New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-21
Formal Nominations May
Be Made at Any Time !,
from Now On. :.
THREE NEW NAMES
ON STARTING LIST
Captain Surber, Noted Endurance
Performer, Will Contest
Tide Trials Postponed.

Entry blanks for The Tribune Maratnon
swim Of July 10. from the Battery 10
Sandy Hook. have been distributed and
all prospective starters not having re-
ce!ved COPIES may obtain them by mall
upon application TO @. Herbert Daley
sporting editor Of The Tribune, ia Mas
sau ST., or L. de b. Handley, go WASH
ington St, Ne York.
Three more swimmers have signihed
their intention Of taking part In the com
ing contest. They are Wilfred Surber,
captain OF the West Rocknway Division
of the United States Volunteer Life Saw
ing Corps George Esselborn. OF the New
York Swimming Association, and his
teammate, +. II. James.
Captain Surber Is an able and expert
enced long distance swimmer, who Tor
several years has figured in important
events and performed creditahly in tests
OF endurance. James Is also an oldtimer
with a good, record, and was among the
place winners the Battery-to-Coney-lsl
and race. In which Goodwin established
the standard mark of hours 30 minutes.
tnbeaten to this day. Esselborn is not
so well known, having competed only at
long intervals, but he Is said to be a
powerful and speedy waterman.
The trials which were TO have taken
place off the Battery in order to ascertain
how long before high tide il would be
advlssb bic to start The Tribune Marathon
Swim had TO be postponed. owing TO the
low temperature OF the water. In the
middle OF the week the thermometer reg
: istered SO degrees, and ii was thought best
to put off the experiment. until conditions
were more satisfactory.
Competent authorities, however, con-
tinue to insist that 1t is quite safe 70
start the race about half an hour before
calendar time for high water. Charles NJ.
Davies. the we'll known yachtsman. than
whom there is no better judge Of tidal
conditions In New York Bay, said on the
subject:
Il believe a big advantage Can be
gained by sending the field off on the
last of the flood. The current changes
near the land long before it does in mid
bay. and the sooner the contestants
reach the Brooklyn shore the quicker
they will benefit by the first flow of the
ebbing tide.
Half an hour before high water 1t
should be easy for a good swimmer 20
make rogress, not only because the
current is by then sluggish but also
because 1t does not have to be met head
on.
1T flows in an easteriy direction be-
tween the Battery and Governors ISL
and, SO that the competitors must cut
II diagonaIly, and even II 1t Should carry
them of their course a bit. II will be
helping them toward the Brooklyn
docks, which is just where they ought
to be in order to catch the earliest ia
voring slant Of the cob tide. In my
opinion, ii would be a loss of time 20
wait for full high water to start"
The rumor circulated that Samuel Rich.
ards, OF Boston, would not compete in
the Sandy Hook race unless his suggested
rule forbldding contestant from following
their boats vas adopted has absolutely
no foundation. In a recent letter, he
says:
! II am in receipt Of your letter stating
that tie rule prohibiting swimmers from
! following pace must be passed by the
Amateur Athletic Mon before it can he
enforced in The Tribun. Marathon Swim,
and | wish TO say that l naturally
thought such a rule obtained in the Met
ropQitan district, as it does here. That
was my only reason for asking that il he
printed on the entry blanks. ! realize
that it is as much to my advantage TO
accept pace as to others, provided towing
can be guarded against, and can but hope
that every effort will be made to prevent
unfair tactics"
No fear need be held on this score
Besides having inspectors in every boat,
The Tribune will appoint competent off,
Gals, will follow the leaders closely,
and no one will have an opportunity to
receive uhwarrantcd help.
DIR. G.. Fish Clark, medical director Of
the American Llfe-Savfng Society, has
offered his services for The Tribune
Marathon Swim, and will be on hand
through out the race to care for any con-
testant in need of assistance.