TO TRY THE CHANNEL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 39, 14 February 1913, Page 8

TO TRY THE CHANNEL.

DICK.MAN’S GREAT RESOLVE. (By Merman in tho Sydney Daily Telegraph.) Champion professional swimmer Oscar Dickrnan is seeking new worlds to conquer. He leaves next month for America. Later he goes to England. The Sydney youth, who claims to he the world’s champion profession swimmer from 220yds. on, sails for America at the end of next month or the beginning of April. He goes—perhaps not to retni'n again—to do things. Dickrnan will, ho says, endeavour to get matches with America!) professionals—if there are any—and he will give exhibitions in public. He expects to draw well, for does ho not hold the world’s professional records for 220yds. 880yds., 1000yds., and one mile, and are not the 880yds and 1000yds records greater than the amateur performances? Perhaps if opportunity offers, he will do ( as tho Cavill brothers did, and stay in America. There may be eventually, ho thinks, a chance of becoming attached to one of the many big American athletic organisations as swimming instructor, coach, or trainer. And if the inducements offered for such a position are sufficient, Dickrnan may eventually make lis homo in the States. Such an occupation would be right into Ins hands. It would not interfere with his swimming, and such work would bo agreeable to him. And the opportunity should come his way, for he knowthe science of swimming from A to Z, or, perhaps, it would be more ap propriate to say from “dog paddle to “crawl.” But Dickrnan sprang a big surprise on the writer. “I’ve got something else in view as well,” he said yesterday. “Oh,” said tho pressman, “and what’s that?” “Well,” said the pride of the league, “I’m going to swim tho Channel.” The pressman gasped. “And,” continued the champion, “1 expect to do it in about 20 hours.” The reporter looked about for assistance. “You don’t mean it,” he said at last. “Yes, certainly,” said tho 9st 21b disturber of placid waters. “Oh, no, I’m quite right in the head. I’ve always wanted to have a try at that swim, and now' that I am going away I mean to visit England and have a cut at it. If I can’t get there I’ll go further than any Australian has ever gone.” Only two men have succeeded in swimming the Channel—Captain Matthew Webb, in 1875, and T. W. Burgess, in 1911. The former, starting from Calais, in France; swam to Dovei in 22h. dOmin. Burgess struck out from South Foreland, cfi tho English coast ami after being 23b. 40min. in che water landed at Cape Grizncz (France). Several Australians have made attempts, but witli tho exception of F. Cavill and Miss Annette Kellerman, only went a few miles. It is asserted that Cavill crossed in the remarkable time of 14 hours, but the feat is not generally accepted as genuine. Tho “Australian mermaid” covered 12 miles in 6 hours, and then had to give up on tho Varne Sandbank, so fatal to Channel swimmers because of sea-sickness.