THE CHANNEL SWIM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19905, 27 September 1926, Page 15

THE CHANNEL SWIM.

MISS EDERLE’S PERFORMANCE. A RECORD ESTABLISHED. OVERJOYED AT SUCCESS. (From Oor Own Correspondent.) LONDON, August 11. Miss Gertrude Ederle, the 18-year-old American, who swam the English Channel last week, has been described as “one of the finest swimmers in the world—man or woman.” The fact that she has broken the previous fastest time (or the Channel swim by two hours speaks for itself. Mon swimmers have already conquered the Channel five times, three of the successful swims being made in 1923. That year Tiraboschi did the journey in 16hr 33min. Miss Ederle did it in 14hr 39min. Miss Ederle left Cape Grisnez at 7 o’clock in the morning and at 9.39 at night she walked out of the surf on to the bsach between Kingsdown and Walmer Castle. She was so fit that she declined all offers of assistance when she walked out of the water. She said she was overjoyed at her success; it was the ambition of her life. She did not mind the buffeting of tbs waves, which troubled her far less than she expected, and at no time did she feel inclined to give up. She was particularly pleased because of the honour she had brought to America, and paid a tribute to her trainer and the many friends who had helped her with practical advice. She did not feel exhausted, although the water struck very cold towards the end of the swim and the wind was chilling. THE LAST LAP. When Miss Ederle was seen within two or three miles of t*ie English coast soon after 7 o’clock thousands of people rushed to the foreshore between Walmer and Kingsdown. it 0 o’clock Miss Ederle was some 400 or 500 yards from the shore. She was swimming well, and was aided by a strong flood tide, which brought both the swimmer and the two steam tugs accompanying her rapidly to the north towards Deal. As it became obvious that a woman was at last to conquer the English Channel people became almost frantic Boatmen, residents, and visitors by the hundreds flocked to the pebbly beach, all anxious to gather what rough dry material thee could to make huge bonfires, which they lit on the stones to act as beacons fol the swimmer. Added to this was the shrieking of the tugs’ steam whistles, but even these, loud as they were, were drowned by the cheers from the people on the foreshore. A GREAT RECEPTION. In tho light of the huge bonfires and flares and rockets that were sent up from tho shore, and also from the steam tugs, the swimmer could be seen struggling valiantly against the offset from the oeacli. But she still kept doggedly on, and when only some 200 yards from the shore she was seen to raise one of her arms in acknowledgment of the great reception she was receiv ing. When she actually got to within hearing distance it was seen that she was swim ming strongly and apparently quite fresh Tho last dozen yards of her swim were senrational. With all 'bn lights that could be brought to bear from tho two steam tugs and from fresh fuel that was heaped on to the bon fires on the beach, the whole coast line was lit up for a great distance around. The swimmer, still doing the trudgson stroke, could be seen distinctly bursting through the surf on to the pebbly beach. The roar of applause from the people must have been beard by passing steamers several miles out in the Channel. At any rate, the crews on board the Goodwill Sands lightships must have heard of this young woman’s triumph. WEATHER CONDITIONS. A strong south-west wind sprang up within an hour or so of Miss Ederle’s start from Cape Grisnez, making rather a rough sea. She did remarkably well under these conditions, and after six hours' swimming she was about 10 miles off tho French coast, but well to the eastward. The sea at that time was rough, the wind breaking up tho seas into little white-capped waves. Miss Ederle was swimming alongside her tug, Alsace, which had a party of friends and swimmers on board, and another smaller tug was accompanying her. The seven hours of flobd tide, with the strong south-west wind behind it, gave her a long drift up the Channel, but she swam well and succeeded in maxing good headway towards England. At a quarter to 5 she had progressed so well that her position was about seven miles south-east of Dover, with the Goodwin lightship bearing two miles north-west. The wind was moderating and sea conditions slightly better than throughout the day. Subsequent reports ehowed that those conditions did not continue to attend her. A stiff hreezo knocked up and rain fell the girl swam on. At 9 o’clock she was reported to be swimming strongly, notwithstanding a rough sea. h’rom the Admirq. pier at Dover she was reported to be oh St. Margaret’s, but a telephone message from that village placed ■ her about one mile and a-half off Kingsdown. It was then thought shs would land in the vicinity of Deal, though Dover boatmen said tho flood tids might prove too much for her. Just before she left Capo Grisnez Miss Ederle said: “I’m ready, let’s go; don’t see how I can wait much longer to flirt with old Mister Channel. I just feel like a prizefighter before he gets into the ring. I want tho fight to start. I wouldn’t mind waiting until Christmas If there were any certainty about the time of starting, but we’ve been here two months, and there has not been a single day yet that was really Ideal for swimming the Channel.” Prior to Miss Ederle’s success three attempts by women to conquer the Channc’ stand out pre-eminent. . Mrs Clemlngto Carson, of New York, made a bid for victory from Dover In 1923. She almost achieved her object, leaving the water when only a mile and a-halt from Cape Grisnez. On July 2G of this year Miss Mercedes Gleitze, a London typist, who has made more than one attempt, put up an extremely creditable performance. She started tv Folkestone beach just after noon, and covered is miles. When she gave up she was nine miles south of Dover. MISS BARRETT’S SPLENDID SWIM. At the beginning of last week Miss Clarebell Barrett, an American, had to give up her attempt when only three miles off Cape Grisnez. Miss Barrett’s attempt was the best by a woman for several years. She defied the Channel for 22J hours, until she had to admit defeat when only three miles off her goal, and the fog. which shut them in for 11 hours, was responsible for her defeat. Captain Learmont, the Trinity pilot, set the course, and a nurse and Walter Brickett, the well-known swimming trainer, were In charge of the swimmer. She entered the water at Shakespeare Beach, Dover, at 7.50 on Monday morning. In glorious weather, and with her powerful crawl-stroke cut through the water at a good rate. Clearing the Admiralty Pier, she was sent lip Channel, and the flood tide took her oft St. Margaret’s according to the course set. She made fine headway during the next few hours, and the opposite tide took her In a favourable position. At 2 o’clock, when one mile beyond the Varne Lightship, to tho west of Dover, she was swimming powerfully and in high spirits, for the weather was Ideal for Channel swimming. One and a-balf hours later the Channel played one of her many tricks, for within 10 minutes the swimmer and her party were enveloped In fog, and the brilliant sunshine was turned into a wet blanket of mist. Vessels could be heard passing near by, but could not be seen. Then syrens screeched the approach of boats, and they passed, sometimes too close to be pleasant, into the fog. It was hoped that the tog would clear. Hour after hour passed by. and tho swimmer kept pegging away, but owing to the tog no bearing could be taken. It clung to them for hours, and this, it could be seen, was telling on the swimmer. When morning broke she kept placidly on until 5.25, when she had to admit defeat owing to coldness, after one of the finest swims known of 22J hours. Miss Barrett is a woman of splendid physique, being 6ft Sin In height and weighing nearly lost.