mming; an assistant is
necessary in order to tie the knots properly.

[Illustration: MONTE CRISTO SACK TRICK]

The sack to be used must be large enough to allow plenty of room for the
swimmer to move about. At the bottom of the sack place a number of heavy
weights. A hole must be cut at the top to allow the rope to be passed
through.

The swimmer gets into the sack, taking firm hold of the loosened ends of
the doubled rope and that part of the sack close to it. The assistant
then takes hold of the ends of the rope and ties them around the sack.
The knots must be made on the other side of the sack from that on which
the ends have been passed through. After warning the swimmer, so that he
may inflate his lungs, he is thrown into the water. The weights at the
bottom of the sack will cause him to sink feet first.

After remaining in the sack a few seconds the performer releases the
ends of the rope held by him and pushes the sack open with his hands,
when he is free to rise to the surface.

This appears to be a very dangerous feat, but in reality is a very
simple one for a good swimmer.

NOTABLE FEATS BY CELEBRATED SWIMMERS

Considerable interest was aroused in the early part of August, 1875,
when the statement was made that Captain Matthew Webb, an Englishman who
had served as second mate on several ships in the Indian and North
Atlantic trade, intended to attempt the remarkable feat of swimming
across the English Channel. His first attempt resulted in failure. This
took place on August 12, 1875. After swimming for 6 hours 48 minutes and
30 seconds, during which period he covered 13-1/2 miles, Webb was
compelled to leave the water owing to having drifted 9-3/4 miles to the
eastward of his course by a northeast stream and stress of weather. Webb
started from Dover 2 hours 25 minutes before high water on a tide rising
13 feet 7 inches at that port. When he gave up no estimate could be
formed as to the probable distance he would have gone west on the tide.

In his second and successful attempt, on August 24 of the same year,
Webb started from Dover 3-1/4 hours before high water on a 15-foot
10-inch tide, which gave him one hour and three-quarters of the
southwest stream. His point of landing was 21-1/2 miles from Dover, as
the crow flies, but the actual length of the swim was 39-1/2 miles. Very
little rest was taken by Webb on the way. When he did stop it was to
take refreshment, and then he was treading water. Dur