FREAK FLOATERS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume IV, Issue 121, 4 May 1936, Page 2

FREAK FLOATERS

DUEL IN WATER. MORNING TEA IN BATHS' Grandmother Competes With Younger Women. "THEY CALL ME THE CORK" SYDNEY, April 20. The contest between the two freak floaters, Mrs. Rebecca Parker, of Glen Innes, and Mrs. Rose, Sydney, each of whom claim to be unsinkable, has been decided. Each reclined, sat, and twisted on the surface, and concluded the contest by taking morning tea, while floating, from an iron table placed in the baths. Honours were almost even, Mrs. Parker winning with her legs, which refused to stay under water. Mrs. Rose, an active swimmer, has several grandchildren. She entered the contest purely "for the fun of the thing." At the request of the competitors, the contest was held privately at Dick Cavilf§, pool, Balmoral. 1 The'competitors entered the water simultaneously, and swam to the deep end of the pool. Each lay on her back on the surface, reclined on her side, head supported by bent arm, in an attitude of repose. The first hitch came from Mrs. Parker invited Mrs. Rose to lie on her back, bending her knees to allow the legs from the knee down to sink below the surface.

"The Cork." Mrs Rose made valiant efforts to keep her feet under, and finally learned the trick of it. "They call me," she said, "the cork." Lying on their side also presented difficulties. They would just get nicely settled when the wind would turn them over. Mrs. Parker strove manfully to preserve her balance. She bobbed on the surface. "They say," Said Mrs. Parker, "that I'm unsihkable.V At this stage Mrs. Rose had a slight cramp in her leg. She lay back on the water, and massaged the offending muscle, murmuring polite apologies for the delay. Sitting, Bobbing. Then Mrs. Rose took the lead. She sat down, or up, on the water, her knees tucked under her chin and arms clasped around her legs, She "sat" about a foot beneath the surface in this position, bobbing gently. Mrs Parker had some trouble in securing her legs, which floated determinedly before her. When she pulled them into position, she also sat at the same depth.

Mrs. Rose sat still and grasped her, toss. By this time Mrs. ParkerfV legs had floated away again and had to be hauled back into position.

"I think," said Mrs. Parker, "that I'm a little stiff-jointed. Mrs. Rose lay on her stomach, her legs bent back" fronfthe knees. Mrs. Parker had slight trouble with her legs, which were bobbing on the surface. She finally accomplished the feat. Then the grand finale.

They swam to the other end of the pool, where the iron tea-table had been set for two. Then they manoeuvred into position to grasp the edge of the table. "The trouble is," said Mrs. Rose, as she grasped a cup, "that I float away." "And I," said Mrs. Parker, "will have to hang on to the table." The table was covered with a huge umbrella, in case of rain. And then they left the baths.