IN WATER THREE DAYS

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1931, Page 6

IN WATER THREE DAYS

PUC'KY .Maori woman. | I WORLD EXIH'R.AXTE RECORD. SYDNEY, April 27. ' Mi ss Ivatherina Xelniii. a married woman with lour children, broke the I world's record lor endurance swimming ! at Ralmoral baths. Svdnev, this week, l i ■ ’ ! when she remained in the water for 72 l hours t) minutes. j She takes her miadew Maori name of ! X hua J'or these contests, hut she is | the wife of a Sydney resident. Her I first essay at this type of swimming was at the Manly baths, when site ; swam second to Miss Mercedes Gleitze !in the contest during which Miss Ok'it/.e broke her own endurance 'record. Miss N’chiia earned many enjionmnuv on her plucky effort on that i occasion. Her recent record-breaking feat was undertaken on behalf of a local hospital in distress, and the gallant- woman remained in the water for more than three days. As the time drew near for the record to bo broken the baths were so overcrowded with curious sightseers that hundreds had to he satisfied with a verbal description as they sat in the park outside. Remarkable scenes of enthusiasm were witnessed as the announcement was made than. Miss Xehua had succeeded in breaking the world’s record. The crowd sang “For She’s a •lolly flood Fellow” and other rousing J songs as the woman paddled on for another five minutes. Then she was assisted from the water, and under ambulance treatment soon became sufficiently restored to lie taken home. Her attendant, who had remained with ! her during the whole of the time, col- | lapsed at the completion, of the at- | tempt. She was in worse plight than tile game record-breaker Interviewed after she had taken a bmg sleep. Miss Xehua said that the last few hours of the attempt were agonising. She could barely keep her <*vps ooeu and the cold was intense. Tlie weather was cold, and rain fell beavilv at times. ‘At any future time, should I be called uimn to defend my new rc-onV' she said. ”1 will insist that, it be done in tepid water, such as that used bv endurance swimmers of the same type in other parts of the world. For two hours before I nassed the old figu.ro l was too afraid fo swim near file boat in which mv trainer sat. T knew that il 1 did. T would not have been able to resist the temptation to bold on to the side of the boat. And that would have disqualified me.”