The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-10-05
ENGLAND'S SWIMMING GIRL
TEN MILES AND a QUARTER IN TWO
HOURS AND 20 MIN UTES.
Five Thousand Spectators on London Bridge
and Five thousand Mt WooIwicb Gardens
A Lively Afternoon on the Thames.

and Five Thousand Mt Woolwich Gn nrdcns
A Lively Afternoon on the Thames.
LONDON. Sept. 21.-Miss Emily Parkers
swimming feat in the Thames on the 4th inst.
created an enthusiasm among the professional
swimmers Of London that led them to have
gold medal made in the form Of Maltese cross,
at an expense OF csc, to be presented to her in
woolwich Gardens on Saturday, the 18Th inst.
On receiving the message, Miss Parker turned to
her brother and said; Harry, shall I Ro2"
Certainly" said her brother; "go by all means"
"Then I'll swim down." said she "lts only ten
miles and quarter. and I know can swim IT,"
As the ebb tide was just commencing Its back
ward trip to the sea the 18th inst. reached
London Bridge, and found on II over Ave thou
sand persons anxiously awaiting the start.
Promptly at Eve o'clock T. NJ. little boat, In
the hands OF experienced oarsmen, shot under
the bridge. aud at three miDutes past nve
little Emily threw OF loose mantle, and In
silk, plunged into the current. was favored with
an Invitation to become member OF the family
party that accompanied her, In the bow OF the
boat stood an experienced waterman who was
familiar with the tides, eddies, aud currents.
behind him stood the viRilant and attn ctic
Harry Parker, his black frock coat emblanoned
right and left with n score or more OF gold and
silver medals that he had won by swimming. In
the Atlantic Swimming Club, who was timo-
keeper; and In the stern sat a sister of Miss
Parker, and myself.
MISS EMILY PARKER
was fourteen years of age on the I'D day OF Feb
ruary, 1876. She Is Of about the usual height OF
girls OF her AGE, but in plunipness she rivals the
fattest Of Berks county, Pa girls, for she weighs
lao pounds. she has ligbt complexion, her eyes
are mild blue, and her hair, light brown, she
as, tie coauettish knot. while the ends hang iowr
in natural Tinglets. Her nose Is slightly Roman,
her lips sweetly expressive and childlike. and
the general expression OF her face Is that OF
amiability and innocence. In swimming she
makes the "brcast stroke" putting the palms
close together as far out In front as she can
reach, and then turning the palms out and draw
Ing the hands back as far as the hips. Sue Is
the only human being that ever saw swim
without any apparent effort. She uses no oil or
snv other medicinal mixture on her body, but
trusts wholly to her own adipose matter TO Keep
her warm In the water. Capt. Webb used por-
poise oil when he crossed the English Channel.
between twenty and thirty boats, nlied with
preceded and surrounded Miss Parker during
the trip. The splashing OF oars and the rocking
OF boats frequently created such commotion In
the water that large dirty breakers sometimes
broke over her head and hid hcr entirely from
view. She always came UP with a smile, how
about the Thames at high TIDE not being the
best water for washing girls face. We were
frequently met or oycrtaken by steamers. and
the passengers waved their hats and hlndker-
chiefs and greeted the fair swimmer with
kissed her hand to the multitude ana bent
anew to the task before her, Her sistcr In our
boat frequently asked her whether she was cold,
and the reply Invariably was that she wao as
"nycly a a cricket
ONE FLASK or WINE.
When we started from London Bridge, a large
muscular but spare-heshed man took TO the
water. Al the expiration Of one hour we had
made four and nalf miles. The man had kept
up IN the race, but his face and neck were blue,
| and his teeth chartered with cold. Miss Park
| er's sister here exclaimed, Emily, know you
must be Soid Let me give you glass Of port
wine" Emily looked back over her shoulders
at the stalwart swim n. or In the rear, and replied
mo, thank you, don't wish any wine, but
ao Deg o. eu sse ssepsr Tss ooS 8ssS " %as
handed to the shlvering swimmer, and no gal
| lantly drank the last dropl few minutes after
| ward he was lifted into one OF the boats e1-
hausted.
| Attn expiration OF one hour and three guar
| ~ minutes-making the entire time 2hours and
| 20 minutes fot the lOS miles Miss Parker stood
| IN two feet of water at Moolwich Gardens
personally helped to lift her into the boat, an
| can testify that she seemed entirely Tree rom
| cold chil.s, and that her swimming costume was
| OF the thinnest material, without ruooer cork,
| or any inn .tion.
| TAKING DOWN MS TKAruERs.
While Miss Parker was swimming her last
mile. "a gentleman amateur" who desired 20
exhibit hi aquatic skin, donncd appropriate
| costume, plunged into the water, and TOOK tue
lead with apparent ease. lhe gin was evidently
mans skill, freshness, and tmpudence COM
bined annoyed her After about five minutes,
brother, and said HAIRY that man Is trying
to show himselfi DO jump into the water and
| take down a few of his feathers.
| throwing on his bejeweled coat, Harry in
Atantly appeared Ia complete swimming cos
tune. lie plunged In. and taking what is mere
| called the "overhand," OF "JOhnsOn stroke, "
he rose, shot aud skipped THROUGH the current
| like playful uorpoise. within two minutes, he
| was to the right TO the left under, behind, and
| In front OF the youth VINO was exhibiting him
| self ana with eyes starting from their sOcAets,
| the amateur screamed to his friends, For q cd q
sake help me into the boat !" Mr.. Parker, who
Is about "a years Of age, Is the winner OF over l0J
| pnZes, and has swan the quickest 5OO yards on
| record.
over 500 persons stood on the banks In
| Woolwich Gardens to greet US, and as We lifted
| the happy girl INTO our boat "A wdg yelled out
| " Three cheers for the little darling that ought
| to be queen OF the sicily Islands" They were
| given with enthusiasm. Emily went with her
| sister intp the hotel to dress, and few minutes
| afterward Manager Holland led her on TO the
stage Of his theatle. and In the presence OF oyei
| 1900 persons. IVAN ONT,