New-York tribune., 1908-08-17
RACE TO CONEY ISLAND
SIX SWIM FROM BATTERY.
TzCO WOmen ShO7o Great Pluck and
Endurance IN Hard Contest.

Weak and almost exhausted, John ]. For
rester. watchman employed In the Brooklyn
Sewer Department, who lives at No. 34 Cheever
place, Brooklyn. reached Coney Island at 5:15
last evening, after having beaten thirty-three
competitors in the seventh annual swim of the
United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps
which started from Pier 4, East River, at 12:30.
Two women among the strong swimmers
who started off on the long journey down the
Bay, out through the Narrows and over to
Coney Island, the being about twelve
miles long.
Just the sun-tanned swimmers dived off the
pier Miss Clara T. Hurst, of Staten Island
who has competed in several long swimming
| races, hit log. and at first 1t was thought
she had dislocated her jaw. She continued on,
however, and the pain soon left her. The other
woman competitor was Miss Augusta Gallup
who is a member of the subdivision branch of
the corps at 1o0th street and the East River
Both showed wonderful pluck and en-
durance. They kept on even terms with the
best of the men, and did not quit until Nor
toms Point was reached, and then against their
viii. the committee in charge believing that II
would be dangerous for them to swim further,
as the tide was turning and it was growing
dusk
More than three thousand persons, stationed
along the various vantage points, saw the star L
of encouragement as long they could be
heard by the competitors. Like well trained
regiment the thrty-three swimmers took the
water together and for at least half a mile
they kept well together. After picking out the
trainers and boats assigned to them the swim
mers began to increase their speed, and slowly
the stars drew away from the field 1t soon be
came apparent that the record wouldn't fall, as
there was considerable traffic all along the route
taken by the swimmers. Big steamboats,
churned up the water, and gradually the men
dropped out, exhausted by the beating of the
waves against them.
Several of the swimmers had narrow escapes
from drowning and many Of them suffered from
cramps and had to quit long before they reached
the Narrows Walter Patterson, of Schenec-
tady, who believed to have a good chance
to finish among the leaders, seized with
cramps while off NCrton's Point He was
hauled into the boat almost dead from fatigue
At a late hour last night he had not fully
recovered from exhaustion. DR.. Ferguson, an
osteopath, who attended him, however, said that
Patterson would have to remain in bed for sew
eral days, though he did not think his condi-
| ton especially serious. Henry Smolensky, who,
with H. Lnnenkohle of the branch at East
Tooth street, the He'll Gate swim last year.
went suddenly while off the Crescent Ath-
letic Club. His trainer, who following him
| in boat few feet in the rear, dived after him
and brought him to the surface He was taken
aboard the press boat and attended by a sur
geon- He had to be sent home in a carriage
John Gfday, who recently broke the record
for the swim across He'll Gate became doubled
up with cramps while off Fort Hamilton, and
was forced to quit. Thomas Webb of South
Norwalk, Conn, heraIded the best amateur
long distance swimmer in his state, found the
/
two-mie mark had been passed. Long before
he quit his trainer tried in every way to encour-
age him, and for half hour Webb fought
blindly on. apparently dazed.
Ten minutes after Forester, the winner, ar
| rived at Coney Island, Edward Tenthoff, twenty
nine years old, of No. 2115 Eighth avenue. pad
died slowly in. He was still strong, but the salt
water and bright sun had nearly blinded him.
Where am -" asked Tenthoff.
You have just crossed the finishing line,'
said his trainer.
He was greatly pleased, but cast down a
moment later when he was told that he had
finished second. According to his trainers
Tenthof making good speed until Norton S
Point reached. Although they called to him
time and again that he was going out of his
course, he paid little attention to them. When
they realized that something wrong the
trainer rowed close to the swimmer and led him
to the finish. TenthOff reached Norton's Point
fully five minutes before Forester. but the loss
of his sight at that time caused him to head for
the Staten Island shore.
The most surprising spectacle of the day was
the remarkable finish of Charles HURT nine
teen -year-od boy, who is a life guard at As
bury Park, and lives at Plainfield n. j. He
apparently the strongest of the six who
finished. HURT the third in the race and
crossed the finish line half hour after Tent
hoff. He complained that his trainer was not
acquainted with the course, and a result he
had lost much time. Many of the other swim
Iners had the same complaint to make after
the
After HURT came Arthur Bennett John De-
meyer and l. F. D. Levey, finishing in that
order The last arrived at go O'Clock.
The winners time hours and 46 min
utes or at the rate of more than two miles an
hour
Ed" Duffy, who only three days ago swan
the distance In a little over four hours was
surprised that the time was not faster. ANY
one who is able to move his hands and remain
in the water for that period swim that
distance" he said What need most in
these rae are men that understand the course,
and the sooner get them the sooner the re-
suits will speak for themselves"