CHANNEL SWIM

Northern Advocate, 25 November 1925, Page 11

CHANNEL SWIM

MANY NOTABLE ATTEMPTS.

ONLY FIVE MEN SUCCEED.

The athletic world has many recognised tests of individual endurance, but none is more arduous or calls for more determination and endurance than the swim across the English Channel. It is the acme of swimming achievement and has long been the international swimming marathon. Of the many aspirants only two Englishmen, two Americans and an Italian have succeeded in swimming across the 22 miles of sea between Dover and Calais. They are Capt. Mathcw Webb, Thomas W. Burgess, Henry Sullivan, Sebastian Tirabosclii and Charles Totli. If it were merely a ease of swimming 22 miles in still water the task would not, offer tremendous difficulties, but the locality is noted for sudden changes of weather, which can abruptly convert a smooth surface into a turbulent smother of waves, either greatly impeding progress or preventing it altogether. The swift Channel tides are probably the greatest drawback, as they strike the course almost at right angles, and unless their movement is accurately followed, the swimmer will be carried away from his goal by the turning tide. His only alternative to abandoning the attempt is then to wait afloat until the tide turns —an obligation which is made an ordeal by the penetrating chill of the water. While endurance and indomitable determination are essential it is j evident that luck is a most important j factor. | FIRST SUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT. ! IN 1875 the late Captain Webb, an Englishman, upset the firm belief of his time that the crossing was beyond the powers of human endurance. Starting from Dover he walked ashore at the French seaside resort of Sangatte 21 hours 45 minutes later. For the first 15 hours the sea was dead calm, but then a strong wind sprang up and almost brought failure. Captain Webb's swim showed his remarkable courage. In setting out on his self-imposed task he had not the consolation of those who succeeded him, that the feat was not impossible, for there had been many previous failures. His faith in his own powers was his means of success in this case, but it brought about his tragic death, for he eventually perished in endeavouring to cross the Niagara rapids. Thirty-six years later Burgess, a native of Yorkshire, swam across the Channel in 22 hours 35 minutes. It was his fourteenth attempt during a period of 20 years. Not until 1923 was the Channel again beaten. Success was not then confined merely to one swimmer, but to three. The American, Sullivan, was the first of the three. In his ! seventh attempt he landed at San- ' gatte after 26 hours 43 minutes in the ! water. The distance he swam was estimated at 56 miles, an example of the vagaries of the tides. So great was Sullivan's vitality that after a halfhour rest he was sufficiently recovered to catch the night boat back to Dover, where he received the £1000 prize offered by the London Daily Sketch. 1 RECORD-BREAKING SWIM. j The establishing of the record of ! 16 hours 33 minutes was the feature ' of the success of the next man. Tira- j boschi. Aided by calm sea throughout, he landed near Dover comparatively fresh. At his first attempt in 1921 he swam to a point four miles from the shore before he had to give in, and in the ensuing year he abandoned his scond effort 1000 yds from Dover. Besides being the second recipient of a £1000 prize, Tiraboschi, who is an Italian, was proclaimed a national hero on his return to Rome, and the Order of Chivalry was conferred on him. Toth, the fifth swimmer to cross in 1923, took 16 hours 40 minutes. The monetary prize had been withdrawn just previously, but Toth is said to have reconciled himself with the satisfaction that he swam the channel just to show his friends in America that he could do it. The fact that three crossings were made in 1923, and that the fastest time was registered as well, would indicate that the channel was then in a favourable mood. Since then numerous other men have failed. The most notable attempt was that of Colonel B. C. Frevberg, V.C., last August. It was of particular interest to New Zealanders because Colonel Frerberg passed his younger days in the Dominion, and before his departure for the war won several New Zealand swimming championships. Without any announcement regarding his intention he entered the water at Cape Grisnez, France, but was compelled to give up his battle with a raging sea only half a mile from the English shore. He was in the water for 17 hours 40 minutes. ; NO WOMAN YET SUCCESSFUL. Although several women have tried to conquer the channel, none lias succeeded. Indeed, it is extremely, doubtful whether one of their sex will over emulate the five men. A Frenchwoman, Mdlle. Sinn, hold.-; the distinct-ion of having been only one mile and a-quarter from Dover when she was forced to surrender through the effects of the cold water. The brilliant young American swimmer, Miss Gertrude Ederle, was regarded l\v experts as the most likely I woman to complete the task, but she 1 also failed. When she had swum within seven and a-half miles of the , Knglish coast, rough seas made progress impossible. Miss Ivlerle's attempt was unique in that she used the <-rawi stroke. Subsequently ;m interesting controversy arose. On her rr j turn to New \ ork Miss Kderle de- ! dared that she could have gone fur- ; liter but for the action of Ilelmy, the ' Egyptian who was swimming with her, ■ in m.iy.inpr 1,n1,l of her ami tW uinTr-

justified, as after 8 hours 45 minutes of swimming she collapsed and was nearly drowned before being taken, from" the water. Wolffe considered her failure was due to the fact that "she sat about and played a ukulele instead of training."