New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27

The year 1914 marked a new era in
the history of water sports. It needs
but glance over the sensational per
forrlances made by Americans in n p
various branches of swimming and ~
fancy diving TO realize that his country
has at last outstripped all others and
is definitely assured international su-
premacy. Twelve months ago such a
claim would have been senseless. Now,
though, we can point with pride TO the
new list of worlds records and settle
all arguments with incontestable fig
ures.
Barrett Small, of the olympic Club,
Of San Francisco, covered fifty yards,
straightaway, in % So seconds; Duke
Kahanamoku, of Hawaii, travelled the
century, also straightaway, in "a 80
seconds; Harry Hebner, William Vos-
burgh, Perry McGillivray and Arth dr
Raithel, of the Illinois Athletic Club,
of Chicago. swan 400 yards in 100-yard
relays, first in 3 minutes So 4-6 seconds
in 75-foot pool, then in minutes
81 10 seconds over 100-yard fresh
water course. These times are the best
made 10 date under similar conditions
and prove conclusively the superiority
of our sprinters.
At the furlong Hebner, Kahanamoku
and McGillivray wiped out former
records, Hebner with 2 minutes q Sec
onds in a 60-foot bath, Kahanamoku
with minutes 26 As seconds in a 10
yard one, McGillivrsy with 2 minutes
80 % seconds over 1l0-yard outdoor
course. Here, then, are three Ameri-
cans who lead all foreign champions at
the distance.
Ludy LANCER, of the Los Angeles
Athletic Club, scored at 440 and $50
yards, negotiating the shorter course
in o minutes % l-5 seconds and the
longer in IL minutes 46 2-5 seconds in
75-yard bath, while Hebner ran him
close second at the quarter mile, low
erlng the record for a 60-foot pool TO 5
minutes % l-5 seconds.
only the one-mile mark proved be-
yond reach of Uncle Sans swimmers.
their best efforts falling short Of in
/ ternatlonal time. In swimming on the
back Hebner again improved his own
worlds records at the regulation l50-
yard distance, clipping the figures for
20-yard bath to minute SO 3-5 sec
onds and showing 1 minute 90 AS sec
While there is no accurate wav ~
/ comparing form IN fancy diving, il is
significant of the progress made that
TWO europeans who were placed in
the awards at the last Olympic games
kurt Behrens, OF Germany, and F.
Spongberg, of Sweden-met decisive
defeat IN championship events at the
hands OF Conrad Wohlfeld, of the ILL
nois Athletic Club; William Heyn. of
the Chicago Athletic Association, and
Albert Downes and Arthur McAleenan,
OF the New York Athletic Club.
One OF the most gratifying features
OF the year was the wonderful work
| done in long distance swimming. and
particularly in the 22-mile Tribune
Marathon swim of July 10, from the
Battery to Sandy Hook, the biggest
fixture OF its kind ever held in any
country. In this race four men com
pleted the long journey-George Nee
han, Samuel Richards and Walter
Dunn, of Boston. and Charles Dur
borrow, of Philadelphia. Apart from the
fact that only twice had the great feat
been previously ACCOMPLISHED. the
event was memorable because Meehan.
the winner, reached the goal in 7
hours IS minutes. slicing one hour
from the course record, and because
the thirteen-year-old Eddie Snyder, of
Brooklyn, and the fifty-year-old F red
II: James, of New York, exhibited
ability and endurance almost unbe-
lievable in contestants of their re-
spective ages. The immature lad
placed TO his credit 10 Minis in Z
hours, the veteran 2lh nihS In 7