ODDS TOO GREAT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 24 October 1927, Page 5

ODDS TOO GREAT

MISS GLEITZE FAILS.

TO SWIM THE CHANNEL. A COURAGEOUS ATTEMPT. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 22. Mi ss Mercedes Gleitze' concluded one of the most amazing anul courageous long distance swims ever undertaken when she was lifted from the water five miles from Dover.

Universal sympathy was shown because .it i» realised she had undertaken the vindication of her honour following on Dr. [wigan's hoax. No swim ever attracted such an attendance. It was followed by a host of witnesses. When Miss Gileitze started ait 3 o'clock in. the mo-ming the weather was overcast and cold, and breakers were milling in with such force that the boats were half filled with water. Nevertheless the swimmer wins extraordinarily cheerful and, despite the temperature of the water (56 degrees) she refused to swim under the lee of the boat but called for a tune from a band. They, however, were too- seasick to comply. The newspaper men thereupon struck up popular songs. The swimmer obviously became increasingly tired, her smiles were less spontaneous, and her arms and face were blue with cold. At- ilaist the cnictical moment came, at 1 o’clock, when tlie strong flood tide, from wh.ich Misa Gleitze had reaped advantage, ceased and she was being swept away by the ebb tide which she was unable to resist. Nevertheless, the swimmer insisted on continuing.

A:n hour later -her trainer suggested that she give up, and received an emphatic negative. She continued for another- three-quarters or an hour, when steps were lowered from the boat, but Miss Gleitze swam away.

It was i\ob till the trainer and pilot lassoed her that she ceased resistance and was pulled aboard, amid a. spontaneous burst of dieting, and sank exhausted.

She said it would be unsportsmanlike to cry against luck. “1 failed, but 1 am not ashamed. From the first moment I entered the water I felt.the cold, but I was not. going to give myself away. I was taken out against my will, and could have continued longer.”