The Hawaiian gazette., 1913-06-13


History was made for Hawaii by its
swimmers in Aiakea slip yesterday af.
ternoon. Five thousand persons looked
on and cheercd as one after another
world s record was broken. Five times
the trick was done; that more new
was simply due to the fact that those
who had taken part had tired of their
frolic and decided to rest upon their
laurels
Hawaii Has Another Champion.
And with the glory which comes to
Hawaii as result OF the meeting also
comes another champion. Miss Ruth
Stacker, agile, fast and as graceful as
a mermaid, has brought another honor
to Hawaii, breaking the world s record
of thirty-onc and two-ffths seconds held
by Miss Fannie Durack of Australia.
Miss Stacker, fifteen yards ahead of
yer nearest Competitor, with handi-
capped start, ana apparently with little
effort at speed, covered the fifty yards
in thirty-one seconds fiat.
And when it was over yesterday and
the judges had announced that Hawaii
now boasts of n queen as well as king
of the waters, this clever and demure
little champion did not give heed to
her new honors SO much as she did in
expressing her regret at not being able
to make the fifty yards in thirty sec
onds, instead of thirty-one.
Honors for Kahanamoku.
Kahanamoku was given every credit
for the wonderful showing he made,
cheered by the thousands, congratulated
by every one who could reach him and
extended every attention which right
fully belongs to the greatest of swim
mers SO far known. The public has
become accustomed to hear of Kahana-
molu breaking swimming records, but
until yesterday Hawaii had no woman
champion.
Miss Stacker was acclaimed the queen
aud to her Kahanamoku joined in pay
ing tribute.
The record breaking began in the
440-yard event, won by Kahanamoku
in 5:37 1-2. The Hawaiian record held
by Vincent Genoves was beaten by
about forty-three seconds.
The SCATTERING of world records start.
ed with the fifty-yard event, Duke fin.
ishing first, after what was probably
one of the closest contests he has yet
experienced. George Cunha, at the start
of the final squirt in this race, led Ka-
hanamoku by five yards or more, final
ly losing out to the champion by less
than six inches, according to the YER
sion of some who witnessed the plucky
swimmers crossing the line. 1t was a
great finish, the vast crowd coming to
its feet and cheering as the racing
SWIMMERS, neck and neck, battled
through the water for the goal. Cunha
yesterday demonstrated that HawaiIhas
other champions in the making.
Kahanamoku made the fifty yards in
"a seconds fiat, breaking his own
world s record of "a Is seconds.
The hundred yard event was won by
the champion with less effort, though
again he chopped Ills former world
mark, and once more as the news was
heralded by Announcer Anderson the
crowd cheered its approval.
KahanamolSu was far in the lead of
all competitors in the last fifty yards
of the 22O-yard event. lie had not
exertcd himself previous to this and
apparently to demonstrate his wonder
full speed the great bronzed arms began
moving faster, the propel!or-liko mo
ton of his feet became pore rapid, and
like great porpoise he seemed 10 shoot
through the water, finishing first and
with so much cut off the previous world
mark for this distance that the time
keepers were several minutes in reach
ing an agreement that such wonder
full showing had been made. But five
watches were within mere fraction OF
tallying ON the mark, and there is nC
doubt but the record, with the rest
will be officially entered in the books
of the Amateur Athletic Union.