p. 202

SWIMMING FEATS. -- Mr. [[Charles Magnay]] writes to
us from [[The Terrace]], [[Richmond-hill]] : -- "The feat of [[Captain
Webb]] in swimming across the [[Channel]] has brought him
well-earned fame, and has also called forth a host of
imitators. Swimming is now one of the topics of the day.
and it may, therefore, interest your readers to know what
was done in this way many years since by a [[Yarmouth]]
beachman, named [[Samuel Brock]]. I should state that the
following account is taken from a pamphlet written by a
well-known sporting character and near connexion [connection] of my
own, and I can vouch that at the time of writing it the
facts were established by the most minute investigation
and irrefragable evidence. About 1 p.m. on the 6th of
October, 1835, a vessel was observed about 12 miles distant
from [[Great Yarmouth]] flying a signal for a pilot. In a.
short time the yawl [[Increase]], 18 tons burden, with ten men
and a [[London Branch]] pilot, was steering for the vessel,
which proved to be a Spanish brig, the [[Paquette de Bilbao]],
bound from [[Hamburg]] to [[Cadiz]], leaky, and the pumps at
work. After some haggling about the amount of salvage,
the pilot and two of the crew were left on board to assist
in pumping and piloting her into [[Yarmouth Harbour]]. The
brig at the time was about five miles to the eastward of
the [[Newarp]] floating light, off [[Winterton]], on the [[Norfolk
Coast]], the weather looking squally. The light had been
passed a few minutes, and was about two miles astern,
' when, without the slightest notice of it approach, a
terrific squall from the northward took the yawl's sails flat
aback, and the ballast, which they had trimmed to wind-
ward, being thus suddenly changed to leeward, she was
capsized in an instant. In [[Brock]]'s own words, ' 'twas terrible
to listen to the cries of the poor fellows, mingled with the
hissing of the water and the howling of the storm, ' but he
struck out to get clear of the crowd, and, in a few minutes
these sounds ceased. It was 6 o'clock when the accident
happened, and the nearest land at the time was six miles
distant. With the aid of a rush horsecollar, 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 saw the last of his companions sink beside him without
a struggle or a cry, and 'now he was left in the cold, silent
loneliness of night, more awful than the strife of the elements
that had preceded.' Shortly, as if to prove the power of human
fortitude, the sky became overclouded, and ' darkness was
upon the face of the deep.' He no longer knew his course,
and a sudden short, cracking peal of thunder burst with
stunning loudness just over his head, and the forked and
flashing lightning threw its livid fire round him. This
passed away, and again the moon threw her light over the
ocean. He now saw the [[Lowestoft Lighthouse]], and the
cliffs beyond [[Gorleston]], on the [[Suffolk]] coast, and the swell
of the sea carried him to the checkered buoy of [[St.
Nicholas Gat]], off [[Yarmouth]] nearly opposite his own door,
but distant four miles. He had been five hours in the
water, and here was something to hold on to in 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. A last and unexpected trial was at
hand ; a large gray gull, mistaking him for a corpse, made
a dash at him, and its sharp cry brought many more of these
formidable birds. These, however, he scared away by
splashing with his hands and feet. He now felt assured 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 house, and before morning
he would die of cold, so, turning his back on it, he struck out
for a brig anchored in [[Corton Roads]], and with all his re-
maining strength he hailed her. His cry was heard, and
answered from the deck, 'and at half-past 1 a.m., having
swum seven hours and a half in an October night, he was
safe on board the [[Betsy]], of [[Sunderland]], [[Captain Christian]],
nearly 15 miles from the spot where the boat was cap-
sized.' [[Brock]] was only 5ft. 5in. [5 feet 5 inches] high, but in other respects
his bodily proportions were Herculean ; his weight, 14
stone ; his age, when this happened, 31. 'Times' Sep. [September] 16th [45?]