SWIMMING.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1927, Page 4

SWIMMING.

/Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.')

SWIMMEI! GIVES IP. LONDON. Oct. 21. i Mercedes Gleitze gave up the Channel swim eight miles from Dover. CHANNEL SWIM KAILS. LONDON, Oct. 22. Miss Mercedes Gleitze concluded one of the most amazing and courageous long-distance swims ever undertaken, when she was lifted from the water five miles from Dover. Kniversal sympathy was shown to her, because it was realised that she had undertaken the vindication of her honour, following on Dr Logan’s hoax. No swim has ever attracted such attention. It was followed by a host ol witnesses. When Miss Gleitze started at three o'clock in the morning the weather was overcast and cold and breakers were rolling in with such force that the boats were half filled with water. Nevertheless. the swimmer was extraordinarily cheerful, and despite the temperature of the water fob degreesi. she refused to swim under the lee ol' the boat. She called for a nine from the hand, which consisted of two musicians. They, however. Were too seasick to comply. Newspaper men thereupon struck up some popular songs.

The swimmer became obviously increasingly tired. Her smiles were less spontaneous and her arms and lace were blue with the cold. At last the critical moment came, at one o'clock, when the strong flood tide, from which

Miss Gleitze had reaped an advantage, ceased, and she was being swept away by the ebb tide, which she was unable to resist. Nevertheless, the swimmer insisted on continuing. An hour later her trainer suggested that she shoulld give up. and received an emphatic negative. Miss Gleitze continued for another three-quarters of an hour, when steps were lowered from the boat, but she swam away. It was not ti her trainer and pilot lassnoed her tha she ceased her resistance and was pulled aboard, amidst a spontaneous burst of cheering, and sank down exhausted. Sbe said: "It would be unsportsmanlike to cry against my luck. I failed, but 1 am not ashamed. From the first moment I entered the water 1 felt cold. 1 ,tit was not going to give myself away. I was taken out against my will, and I could have continued longer.”