Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-09-02
MAINTAINS HIS REPUTATION.

John Leland Henderson, a former
resident Of this city, who left here
several years ago, and located for Il
time at Bay st. Louis, Miss, and
I lately became resident of Hood
River, Ogn., lately performed feat
in swimming which surpaSscs the one
he made Il year or more ago on the
Mississippi river, which was phe-
nomenal test of endurance and elected
much comment at the time
On the 23d ult, he swan in the
cold water of the Columbia from the
island at the mouth of Hood River
to a point two miles above the locks,
Il distance of 20 miles, in five hours
and five minutes, feat said to be I'M
PARALLEL, except it may have been by
Paul BoyntOn, the professional SWIM
mer, but it will be remembered he
made his famous exploit in II water
proof bathing suit, which protected
him in a large degree from the chill of
the water.
Mr.. lIcndcrson's exploit is described
in detail by +. T. Winans. of Hood
River, who accompanied him in boat,
and who makes affidavit to the state.
ment, which we copy from the Hood
Riper Giacier, in part as follows
Mr.. Henderson and | rowed out to
the island at the mouth of Hood
river. There he undrcssed, and after
he had been thoroughly rubbed down
about the head and neck with vasaline
and charcoal dust, and the rest of his
body with sweet oil, we continued to
the middle of the river, and at 7 80
A. NJ. he took his plunge into old
Father Columbia and turned his head
for Cascade Locks, keeping the gem
cral current in the river and crossing
the stream four times before he left
the water ut or near the creek that
runs into the Columbia ut point on
the Oregon side just two miles above
the locks, ut | o'clock p. NJ, Just )
hours and . minutes after he took his
plunge. The most remarkable part of
the performance is that he swan the
90 miles without losing single
stroke, and the first IL miles of it
without Il change of stroke He used
during the first four hours the "sailOr-
stroke" which he says is the only one
worth anything in rough water or on
long swims generally. At other times
ne used the Sundstrom stroke" and
only twice did he turn on his back
and swim for a few strokes. He could
easily have made the locks in % min
utes more, but he was so cold that he
feared heart complications. His body
felt to the touch like dead persons,
it was so cold, and for few minutes
he could scarcely stand. He dressed
himself, however, and then walked
through the hot sun to the Locks,
while | took the boat down. The sun
and heat made him some sick, but
otherwise he complained of no stiffness
or soreness and seemed to be very
fresh, On his return he weighed him.
self and found that he had lost just
five pounds. He weighed, SO he told
me, ISL pounds at starting and 176
pounds on return, weighed on the |
same scales. During the whole trip
he conversed with me, at times, and
hurrahed to every person he saw on
the shore, and his wind and strength
seemed undiminished. Nothing but
the terrible cold OF the water pre-
vented his accomplishing his task
which he had imposed on himself, and
which was undertaken simply for his
love OF sport, as he is good all round
athlete. He is willing, so he tells me,
to meet any man on the coast in a
2O-mile swim in the Columbia river or
, 1O-mile swim in the Pacific ocean
'or any sized purse, say 81 900 side,
provided the race is made after his
'tyle-straight away, without change
)f stroke. He assures me that for
seven years at his former home at BAY
St. Louis, Mississippi, he has held
both the long distance professional
md amateur championships, and that
lie has never been defeated. judging
rom what saw with my own ewes,
lie is telling the truth. l believe there
) not another man in the State that
an duplicate his last effort.