The San Francisco call., 1897-10-18
The California Clubs Medal
Won in Unprecedented
Time.
Three Men Breast the Waves
Round the Seal Rocks and
Beat Cavill's Record
The Time Made in the Trip Was Five
Minutes Faster Than Has Hitherto
Been Accomplished.

The efforts of the California Swim ming
Club to revive interest in natatorial sports
met with he most encouraging success
yesterday afternoon. when an immense
crowd lined the beach south of the Cliff
House to watch the rough-water swim
ming contest for the gold medal offered
by the club. There were eleven starters,
three succeeded in getting clear round the
rocks, two touched the rock and came
back the long way against the current
and the winner surpassed CavilPs record
by five minutes.
r. B. Cornell, on whose breast the
beautiful gold medal was fastened as the
reward of victory, went over what Is
called the long course in thirty minutes,
and George A. Henke, who was second.
made the trip in thirty-four minutes, he
also going over the long course. A. Baker,
who went around by what is known as
| the short course, took only twenty-nlne
minutes, and as the short CO urse was the
route on which the Australian swimmer
N ade what has hitherto been the fastest
time on record, all three of the above
mentioned men have beaten CavilPs rec
ord of thirly-fve minutes.
The long course is from the end of the
Olympic pier. around the outmost rocks.
and then back to the beach south of the
Cliff House. it is estimated to be nearly
a quarter of a lille farther than the short
course. which is from the starting point
around the rocks to the landing back of
the Sutro Baths. The swimmers yester-
day went with the current down to the
rocks and coming back they had to force
their way against it. There was one
starter who turned back when only a Jew
hundred yards from the pier and the swell
was so heavy he seemed for several
minutes to be making no pro ress a all
although exerting himself 10 the utmost.
1t must have appeared 10 him for while
as if it were more difficult for him to re-
turn than to go round the rocks. When
he did finally reach the foot OF the pier he
was so exhausted he could barely drag
himself out of the water. Four others
successively dropped out of the race and
reached the beach with considerable ditfi-
Guilty through the surf
The two VINO touched the rocks and re-
turned to the beach, 4. Barrett and o. G..
Schultz. ma ade the trip in 26 minutes j.
Phillips was taken with cramps when far
out in the ocean and had TO give up his
efforts to reach the rocks. His right leg
became useless and he was compelled TO
swim with one leg to the beach. The next
man to come in was A. Baker, who bad
started out with banner of the club b. in
tending to valiantly storm the rocks and
plant the flag thereon in spite OF any
efforts the sea!ions might make to repel
the assault, but when he arrived at the
loot of the ROCKS the monsters looked so
menacins his courage failed him and he
cded to swim round. However, as he
beat Cavill's record by six minutes ne won
laurels enough to satisfy him for cne day.
Next Sunday party OF the swimmers
will 60 to the rocks with rubber shoes on
to protect their feet, and Will plant The
clubs banner on the top of ii. George A.
Henkel came in four minutes after Cor
neil and was loudly cheered By the mem.
bcrs of tie club who were very anxiouslv
awaiting him. His teeth were chattering
with the long exposure to the cold water
and he seemed very much tagged out.
A. w. Wehe, the new president of the
club, was the sta rter. II. Herizog and NJ
Visoureux were the judge. and Leo
Allenberg, A. Hanton and R. Patterson
were the timekeepers. The club intends
TO continue these rough-water races and
hopes to cause a revival OF interest in
swimming. and to increase their mem ber-
ship. K. b. Cornell will ins ruct all the
new mem bers in the art in which he is so
expert. Next Sunday at o'clock there
Will be another contest In the ocean. Cor
nell challenges all corners to swim with
b m for the cham pionship he now holds.
Tne prizes next Sunday will be gold and
a silver mecaL.