THE CHANNEL SWIM.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 August 1925, Page 3

THE CHANNEL SWIM.

[Reuter Telegrams.]

STUNG BY JELLY FISH

COLONEL FRKYBERG’S FEAT

LONDON, August 5

The Channel swimming season, commenced sensationally. .Madame Sion, after a very pluck struggle and display of wonderful endurance, was beaten by the coldness of the water. She was badly stung on the legs and arms by a shoal of jelly fish, which were of exceptional .size with three-inch tentacles. .Madame several times cried out in alarm at the jellyfish. Her chief iood was chocolate and tea from a feeding bottle floating on cork. She was reluctant to leave the water, as she was not utterly exhausted, but yielded to her husband’s persuasion. She recovered quickly and intends a second attempt on Monday.

Lilian Harrison and Gertrude Krderle will make a joint attempt from the French side on Saturday.

“Tiny” Frey berg was under the shadow of the dills when he gave up. He seemed certain to succeed, but linislied utterly exhausted, making no headway and being unable to understand the directions from the boat. He bad bad luck just to miss the tide, which might have carried him to Lhe shore. It would have been necessary to stay another four hours in the water so he accepted his friend’s advice to abandon the effort. Colonel Freylterg, who is serving in the Grenadier Guards has been swimming daily at a well-known West F.nd Club swimming bath and he was anxious to beat the record of sixteen hours twentythree minutes which Tirabosehi established in 1923. Frey berg was in the water seventeen hours ami his present feat is a curious contrast to bis swim of the Gulf of Saras when his skin was painted khaki. He won the D.S.O. for lighting (lares to draw the Turkish, fire at evacuation of Gallipoli. FREYBERG BEATEN BY A WIND.

LONDON, Aug. 5

Colonel Frcvberg was taken out of the water against Ids will. He strove with might and main in an effort for a whole hour to bridge the final gap through a turbulent raging sea, but the ebbing tide flowed too strongly, and carried him rapidly north, away from the shore. Frcyberg declared that lie would wait afloat for four hours till the tide turned, but eventually he yielded to the entreaties of bis wife and lii.s two small children, aboard a tug. The “Times” correspondent, who was on board tlie tug says:- “('sing the old English side stroke. Frcyberg swam strongly till be neared the vicinity ot tlio Goodwins, when a strong wind raised a heavy, choppy sea, reducing liis strokes from 19 per minute to 3 per minute. The wind lasted tor three hours, and it proved bis undoing, as soon after the title turned against him. Ho continued to strive heroically to make headway against the current. There., was n thrilling incident, when Frcyberg was three miles from Dover. He cast off bis costume, wearing only a slip. The spectators were astonished at the number of wounds that were revealed on his arms, legs and back. A number of non-coms and former men of the Army Service Corps, swam beside Frcyberg for company. ST.ru, LOOKING FOB ADVENTURE tßeceived this day at 9.0 a.in.) LONDON, August 0. The morning papers in their loaders pay a tribute to “Tiny” I'reyberg’s attempt. The "Westminster Gazette” says the most remarkable ieaturc was the precedent of Frcyberg not announcing his intentions. .Even yet we have not V been told what proprietary loods constituted his diet or wluic provisionally protected appliances were used to administer them. I lie photogiaphei s were completely surprised. Apparently it .suddenly occurred to Frcyberg that it would lie a good idea to swim the Channel, although it would be thought that his nine war wounds would have taken the edge off his keen craving for adventure. LONDON, August 0. Frcyberg states he is going to try again to swim the Channel.