SWIMMING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1213, 23 August 1911, Page 8

SWIMMING.

ACROSS THE GOLDEN GATE. Bj Telegraph—Press Association-CoDyrleht San Francisco, August 21. Xellie Schmidt and the two Schofield sisters swam the Golden Gate Channel in forty minutes—an unprecedented feat. FIXE FEAT IX JULY. The determination and swimming ability of two well-trained athletes, Walter Pomeroy .and George Bond, members of the Olympic Club (states the San Francisco "Chronicle" of July 26), resulted in a demonstration of aquatic prowess on Sunday which will live long in the records of local achievements ou the water. For the first, time in the. history of valorous performances about tho bay, the distance between Fort Point on the south-side and Lime Point on the Marin shore line was negotiated by tho amateur swimming experts and the strong currents of the Golden Gate- mastered in the remarkable time of less than a half-hour. That there should be no doubt, about the novel task the Olympians made it ■ a double shot, both Pomeroy and Bond attaining a result that had l>ccn looked upon as futile by those familiar with the treacherous tides which rush through the entrance to the bay. Pomeroy swam the course in 2-1.56 1-5, and was followed by Bond in 28.21, the distance being about a mile between the points of start'and finish. The best similar attempt was made by»Arthtir Ciivill. nf the famous family of swimmers, who in 1007 started from the Marin shore at Lime Point and landed at the Presidio after beinl: in the walrr one hour and eighteen minutes, during which the tide carried him close to Alcatraz Island. Some fifteen years ago Johnny Caughlan, a local enthusiast, look the water al Lime Point in an effort to cross tho Golden Gate. After making throe-quarters of the distance lia was finally rescued in the vicinity of the Cliff House, having battled the currents for several hours. Another member of the Cavill family swam from Lime Point to Fort Point previous to Cauglilnn's attempt, which is considered less difficult than leaving from this side.