k papers, who occupied a boat which was in charge of the famous
oarsman, Wallace Ross assisted by George Whistler. The voyage was not of
unusual interest, outside of the difficulty of forging ahead through
the ice floes and considerable suffering from the cold. On that account
and from the fact that the party were compelled to watch for favorable
tides, progress was somewhat slow. They were enthusiastically received
at every town and village and at several places, physicians advised
Boyton to abandon the trip, fearing that the exposure would prove fatal
but he made light of their fears.

One of the most interesting sights was encountered in the middle of the
Tappan Zee. An enormous tow of one hundred canal boats and five
schooners was passed, drawn by four powerful tugs. Six hundred people
inhabited this floating village and they stood on the decks of their
migratory houses, going north with the spring, like the ducks, and
hurrahed, and each tug screamed a salute. The oyster dredgers cheered
and schooners changed their course to hail Boyton.

Less than seven days from the time of starting, Paul landed in New York,
having been escorted down the North river by a large party of friends
aboard a gaily decorated tug. Fully 20,000 people saw the finish. To
Wallace Ross, who rowed the reporters' boat, much of the success of
the trip was due. He watched Boyton with the anxious care of a trained
nurse. He stood by regardless of his own fatigue, keeping a careful eye
on the tides and was ready at all times to exert his skill and muscle
for the success of the undertaking. George Whistler, too, who has
been Boyton's attendant for years, withstood the fatigues of the journey
and attended manfully to his duties.

In March, 1888, the Captain had a thrilling experience in Lake Michigan.
For the purpose of reducing his weight, he began to take short runs
through the icy water. On the 27th he left shore, intending to paddle a
few miles out in the lake. A fresh west wind was blowing. He pushed
through the ice for some time and then encountered great floes onto
which he climbed. Heavy clouds obscured the sun and the wind had
gathered the ice together. He struggled for a time with what he judged
to be the western border of the field and then ran into a sort of
pocket. Through this he pulled until he again encountered floes. A heavy
fog now shut down on the lake and all trace of land had vanished