Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1876 — A British Mermaid. [ARTICLE]

A British Mermaid.

Last year a Miss Beckwith, a girl of fourteen, daughter of a swimming-master on the Thames, distinguished herself by her natatorial feats, but this season she has surpassed all her former efforts by swimming from the old bridge at Chelsea, England, to Greenwich pier. A pilot in a small boat, in which were her father and brother, the latter ready to jump to the aid of his sister in the event of any emergency, led the way. She swam close to its stern, and kept that position more or less during the whole of her task. Vauxliall bridge was reached in' thirty-four minutes’, When she had passed under it she several times passed her body through a hoop—a feat which elicited a special cheer. At Westminster the sight of an immense populace on the bridge was of itself remarkable. In seventy minutes Miss Beckwith had reached Blackfriars bridge, and from this point to the end of the course spectators appeared on masts, crowded wharf windows, and occupied every available position. So far the young swimmer had displayed not the least fatigue. She proceeded with the ease of a skilled swimmer,while the distance had not impaired the remarkable grace of her style. London bridge, crowded, was passed in one hour and twenty-two minutes. The boats after this became more unruly than ever, and on several ocAsions Miss Beckwith was nearly struck on the head with their bows. Opposite Greenwich pier Miss Beckwith was taken on board the Volunteer, having swum the ten miles in two hours and forty-six minutes. During the time she was in the water she declined all offers of refreshment, and when she appeared on board the steamboat she was apparently as fresh and sprightly as when she came out of her cabin in Chelsea.