MRS. HAMILTON’S SWIM.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1921, Page 11

MRS. HAMILTON’S SWIM.

A MYSTERIOUS RECORD. Recently it was announced that Mrs. Arthur Hamilton, daughter of Sir Charles and Lady Fairlie-Cunningliame, in her attempt to swim the English .Channel, had stayed in the water 21 hours, during which time she covered 20 miles. Mrs. Hamilton, it was stated, started from Cape Grisnez, on the French side, and gave up when only three miles from Deal. The feat, it is, claimed, is a world’s record for ladies. Mrs. Hamilton was accompanied on her swim by a vessel manned by three men and a eabin boy, but no English representative, and in view of the doubts which have been thrown on her statement, 'it is thought by the News of the Wwld that Mrs. Hamilton should take the press into her confidence and publish the chart and log book of the swim. The usual course in Channel swims is to be accompanied by members of the press and trainers, but these were not present in this ease. The well-know swimmer, Mr. J. A. Jarvis, trained Mrs. Hamilton, but neither he nor her coach and adviser, Mr. C. Newham, accompanied her on her attempt. There is said to have been a difference of one hour forty minutes in Mrs. time and that given by the captain of the boat, while there is also the admission of the latter that a rope was thrown overboard to assist Mrs. Hamilton while feeding. A News of the World correspondent who made inquiries at Cape Grisnez failed to find a per- ' son who witnessed the start, and the look-out man at Cape Grisnez stated that he saw nothing that would attract any special attention, nor even a tug which could have stood the test of a Channel crossing. He added that the water at the time of Mrs. Hamilton’s | start, although not rough, was not suit- | able for swimming. In his opinion men like Jabez Wolffe and Montague Holbern could not have “lived” in it for any length of time.

Another point is that the tide at the time of commencing was on the top of the springs, which must have carried Mrs. Hamilton toward the North Sea at a rapid rate. The sporting records of England are jealously kept, and only th 4 most genuine feats, which are vouched for by unimpeachable witnesses or officials, are allowed to find a place in them; it is asking something of the sporting public to expect them to accept this swim unless Mrs. Hamilton produces corroboration which can be relied upon. Mrs. Hamilton is, believes the News of the World, between 45 and 50 years of age. It may be of interest to many to learn what the top of spring tide means. Both Holbein and Wolffe—men of above the average weight —have attempted the crossing when only half springs were running, with the result that, after four to six hours’ hard swimming, they failed to get more than a mile from shore. .Yet we are told that this frail little lady of Bst 61b succeeded, when the tide was running up to the North Sea at a terrific pace. It is quite evident, from the facts we have .quoted, that doubt exists as to whether Mrs. Hamilton really accomplished the feat credited to her.