pilot
Capt. Bingham
Pilot boat
A small Lugger, Skylark
Trainer
Charles Brown of Boston.
Notes
Failed just short of Cap Gris Nez. Stroke; Breast stroke, a little side stroke. Grease; Cod liver oil, as no Porpoise oil could be procured. Food; Extract of Beef, Essence of ginger, Chewing Tobacco to prevent his tongue from swelling. Cramp in arms, legs. And neck. Blindness and delirium. He was forcibly removed from the water. Blind and Delirious. Cramp and Nausea, swollen tongue, throat and nostrils raw.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holmes, Frank - 08/09/1898
Description
START: 9:53 am. Sept 8th 1898. FINISH: 7:00pm. TIME: 9h 07m. E-F. Temp 66°f. Breast stroke, 30 spm. Admiralty Pier, from back of boat to 6 – 7miles from France, abandoned due to fog and wind
Swimmer(s)

Holmes, Frank (Francis)
Date
08/09/1898
Duration of swim
09:07
Pilot
W. Bingham with W. Burvill, W. Cole, Dover Boatmen.
Pilot boat
Princess, lugger
Notes
6-7 miles short. No Grease or goggles. A light Pugaree cap to protect his neck. Swam naked. Food; Hot Sterilized milk, Beef steak minced very fine, a little bread, mince meat, and a pear. He was a total abstainer. Used Pigeons for news dispatch. On board; Howard Holmes (brother) and a Dover Correspondent. Frank spent previous summer in Dover; he went home without making an attempt.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holmes, Frank - 18/08/1899
Description
Started Dover 6 am Friday morning. Strong north-westerly wind sprang up. Had posponed 3 am attempt on Thursday 17th whilst on shore due to Pilot's assessment of conditions
Swimmer(s)

Holmes, Frank (Francis)
Date
18/08/1899
Duration of swim
?
Pilot
W. Bingham
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Number of crossings

One Way Swim (644)
Holmes, Frank - 24/07/1900
Description
START: 4:15am. July 24th 1900. FINISH: 9:05am. TIME: 4h 50m.E-F. 60°f . Admiralty Pier, swam to 14 miles of France. Breast stroke
Swimmer(s)

Holmes, Frank (Francis)
Date
24/07/1900
Duration of swim
04:50
Pilot
W. Bingham with boatmen Cole, Saunders & Burvill.
Pilot boat
Princess, lugger
Notes
14 miles from France. He dove off the Lugger Princess at the end of Admiralty Pier. He wore no clothing of any kind. Food; Rice and Beef Tea. On board; Mr C. P. Barnett and Mr Evans (friends)
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holmes, Frank - 28/08/1902
Description
START: 5:29am. Aug 28th 1902. FINISH: 10:59am.. TIME: 4h 30m. E-F. Temp 61°f. From end of Prince of Wales Pier, swam 6 miles. Breast stroke.
Swimmer(s)

Holmes, Frank (Francis)
Date
28/08/1902
Duration of swim
04:30
Pilot
W. Bingham with Boatmen Burwill and Hook
Pilot boat
Unknown Lugger
Notes
Food; Boiled milk with whipped eggs, Cold rice. Swam naked. Sickness and cramp, sun stroke. On board; his Brother Howard Holmes and Professor Bibbero.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holmes, Frank - 11/09/1902
Description
START: 6:30am. Sept 11th 1902. FINISH: 8:45am. TIME: 2h 15m E-F. Temp 62°f to 64°f. From boat at end of Admiralty Pier, swam 4 miles. Breast stroke. Strong winds.
Swimmer(s)

Holmes, Frank (Francis)
Date
11/09/1902
Duration of swim
02:15
Pilot
W. Bingham with Boatmen Saunders, Hook, Burwill and A. H. Beard.
Pilot boat
Unknown Lugger
Notes
Food; Milk, Bovril, pears, bananas. Wore dark goggles. Swam naked. His brother Howard Holmes and two Journalists on board.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holbein, Montague 'Monty' - 02/09/1903
Description
START 6 43pm Sept 1. FINISH Sept 2 12 10pm. Langdon Bay - 8 miles from France (4 miles at 8 00pm). Temp 63’f . Side stroke, 22 Strokes per min and back stroke. Grease; Porpoise Oil and Beeswax. Food; Chicken sandwiches, Virol, Raw eggs, Bovril, brown sugar sandwiches, Chicken Sandwiches. Supplied by his wife and her sister Miss Farley. Hot milk given in a feeding bottle or small teapot. Skull cap of canvas, a canvas mask, glass goggles fixed on with Colloidal.
Swimmer(s)

Holbein, Montague 'Monty'
Date
02/09/1903
Duration of swim
17:27
Pilot
Capt. Sharp, Capt Lambert, Pilot Fred May
Pilot boat
Granville tug with Lady Vita plus two feeding rowboats Shamrock, and Earl of Zetland
Trainer
Charles Newman
Notes
On board; Mr Charles Newman (trainer and advisor on the swim), Dr Charles Murphy (Dover swimming club), Mr Walpole Hillier, Mr Fred May, Mr H D Faith (Otter swimming club), Mr Moeb (president of the Paris swimming club), Mr Frank Shortland, Mr Harry Hetherington, Mr George Nix, Mr George Gray (London Swimming Club), W. Broad (Dover S.C.) and others well known in the sporting world.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Kellerman, Miss Annette - 07/08/1904
Swimmer(s)

Kellerman, Miss Annette
Date
07/08/1904
Duration of swim
02:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Haggerty, Jack - 20/08/1904
Description
START 6 17pm. FINISH. 7 22pm. End of Admiralty Pier. Sponsored by Weekly Dispatch. Cramp. Turned blue and had a lucky escape from drowning. Temp 62-60. Food; Hot milk. Grease; Beeswax, Porpoise oil, Resin. Wore no mask. Stroke; Side stroke. Jack refused to leave the water, so the crew leaned out of the boat with a long pole with a hook on the end put it around his neck and pulled him to the boat.
Swimmer(s)

Haggerty, John (Jack)
Date
20/08/1904
Duration of swim
01:05
Pilot
W. Cole
Pilot boat
Britannia
Trainer
Weekly Dispatch - Mr Cryer
Notes
On board; trainer Mr Cryer, Dr Ross and many friends
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Burgess, Thomas William - 20/08/1904
Description
THOMAS W. BURGESS (ENG/FRANCE) 15 June 1872 – 2 July 1950. 1905 failure; START Lydden Spout 6.11am, Aug 26; FINISH 3.11pm. TIME 9h 00m. E-F. Swam 9½ miles, drift 24½ miles. Tug Scotia. Capt. Anning, Pilot, McKeen. Side stroke, breast stroke. Very rough conditions. Becoming dangerous. Age 34. Weight 14 stone 10 lb. Height 5 ft 11 ins. Temp. 64°f. Grease; Lard.
Swimmer(s)

Burgess, Thomas William
Date
20/08/1904
Duration of swim
04:23
Pilot boat
Calaisin, tug
Notes
Lydden Spout
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Holbein, Montague 'Monty' - 21/08/1904
Description
START 4 32pm. Aug 20. FINISH. 2 35am Aug 21. Danger rock, Lydden Spout - 10.03 miles out. Side stroke 25 to 30 per min. Food; Cocoa. Bovril. Peppermint. Beef sandwich. Veal sandwich. Sugar sandwich. Chocolate. Temp 62’f. to 60’f. Grease; Beeswax, Porpoise oil, and Resin. Mask with celluloid eye pieces. Colloid linen skull cap. Seized by sickness and diarrhoea after 10 hours.
Swimmer(s)

Holbein, Montague 'Monty'
Date
21/08/1904
Duration of swim
10:03
Pilot
Pilot B. Foster. With Capt F. C. Groves Trinity Pilot, Capt Anning' Fred May.
Pilot boat
Scotia tug
Trainer
Charles Newman
Notes
Sponsored by Daily Mirror. On board; his wife and her sister Miss Fairley who organized the Feeding, Mr C Newman his trainer, Mr Fred May, Mr Shorland, Mr P Nix, J Warburton, Professor Bates, Mr Moebs (President of the Paris swimming club), Mr Black, Mr Walpole Hiller, Dr Rose, Dr Murphy, also a number of press men and seven or eight swimmers who were to take a spell with Holbein; G Grey, W Booth (London Cygnus S.C.), S Faith and S. L. Peters (London Otter S.C.), W Broad (ex captain Dover S.C.), F Record and E Duffy (Medway S.C.), W Holmes (Champion London Polytecnic S.C.), C Grinstead (Champion of Worthing and Zephyr S.C.), F H Naylor (Hornsey S.C), as well as several French sportsmen.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Greasley, S. W. - 21/08/1904
Description
START 7 25am. FINISH. 8 55am TIME. End of Admiralty pier. Too cold and cramps. Temp 62. Grease; Beeswax, Porpoise oil, Resin.Wore no mask. Stroke; Overhand side stroke, 35 per min.
Swimmer(s)

Greasley, Samuel Wilson
Date
21/08/1904
Duration of swim
01:30
Pilot boat
Iona
Trainer
Walter Brickett
Notes
Sponsored by Evening News. On board; Dr Rose
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Weidman, Jack (John Albert) - 07/09/1904
Description
START 6 05pm. FINISH. 11 15pm. Lydden Spout - South Goodwins. Grease; Porpoise Oil, Tallow, Resin. Food; Hot Milk, Bovril, Chocolate and Raw eggs. Temp 62’f 58’f. Pulled out with severe cramp. Breast stroke, 37 strokes per min. 1 hour 40 mins before high tide. Sun hat. No goggles.
Swimmer(s)

Weidman, Jack (John Albert)
Date
06/09/1904
Duration of swim
05:10
Pilot
Capt Arthur Pearce and Capt. Pascall
Pilot boat
Gnat tug and two rowboats
Trainer
Professor Bibbero & Wauchope Watson
Notes
On board; Professor Bibbero and Mr Wauchope Watson, McKeen, Dr Murphy (Medical officer Dover swimming club), Mr Victor Mansell (Ex Secretary A. S. A.), Press representatives and friends.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Burgess, Thomas William - 07/09/1904
Description
THOMAS W. BURGESS. (ENG/FRANCE). 15 June 1872 -2 July 1950. 1904 failure; START Lydden Spout 6.05pm., Sept 7th; FINISH 8.15pm., Sept 7th. TIME 2h 10m. E-F. Swam 6 miles. Tug Gnat and two row boats. Pilot Capt. Arthur Pearce, McKeen. Grease; Lard. Close fitting glass goggles. Side stroke, Breast stroke, 35 spm. FOOD; Bovril, Coffee, Roast chicken, Custard tart, grapes. Age 33. Height 5ft, 11 ins. Weight 14 stone 10 lbs. Temp 62°f - 58°f. Professor Bibbero was on board. Fresh south westerly breeze and a nasty choppy sea. Burgess was unable to charter a Tug to accompany him, so on arriving in Dover from Paris he asked those responsible for Weidman’s arrangements if he could swim with Weidman using the same Tug. This was agreed and both swimmers set off together. Burgess said that Weidman was too slow. So, after swimming several times around the Tug to keep warm he got out. A report in Folkestone Express. Start 1hr 40m before high tide.
Swimmer(s)

Burgess, Thomas William
Date
07/09/1904
Duration of swim
02:10
Pilot
McKeen
Pilot boat
Gnat tug
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Burgess, Thomas William - 08/09/1904
Swimmer(s)

Burgess, Thomas William
Date
08/09/1904
Duration of swim
08:18
Pilot
McKeen
Pilot boat
Gnat tug
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Heaton, Edward 'Ted' - 26/07/1905
Description
START 7 40am. FINISH. 1 37pm Admiralty Pier - swam 6 miles. Side stroke, 28 spm. Dense fog. Very sick. Temp 62 - 63'f
Swimmer(s)

Heaton, Edmund Caunce Nowell 'Ted'
Date
26/07/1905
Duration of swim
05:57
Pilot
Capt Foster, Capt Simmons.
Pilot boat
Champion tug and two rowboats
Trainer
J. Harrison
Notes
Time given as 6h 30m in Across the Straits. He wore a mask and goggles and the racing colours of Colonel W. H. Walker M.P, vice president of the swimming committee. At 11am Burgess swam with him for 1hr. At about 1 45pm a French mail package Steamer hove in sight, the paddle wheel narrowly missed Heaton’s head by two feet. The tremendous wash of the Steamer caused Heaton to ship a great deal of sea water. 10 mins later he said to Mr W. H. Carter M.A., who was steersman on the feeding boat, “I feel very ill”. With this Mr Carter clutched his wrist so ending the swim. The crew used pigeon post to report progress. His father, Dr Long, Frank Sugg (Lancashire cricketer), Mr J Harrison (trainer), Mr Wauchope Watson, T. William Burgess, on board.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Kellerman, Miss Annette - 26/07/1905
Swimmer(s)

Kellerman, Miss Annette
Date
26/07/1905
Duration of swim
03:00
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
Burgess, Thomas William - 28/07/1905
Swimmer(s)

Burgess, Thomas William
Date
28/07/1905
Duration of swim
12:38
Pilot boat
Guiana tug
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)
LaFargue, Gabriel - 30/07/1905
Description
START 8 30am. Admiraty Pier Head. FINISH. 12 35 - swam 20 miles to 4½ miles off Ramsgate. Temp. 65’f. Food; small sandwiches wrapped in paper and thrown to him. Breast Stroke. Swim classed as farcical, half a gale blowing and nearing spring tides.
Swimmer(s)

LaFargue, Gabriel
Date
30/07/1905
Duration of swim
04:05
Pilot boat
Actif trawler of Calais
Notes
He was on one weeks leave from Military training. He had two friends in the tug.
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

England-France (657)

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