WOMAN’S GREAT SWIM.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1921, Page 5

WOMAN’S GREAT SWIM.

TWENTY HOURS IN THE WATER. THRILLING EXPERIENCES. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received August 22, 5.5 p.m. w London, August 21. Mrs. Hamilton, who gave up her attempt to swim the English Channel three miles from Deal, left Cape Griznez (France) at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning and only gave up after twenty hours’ continuous swimming, which is a world’s record for a woman. Interviewed by the Daily Express, she said she commenced the attempt two days before she originally planned, because she had terrible dreams during several preceding nights, “in which I depicted myself struggling and battling in the water.” Referring to her swim, Mrs. Hamilton said: “The worst part of the ordeal came with the darkness, when dense fogbanks rolled up and ships’ hooters added to the weird and uncanny experiences. I heard porpoises lashing all round. My companions then stated we had passed the South Goodwin lightship. At dawn my endurance was most severely taxed. I felt I was being carried down Channel, and was totally unable to proceed. I was practically helpless and had to be taken out bodily into a boat. When I recovered I felt like a jolly good cry. I was terribly disappointed to get so near and yet fail, but I intend to try again in 1922.”—Au5.-N.Z. Gable Assn.

[Cape Gris-nez is near Calais and opposite Dover. It is the point where France is nearest to England, and the distance is barely twenty miles. Deal is on the coast of Kent.]