"SPOOFING" THE YANKEE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 14 November 1907, Page 4

"SPOOFING" THE YANKEE.

MISS KELLERMAN AS A DROWNING \yOMAN. LONDON, September 6. Miss Annette Kellerman, who is fulfilling an engagement in Chicago, lias been playing the "spoof" game with some sailors. . According to the Chicago Evening American, which devotes over seven columns to the affair, Mies Kellerman, whilst dining with some friends in the Casino, stated that, in her opinion; British sailors were more gallant than the American article. The "Americans" naturally objected to this, and after chaffing the Mermaid, questioned her own pluck, and asserted that if even such a good swimmer as herself were to fall overboard in ordinary walking attire, she would lose her confidence. Miss Kellerman retorted that if that happened she did not imagine for a moment that any man would have the pluck to go in and try to save her. This was a challenge, or accepted as one by the Americans, and they suggested that Miss Kellerman could easily prove herself right and them wrong by action. The young lady accepted the wager, and with intentions unknown to any but the party of, six, a few days later all went aboard the j excursion steamer Pere Marquette to bring off the affair. The steamer went out m Lake Michigan, and when about six miles from land a cry was heard "woman overboard." Immediately the word was passed. Purser Jenkins, who was on the lower deck, leaped overboard, stopping only to remove his cap and coot. He was a capital swimmer, and with a few good strokes had got to the side of the Mermaid, and at once grabbed < her by the Ijair. Then another came j over the side after the supposed suicide, one Donnell McDougal, who, in his hurry for glory, almost landed on the top of the other two, and, as it was, gave .Jenkins an awful kick. 'then a paseen* ger named R&ber wanted to leap in, but he was held back. Whilst Miss Kellerman was playing the drowning person in aipital style, the lifeboat was lowered and proceeded to the rescue, but by thgi time it arrived Jenkins was in a bad , and in such a state of collapse tiiut the "suicide" was holding'him up. All were, pulled -into the boat, but Jenkins was very bad, and a couple of doctors had to work at the resuscitation drill for an hoar before he regained consciousness. When the crew Heard of the trick that had been played they were exceedingly 1 angry with the Australian girl, one suggesting that "she ought to be well walloped," but the Mermaid explained that the incident was not without its merits,. for it demonstrated to everybody that the men on the steamer were gallant and ready to face danger in order to save life. This turned the scale in her favor, but the passengers then had to be reckoned with, for they had had a fright. "All right," said the Mermaid, "I'll give them an exhibition," and forthwith she dived from the captain's bridge | and performed in the water for their j amusement.