INTERNATIONIAL SWIMMING MATCH.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1489, 18 November 1874, Page 5 (Supplement)

INTERNATIONIAL SWIMMING MATCH.

The American papers report an International Swimming contest for 2,000d015. and the World's Championship, at Pleasure Bay, New York. The " contestants " as they are called, were one Johnson, an Englishman, and Trautz, an American ; and the distance was three miles. We have only space for the close of the contest: —" The struggle was now intense, and the excitement great. Trautz swung out with vigour, and by a splendid effort drew ahead of Johnson, amid the loud applause of the multitude on the water and on shore. Johnson was also putting out his strength, but was apparently only desirous of holding his position, and not falling behind at this stage of the race. Once more Johnson's head disappeared from view, and his wonderful overhand stroke was seen driving him throvgh the water. He rose breast to breast with the Ameri-1 can. The excitement was now at its height. The men were nearing the | dock, and the thousands of people ashore sent up shout after shout in response to the cheers of those on the water. At this instant, while the men were almost on a line, the Englishmen suddenly let out his enormous reserved strength. Throwing himself forward head down, as if he had been propelled from a cannon, he shot swiftly past the American. Over went the right arm in a. succession of strokes, each of which seemed to drive the swimmer forward like a steam-engine.,

T?ot only past Trautz, but past the rowers he shot, and it was evident thai the race was o\ rei\ : Oh ! good morning !' ' That settles it !' and similav remarks went up on every side, and the applause from the water and tbe shore was deafening. The American. nothing daunted, struggled gallantly on, and as a last chance, made a desperate spurt by overhand swimming ; but his efforts were all in vain, and it would have taken a steamboat to pass Johnson in his wonderful closing effort. Over and over went the right hand of the English champion, his body just skimming along the surface of the water, and his tremendous speed never relaxing till the dock was reached. At sh\ 37m. 30s. Johnson passed the winning line, having swum the distance of three miles in Ih. 15m. 30s. Trautz reached the dock, lm. 525. later, swimming the distance in lh. 16m. 225. The swimming of both men was splendid throughout, but Johnson is a wonder, and he is ready to swim any man in the world a fair racing distance."