ENDURANCE SWIM

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1931, Page 3

ENDURANCE SWIM

TRIBUTES TO WINNER. ..UNNER'UP HEROIC WOMAN. (Australian Press Association.) SYDNEY, February 2. Fervent scenes marked the cud of tin* endurance swim, 'twice the police had to intervene in order to stop the community singing. The baths lessee dived in ami kissed the hand of the winner. Mereccdes Gleitzo. Four other men then lowered a blanket beneath Miss Glcit/.c, and lifted her bodily from the water. airs Nehua, who ran Miss Gleilze so close, entered the Contest in order to save her family from starvation. Her husband, who is a motor mechanic has been out of work for nine months. It was decided as a last desperate throw that, their ha by should be weaned, and that the mother should try for the rich endurance prize. Unable to buy special grease, the plucky wife entered the water coated with olive oil, glycerine and black axle grease. Special nourishment was provided for her by the officials while she was competing.

In addition to LIOO out of the prize money which was magnifieieiil.lv offered to her by Mercedes Gleilze, Mrs Neliua also receives L'l(!() for secom: money and so to-day all is changed in the Velina family due to the mother's grit. There arc four children and they all reside in a small cottage at the seaside resort of C'oHaroy. Mercedes Gleilze received a tremendous ovation, after which she took an ambulance vehicle to a leading city hotel, where she went to bed.

OFFICIALS STOP THE WINNER. SYDNEY, February 2 The official times in the endurance swim were:— Mercedes Gleiizo—Tdirx lominss .Mrs .Velma—47lirs 52'.mins Miss Copplestone : —4ohrs TOmins. Mercedes Gleitzo was interviewed. She said she could have gone on for a week, but tbe officials 'decided that no good piumose could lie served. The officials beckoned her to cease. !