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1. Century: "19th" x

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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)
Cavill, Frederick - 21/08/1877
Description
START: 3:45pm. Aug 21 1877. FINISH: 3:30pm. Aug 22. TIME: 11h 45 F-E. Temp 58°f to 66°f. Cap Gris Nez to 50 yds from South Foreland
Swimmer(s)

Cavill, Frederick
Date
21/08/1877
Duration of swim
11:45
Pilot
Mr Manser and four crew.
Pilot boat
St. Joseph of Calais
Notes
Failed by 50 yards. Grease; Porpoise Oil. Side Stroke. Food; Cocoa, Beef Tea, Brandy, Egg in Cocoa, Coffee. On board; Dover Surgeon Mr Clement Walter, Mr Earnshaw, Mr Gammon, and Dr Cunningham of London. Grease; Cod liver oil/Russian Tallow. Wore; Silk Jersey and Drawers, and India rubber helmet. Cavill almost made it ashore at the South Foreland. The sea had become considerably rough, and the boatmen were greatly adverse to pulling their boat ashore at this spot, and it was considered unsafe for Cavill to get ashore by himself owing to the breakers. Accordingly he was taken out of the water. A Declaration was signed by the two boatmen Jaques Maguier and Andre Bellanger in the presence of S. M. Latham, Justice of the Peace for Dover. The Serpentine Club awarded him a certificate of honour, recognizing the swim as a success, but his claim has been rejected by all other authorities
Success/failure

Failed (725)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Dalton, Davis - 18/08/1890
Swimmer(s)

Dalton, Davis
Date
1890
Duration of swim
23:28
Pilot
Henry Dunn
Pilot boat
Ocean King, lugger
Notes
Hoax?? Claimed to have swum Boulogne to Folkestone using backstroke but could produce no witnesses
Success/failure

Unknown (9)
Direction(s)

France-England (736)
Ratified

Unratified (2)
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)

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