SWIMMING.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1888, 12 March 1880, Page 3

SWIMMING.

Among the passengers by the Oitjr of London (says the "South Australian Chronicle ") which arrived on Friday, February 6th, were Professor Fred. Oavill, the champion longdistance swimmer of the world, and his talented family. According to extended notices in English and other journals, the professor has a remarkable record. Since accomplishing the feat of swimming across the English Channel in the short time of twelve hours and fifteen minutes he has travelled round the world giving exhibitions in natation. These exhibitions have been very interesting, eapeoially to those who recognise the vast importance of obtaining proficiency in the art of swimming. The professor is accompanied by Captain W. T. Browne, lato of the Cunard service, who is acting as his agent, and who is now making arrangements to _ give several exhibitions under distinguished patronage in Adelaide, Glenelg, and other parts of Ghe colony. On Tuesday morning, February 10th, Professor Cavill's children, Ernest, tun years, Charles, between'eight and nine yean, and Madeline, seven years of age. gave a private exhibition of their skill in natation, under the direction of the professor, •at the City Baths. The children are well grown and big for their age. Ernest was first in the water. The little fellow had on an ordinary sailor's suit of clothes, and he plunged into the water, undressinghimself before riuing to the surface. The disrobing operation was performed in a very short space of time. A handicap race next took place between the three children, Ernest swimming four, Charlie three, and Madeline four lengths of the baths. Madeline was the first to finish, and Ernest came next a short distance behind Charlie, who swims with a strong side stroke, keeps well beneath Ihe water, and gets through it very fast for so small a swimmer. He was the last to finish, being lminsosecs in doing his distance. The b'ttle girl then went into the water, and passed her body through a small hoop twenty times while keeping her bead above the surface. This was very cleverly done, as was also motionless floating in different positions by the same child. She then got into deeper water and cried loudly for " help," mimicking the actions of a person unable to swim. Her cry was quiokly responded to by her brothers, and on Charlie feigning exhaustion, the two younger children were brought to land by Ernest, who was rewarded for his performance by loud applause. Ernest then threw several front somersaults while under the water. This feat was considered good, but it wsa altogether put in the shade by that ferformed subsequently by his younger rother. This consisted of turning no less than 101 back somersaults in the water in quick succession, the lad only having_ his head above the water for a second's breathing space between each somersault. The profe»Bor stated that the boy had turned eighty.somersaults in succession in San Francisco, and that the people there had begun to fear he was drowning. Charlie, after finishing the somersault business, just to show that he was sot tired, mam nearly a length of the baths with his hands behind his back. Twelve tin platus were thrown into the water, and Ernest, plunging in, collected eleven of them before rising to the surface. After this he took a slate under the water, and while immersed, wrote his name on it. The same lad swam a nhort distance with his hands and feet tied, ami the exhibition concluded with a general display of fancy swimming and diving. The geritlemen who witnessed the performances were highly satisfied.