SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 80, 28 December 1907, Page 9

SWIMMING.

, (I3r SplasiiO ° COMING CARNIVALS. , : Jan. I.—Lyttelton A.S.C., at Lyttelton. . Jan. 4. —East Chrisfchurch A.S.C., at .. Christchurch. 3 Jan. 18.—Thorndon A.S.C., at Thorndon. Jan. 22. —Mastertori A.S.C., at Masterton. Jan.! 22. —Miramar Carnival, at Seatoun. :■ Fob. I.—Y';M.C.A. 'A.S.C., at' To Aro ' ' Baths. - Feb. 15.—Swifts A.S.C., at To Aro Baths. . Feb. 29.—Wellingtqji A.S.C., at To Aro Baths. Marl 14. —Wellington Centre, at Thcfrn- . don. Mar. ■ . —N.Z. Championships, -at Napier. ■ The AVollington Club'got off a 50-yards handicap at To Aro' Baths on Monday evening, . tho weather conditions being perfect. A. W. Croll, tho winner of tho fixture, put up a very creditable performance, in view of the fact that ho has been unable to do any swimming previously this season. He covered tho distance in his heat in 33sec., and succeeded in cutting out the final in tho samo commendable time. D. Jenkin, who was swimming, from scratch, fell away to a disappointing extent towards tho finish of his lieat. At 25 yards he had considerably reduced the handicaps which he was conceding, but from this point ho failed to make any further impression on tho leaders, and finished fourth. B. O'Neill, who succeeded in getting placed in .his heat, swam into second place in the final. , O'Neill is a comparatively mer, and if he continues to improve in the manner.he has (lone from the commencement of tho season he should give a good account of himself at carnival time. G. P. Hanna's time for. his heat, 36 2-ssec., is an improvement on his old form. In the final he led the field for 40 yards, but when Croll caught him he seemed, for some unaccountable reason, to practically givo up. Had ho exerted himself as he was able, he would undoubtedly have secured a - place. It is surprising that such an enthusiast as Hanna should lose heart when his position becomes 'critical. Further, it sots a doubtful oxamplo to the young members of his Club (the Y.M.C.A.), many of whom were watching his performance on Monday. i Lanco Bridge swam in his usual good stylo, but tho handicapping was a little too much for him. • Several new swimmers swam in this handicap, and showed promise. The fault with most of them, however, is their indifferent starting plunge. They seem to bo somewhat diffident about landing flat on tho water, as a proper starting plungo requires. Practice, however, should remedy this in most cases. F. Wilton is an example of a good starting plunge. He lands flat on tho water, and is no worse for tho oxperienco. W. Wilton, a younger brother of F. Wilton, succeeded in winning the Swifts' 75 yards handicap at To Aro on Wednesday of last week. ■' This is Wilton's maiden effort in senior races. When ho becomes seasoned ho should make a good distanco swimmer,' but at present he bustles rather much.' Miss Annctto Kcllermaii nas been gaining notorioty in America. According to tho "Chicago Evening American" tho young Australian swimmer whilst dining with some friends in tho Casino, stated that in tier opinion, British sailors were moro gallant than tho American article. Tho "Amuricans" showed fight at this, and after dialling tho Mormaid questioned her own pluck and asserted that if oven such a good swimm-ir as hersolf were to fall overboard in ordinary walking attire slio would' lose her oonfidenco. Miss kcllormnn was annoyed, and said that if that happened she did not imagino for a moment that any man would liavo tho pluck to go in (ind try to savo her. This was' a challenge, or accepted as ono by tho Americans, and they at onco suggested-that Sliss Kcllcrmau could easily prove herself right and them wrong by action.' To tfco surprise of all, tho young lady accepted the wager, and with tho intentions unknown to any out tho party of six, a few days later all ivent aboard tho excursion steamer Pero Marquotto to bring off tho affair. Tho steamer went out in Lake Michigan, and when about six miles from land a cry was heard from tho port side, "Woman overboard." Immediately tho word was passed the sido of tho ship was a mass of humanity, all tho excursionists being in a great state of excitcmont. Purser B. B. Jenkins, who was on tho lower deck, was tho first to go ov-.>r, stopping only to remove his cap and coat. Ho was a capital swimmer, and with a few

good strokes; had. got to '; the side of tho Mermaid (who was kicking off her Fren-h slippers), and at onco grabbed her by the hair. Then another came over the side after the supposed, suicide, onoDonnell M'Dougal, who, in his hurry for glory, almost- landed on top of tlio other two, and, as it was, gave Jenkins, tho. other life-saver, an awful kick. Then a passenger named Raber caught 'tho fever, ana wanted to leap in, but he; was. hold back. Whilst Miss Kellermanwas playing tho drowning person in capitar style, tho lifeboat, swinging from tho uavits, was lowered and proceeding to ."* tho rescue; but-by the tiino it arrived Jfonlrins was in a. bad way, and in such a state of collapse that the "suicide" was holding him up.All yrere pulled into tho boat, but . •Jenkins; was very bad, A Dr. Gordon and tho ship's doctor had to wort; at tho resuscitation drill .for an hour bo:ore ho regained, full consciousness.- When the crow heard . ' of tho trick that had boon played upon them they woro exceedingly angry with the Australian girl,' ono suggesting that "she ought to be woll walloped, but the Mermaid explained that tho incident was not withoat its merits, for; it ; demonstrated .to . everybody that tho men on tho steamer were gallant iiiii ready to face . danger in order to save lifo. This turned.tho scale in her favour, but the passengers then had to bo reckoned with, fbr thoy had had;,a*.fright;; "All right," said the Mermaid, 111 give them an exhibition,"- . ana forthwith sho dived-from tho captain'i bridge. ...