THE AUSTRALIAN MERMAID.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2069, 21 December 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE AUSTRALIAN MERMAID.

•MISS KELLERMAN “JOLLIES” THE AMERICANS.

Alisa Annette Kellerman, tho wellknown Australian swimmer, who is fulfilling -an engagement in White City, Chicago, has been playing the “spoof” game with some sailors. According to the “Chicago Evening American,” which devotes considerably over a seven-column page to tlio affair, Miss Kellerman, whilst dining with some, friends in the Casino, stated that in her opinion, British sailors were more gallant than tho American article. The “Anniricans’’ showed fight at this, and after chaffing tho Mermaid questioned her own pluck and asserted that- if oven such a good swimmer as herself were to fiilFovorboiird in ordinary walking attire she would lose her confidence. Miss Kellerman , was annoyed, and said that if that happened slio did not imagine tor a moment- that any man would have the pluck to go in and try to save her. This was a challenge, or accepted as one by the Americans, and they at once suggested that Aliss Kellerman could easily prove herself right and them wrong by action. To the surprise of all, the voting lady accepted the wager, and with the intentions unknown to any but flic party of six, a few days later all went on board the excursion steamer l’ere Marquette to bring off the affair. The steamer went out in Lake Alichigan, and when about six miles from land a cry was heard from the port side, “Woman overboard.” Immediately the word was passed the side of the ship was a mass of humanity, all tho excursionists being in a great state of excitement. Purser B. B. Jenkins ,who was oil the lower deck, was the first to go over, stopping only to remove liis cap ami coat. He was a. capital swimmer, and with a few good strokes had got to the side of the Mermaid (who was kicking off her French slippers), and at once grabbed her by the hair. Then another came over the sido after the supposed suicide, one Donnell- AlcDougal. .who, in his hurry for glory, almost landed on top of the othortwo, and, as it was, give Jenkins, the other life-saver, an awful kick. Then a passenger named Rabor caught the fever and wanted to leap in, but fie was held back. Whilst Aliss Kellornian was playing the drowning person in capital style, the lifeboat, swinging from the davits, was lowered and proceeding to the rescue; but by the timo it arrived Jenkins was in a bad way, and in such a state of collapse that the “suicide' was holding him up. All were pulled into the boat, but Jenkins was very bad. A Dr. Gordon and the ship’s doctor had to work at the -resuscitation drill for an hour beford he regained full consciousness. When the crew heard of the trick that- had been played upon them they were exceedingly angry with tho Australian girl, one suggesting that “she ought to be gyell walloped,” but the Alermakl explained that tho incident was not witho.it its merits, for it demonstrated to everybody that the men on the steamer" were gallant and ready to face dinger in order to safe life. This turned the scale in her favor, but tlio passengers then had to be reckoned with, for they had had a fright. “All right,” said tho Mermaid, “I’ll give them an exhibition,” and forthwith she dived from the captain’s bridge. The letter that accompanies the newspaper giving an account of this affair states that Alias Kellerman is a great success in AYhite City.