Evening star., 1909-08-30
TWO SISTERS SWIM NARROWS
THIRD GIRL FORCED TO QUIT
IN REACH OF GOAL.
Ethel. Vera and Beatrice Due Start
From Fort Hamilton-Former
Claims Record.

NEW YORK, August 3O.-Strusgllng
against a stiff northwest wind and an ex-
ceptionally choppy sea, Ethel Due, seven-
teen and her sister Vera fifteen, swan
across the Narrows from Fort Hamilton
yesterday morning.
Another sister, Beatrice, twelve, made
the start, but after four hours she was
picked UP. hundred yards from the
Staten Island shore. She was highly In
diRnant and asserted she would have fin
ished II left alone
Ethel, the last to enter the water and
the first to leave II, covered the distance
in one hour and twelve minutes. The
Narrows is little more than mile wide
at that point. and 1t is asserted the best
previous time was an hour and twenty
minutes.
Vera arrived at the Staten Island shore
one hour and one minute after her elder
sister She was caught in the outgoing
tide and was carried south, finishing half
"A mile from the place where Ethel had
landed Each girl was laughing at the
finish and looked fresh enough TO repeat
the swim.
Many Spectators in Boats.
The Due family arrived at the end of
ith avenue soon after ) am. They had
walked from their home, at s4Ot 7th ave.
nue..
Alfred Due. father of the girls, was in
charge of the arrangements. big
crowd had gathered on shore and the
Narrows was dotted with excursion boats
and many small craft.
After long delay the sisters. in one.
piece bathing suits, took their places
on the stringpiece of the 4th ave-
nue. pier. Beatrice was the first to
I'd ot M
o'c'ock and al once headed toward
Staten Island. Vera started at 500 and
Ethel at 6:l7.
Ii took only few minutes for the
cheering crowds to see that Ethel was
by far the stronger swimmer. She went
forward in an easy. graceful fashion.
she soon overlook Vera and set sail for
Beatrice.
The latter girl was plainly in trouble
and IL soon became evident that she did
not have strength enough to combat the
rushing tide. Several times she disap-
peared.
Believing she was drowning oniookers
shouted TO Paul Thomas. who had ac-
companied her in a rowboat. to pick
Ier up. but whenever he attempted to
take hold OF her he was ordered back
With
Don't touch me. I'm all right now"
Work Became Harder.
The situation was made more danger
GUS when IL began 70 rain The falling
Drops came SO fast that il was iupos-
sib.e for spectators to see the swimmers
The Narrows became rougher. and for a
time II looked as II squa.l might come
UP.
Ethel was closely followed by wiIbert
Abrams In a rowhoat. Due. his wife and
Cornelius Deiters, never lost sight of
Vera. Mrs. Due and Deiters we're in 4
boat, but the <ather swan and kept with
in a few feet OF his daughter.
Ethel drawing away from her sisters,
took course straight for the Staten
Island shore. Vera. however, was swept
eouthward. Two hundred yards behind
her came Eeatr &C.
To those cn shore II looked as il she
was not even moving. The thin little
arms and legs, nevertheless, were work.
ing and. though her progress was slow.
sae absolutely refused TO listen 10 advice
that she quit.
IL was 100 O'Clock when Ethel ended
her tourney As SIZE walked ashore she