THE INTERNATIONAL SWIM.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4235, 16 October 1874, Page 3

THE INTERNATIONAL SWIM.

The New York Herald of the 29th August, has a long and interesting narrative of “ the international swim for 2000 dollars and the World’s Championship, at Pleasure Bay.” There were 10,000 spectators present. The competitors were : —Andrew Trautz, an American; Wm. Johnson, Englishman; and a Erenchman. The following is a condensed account of the swimming : THE START. On arriving at a point three miles from the dock, the men were transferred to the deck of the Kate, a small steam yacht, which had consented to allow the start to take place from her deck, and to point out the way to the swimmers. At precisclv 4.27 p.m., the signal was given, and the men plunged in together. They immediately struck out vigorously, two or three strokes taking them clear of the steamer and the boats. 4.3o.—Trautz, swimming steadily, with his strong stroke, drew gradually ahead of Johnson, who was also swimming on his cheat, and apparently with less power than the American. The pace of both was good. At this moment the Frenchman, Andre, who has been following up the two champions for some time, and avowed his intention of swimming with them whenever the match came off, was seen taking to the water a short distance in the rear of the swimmers, apparently resolved to contest the race with them. EXHIBITION OF BRILLIANT STROKES. 4.32.—-Trautz turned on his back and swam swiftly and steadily, making nearly as muck headway as in his straight swimming. Johnson also altered his position, turning on his side and showing his wonderful overhand stroke and swimming about a foot under water for the first time. The exhibition of this feat drew forth loud applause from the surrounding boats, to which Johnson replied by barking loudly in the water like a Newfoundland dog. 4.34. —While Johnson was playing these antics in the water, Trautz continued to swim steadily and swiftly along, holding his load, 4.35. —Trautz was now fully ten yards in advance, the men being about twenty yards apart, their trainers’ boats keeping slightly in advance of each. Johnson now made one of his astonishing leaps, in which he darted ten or twelve yards forward, and drew up even with the American. 4.37. —Trautz now made a dozen vigorous strokes, and again drew ahead of the English champion. 4.38. —Johnson again threw himself on his side, and, sinking a foot below the surface, lying as straight as nn arrow, put in a dozen of his underhand strokes, and came abreast of Trautz. As ho appeared above the water Trautz responded to the spurt by letting out his own straight steady stroke, and again drew ahead, amid loud cheers for the American. The men had nbw_been ten minutes in the water, and it began to be evident to every beholder that Johnson was reserving his strength —in fact, that ho was simply playing iu the water, and that when the necessity arrived he

could put on much greater speed, although the pace was fast enough to astonish the spectators.

JOHNSON “ SPURTS,” 4.43, —Johnson again, made half-a-dozen of his tremendous and effective plunges, darting through the water with wonderful speed, with his head submerged, and again drew up to within two or three yards of his competitor. Trautz responded with a succession of powerful sweeps, and regained ' a good lead. Loud cheers for the American. • •

4,44.—The men had now swum just one quarter of the distance, according to the judgment of an old Pleasure Bay waterman, familiar with every inch of the land and water. Time, 17m. Trautz still ahead. Whiteman, his trainer, now shouted to'him from the boat, “ Best yourself on your back !” “ Plenty of time,” replied Trautz, smiling, and in a tone of voice that showed him to be cool and strong. .Again cheers went up for the American. 4.51. —Johnson, thirty or forty yards in the rear, turned round and splashed water over a rower, who was close behind him, at the same time turning a somersault in the water. His backers shouted to him from the sailing vessels not to fool too much. Several voices urged him to go ahead. Johnson smiled in reply. . JOHNSON WORKING HARDER. 4.52. —As if in response to the cries, however, the Englishman now threw in his great overhand strokes, laying as straight as an arrow just below the surface of the water, head under, and dashing forward with wonderful speed. Shouts went up for him from all sides, and as he rose above water he shook his head laughingly and barked. 5.00. Trautz still pushed steadily and powerfully on; his speed astonishing his friends and his coolness showing that he would last the entire distance in as good shape. As he drew further ahead his friends cheered lustily, and many of them imagined that his surprising strength and steadiness would -win despite the wonderfully effective spurts of the Englishman, 5.01. Johnson now put in a succession of his overhand strokes and evidently meant business.

6.o2.—Trautz contested the lead gallantly and both men made two minutes of magnificent swimming, almost breast to breast, on a straight line. A large sailing boat 'with a party of New Yorkers on board, including Captain Irving of the detective force, Joe Coburn and other notorieties, distinguished itself by sailing across the track and among the rowing boats, to the annoyance of the swimmers and spectators. JOHNSON AHEAD. 5.01.—0ne half the distance was now completed—time, 37 minutes—Johnson ahead and both men swimming finely. Trautz turned on his back for change, but made almost as much headway as in straight swimming. The men retained their relative positions, Johnson about two lengths ahead,-for the next three minutes. 5.07. —The American again spurted and drew ahead. There were shouts from several of the boats to both men to swim more to the right. Up to this time Trabtz had been swimming on the right and Johnson to his left. Johnson now changed these positions by swimming to the right of Trautz, in response to the instructions of his trainer, Goodell. TRAUTZ AGAIN AHEAD. 5.08. —Johnson fell further behind, but, as if to prove that he was satisfied with this position, turned and splashed the company in the nearest boat. The track was again blocked with boats and the judges had enough work to keep the course clear for the swimmers. 5.10. —Both were swimming steadily and almost in a line. The current that had set against them was now passed and the pace of the swimmers increased. There were shouts to Trautz to put his head under, but his trainer told him to keep as he was. He was doing well and was evidently strong and fresh. s.l2.—Johnson had now swam fifty yards to the right of Trautz, and had evidently taken the best course. The dock was in sight round the bend, and the Englishman had the most direct line to the winning post. At this time Johnson’s swimming was very fine, his head about two-thirds of the time underwater, his body in a direct line just below the surface, and his stroke straight down with his left hand and over his head with his right, driving him rapidly forward. He drew ahead of the American amid loud applause. Trautz was also swimming in splendid style. 5.15. —The positions of the men were unchanged. The Britisher was about six yards in advance. The steam yacht blew its whistle and Johnson’s loud bark was heard in reply. The steady swimming, without change, went on for the next three minutes.

5.18. —The track was now covered with boats, which were with difficulty kept away, the big yacht of the New Yorkers again making itself a nuisance. The two Swimmers were again almost in a line, and both were making strong efforts, although without appearing to be at all exhausted by their exertions. 5.20. —Johnson now showed superior speed, passing ahead with apparent ease, while Trautz continued on with his unvarying stroke. 5.21. —Three : quarters of the distance finished ; time—s 4. minutes, the last quarter having been done in 17 : minutes. Positions unchanged. s.2o.—Johnson had increased hia lead to about twenty yards, when Trautz made some splendid swimming, turning for the first time on his side, and drew up to within six yards of the English champion. ONCE MORE EVEN. 5.27. —The American quickened his stroke, and drew breast to breast with Johnson. 5.30. —The struggle was now intense, and the excitement great. Trautz swung out with vigor, and. by a splendid effort drew ahead of Johnson amid the loud applause of the multitude on the water and ashore. Johnson was also putting out his strength, but was apparently only desirous of holding his position, and not falling behind at this stage of the race. 5.32. —Once more Johnson’s head disapappeared from view, and his wonderful overhand stroke was seen driving him through the water. He rose breast to breast with the American. NEARING THE GOAL. 5.34,—1’he excitement was now at its height. The men were nearing the dock, and the thousands of people ashore sent up shout after shout in response to the cheers of those on the water. At this instant, while the men were almost on a line, the Englishman suddenly let _ out his enormous reserved strength. Throwing himself forward head down, as if he had been propelled from-a cannon, he shot swiftly past the American. Over went the right arm in a succession of strokes, each of which seemed to drive the swimmer forward like a steam engine. Not only past Trautz, but past the rowers he shot, and it was evident that the race was over. “Oh ! good morning ! ” “ That settles it ! ” and similar remarks went up on every side, and the applause from the water and the shore was deafening. THE WINNING. The American, nothing daunted, struggled gallantly on, and as a last chance, made a desperate spurt by overhand swimming ; but his efforts were all in vain, and it would have taken a steamboat to pass Johnson in his wonderful closing effort. Over and over went the right hand of the English champion, his body just skimming along the surface of the water and his tremendous speed never relaxing until the dock was reached. JOHNSON THE VICTOR. At sh. 37ra. 30s. Johnson passed the winning line, having swam the distance of three miles in Ih. 10m. 30s.' Trautz reached the dock Im. 525. later, swimming the distance in Ih. 12m. 225. The swimming of both men was splendid throughout, but Johnson is a wonder, and he is ready to swim a,ny man in the world a fair racing distance. The mysterious Frenchman was about a mile behind at the finish.