SWIMMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1927, Page 3

SWIMMING.

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) CHANNEL FAKE. (Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON, Oct, IG. The “News of the World” announces Doctor Dorothy Logan did not swim the Channel at all. She merely spent nine hours in a. fishing smack wrapped up in blankets 1 , in order to prove the necessity for an official international commission to check the claims of Channel swimmers. She handed back the £IOOO cheque which she received from the “News of the World” as a prize for boating Miss Ederle’s record. Logan who had previously sworn an affidavit to the crossing walked into the office of Sir Elmsley Carr, editor of the “News of the World”

and said “I called to ask it you still ' believe I really swam the Channel because I did 'nothing of the kind. *. I want you to tell the world but I hope the public will forgive the deception which was aimed at showing the new summer craze has unparalleled opportunities for hood-winking. It will be noticed my statements were confined to the beginning and end of the swim. There is no reference to mid Channel.” Ijogan continued: I reached Grisnez in darkness. Members of the crew agreed not to reveal anything for one month. I walked

into the sea at 7.40. It was apparent to everyone I could not swim the V Channel that night, so I was taken " out at 9.30, and I retired to the caibin. The pilot wanted me to resume at daylight but I waited till eight o’clock in order to ho seen landing' in full view of South lorela,nd sighthoue. I resumed tine© miles from the shore landing at Folkestone.” , As a proof that the hoax was deliberate, the “News of the World’ inspected a letter signed by Logan anc deposited in a safe in the Imperial Hotel, Hythe, before startingl declare if the conditions are faeenable I hope to swim the Channel straight forwardly and unnssistedly. If they are unfavourable I will, cioss ! somehow to prove the necessity for independent umpires. I unc el Vj if there is a fake to publish the full facts within a month. LONDON, Oct. 16. ; Me connection with the Channel swim Dr Dorothy Logan explains that she used the fictitious name of McLellan primarly because she did not wish to involve tho medical profession in a hoax. She admitted the letter deposited in the safe could have been recovered by her, but her intention was so honest she did not think of directing the letter to be opened at a certain date.