Towards the end of May he had his arrangements completed for his second
attempt to cross the channel. This time he determined to reverse the
course. Instead of starting from England, he decided to leave from
Cape Grisnez, France, and land on any part of the English coast he
could. A couple of days before the attempt, he went to Boulogne. It was
arranged that he should leave at three o'clock in the morning, when
the steamer containing the English correspondents would arrive.
John Laty, a well known London newspaper man wrote the following account
of his second attempt:
"As we draw near Cape Grisnez light, aboard the Earnest, Capt. Edward
Dane, preparations are made by Mr. M. Boyton for proceeding ashore to
assist in his brother's departure. A boat is lowered from the davits. It
is soon manned, your artist slipping down the rope with the agility of a
sailor. He is the last straw. The boat is pulled off. The Earnest steams
slowly on, for three o'clock is close at hand and that is the hour
fixed for Captain Boyton's start from the Cran aux Anguilles, El Chine,
about two hundred yards to the east of the Grisnez light.
"Three A.M.--A rocket rushes up from the boat sent ashore. It is the
signal of Captain Boyton's departure.
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