New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-07
-Four More Entries for
Tribune Marathon SWln1
Incidentally Sam Richards's
Suggestion About Pilot
Boats Meets with
No Favor.


signfed their intention of starting in The
Tribune Marathon swim on July II from
the Battery to sandy Hook-Alwin a.
Haffner, l.. Silverstein, Victor 7. Kennard
and j. NJ. Costello.
Entry blanks will be sent out within a
! few days and rules for the guidance OF
contestants will he printed on the back
Inquiries about matters not covered by
the rules will be answered. as usual, in the
sporting section of the Sunday Tribune.
The suggestion offered by Samuel Rich
ards, of Boston, that competitors In the
coming Marathon be forbidden to follow
their plotting craft has brought protests
from all sides. Even one of Richards's
own teammates, Gustave Wise, is opposed
to the idea. He says:
"As have participated with Mr.. Rich
ards in most races in which he has COM
peted of late trust that few words re-
garding the rule he proposes will be &C
ceptable.
mir. Richards claims that such rule
would he fair and equal TO all, but this
is hardly the case. as he swims on his side
and turns almost on his back at every
stroke so that he would have A decided
advantage over any swimmer using the
breast, ovcrarm, crawl or trudgeon
strokes There is also possibility OF
swimmer being splashed or struck with
an oar when at the side OF his boat ana
! wish to go on record as against the sug-
gestion.
"In the contest YOU are conducting.
with inspectors in every plotting boat and
. couple Of committee launches to patrol
the course there is practically no chance
Of unfair tactics going unexposed.'
Charles Durborow. Of Philadelphia.
writes: while ] am ready to abide ty
anv decision Of the committee in regard
10 following pace or not, As Mr.. Richards
expresses II. II seems to- me that the adj
vocated rule will not be conducive to the
equal conditions which The Tribune mas
sought throughout to establish. Mr.. Rich-
ards is used to swimming beside his boat.
but the majority Of others are not.
Therefore, why not let every man follow
his customary methods? II Mr.. Richards
believes something is gained by following
a boat. why let him take advantage OF
the opportunity offered. I'm quite sue
no one will object"
And this from Louis Manley. the former
New York Athletic Club crack: II am
surprised that the proposition OF Mr..
Richards should even be considered by
the committee. | have known Of several
attempts TO receive assistance in Macd-
thon swims but the trickery has not gone
undetected, as shown by the disqualified
ton OF the offenders. Wide-awake Off
Gals such as The Tribune will have arc
not likely TO be fooled. Even were some
inspector in collision with the swimmer
In his charge, I feel quite certain any at
tempt at towing would Immediately be
discovered by the referee. II is no easy
task to rig n towing device. and with
good pair of marine glasses the commit
tee could keep constant track at least OF
the leaders. All The Tribune need do
10 guard against cheating Is 10 allot the
plotting boats at the last moment, so rs
to avoid any possibility Of towing devices
being rugged beforehand. The proposed
rule would be rank injustice to those
who do not swim on their side.
There are several other letters OF sim.
liar tenor. but they need not be quoted.
as the opinion of Otto Wahle. chairman
Of the swimming committee Of the ANA
teur Athletic Union. disposes Of the qucs-
ton at issue. He said when consulted:
Il do not see how The Tribune could
possibly pass and enforce an arbitrary
rule curtailing the freedom OF the swim
mers. All should be allowed 10 follow
their own inclnations. Why. II might
happen that an oarsman buffeted by the
waves Involuntary got in front Of the
swimmer he was plotting and thus force
his disqua LITIGATION. The rule Is absurd.
Because some one has at some time been
towed is hardly good reason to impose
unjust conditions on all. II any one
thinks IL profitable to swim behind
boat rather than beside or before II,
there liz nothing to prevent his taking adj
vantage OF IT, But for him TO want TO
forbid others from doing what he does
not choose 10 do himself is rather high
handed. As | see II. the only way for
The Tribune 10 adopt the rule In question
Is to obtain the consent Of every en-
trant.'
I'm Wow OF this opinion from hca1quhr-
ters and ~ the fact that the majority OF
probable starters has pronounced strong
" against tho restriction. no alternative
Is left To tho committee. Contestants
will be permitted to swim as they please.
President Brennan OF the American
Llfesaving Society has made arrange
ments 10 hold tcs,s of the Battery within
q few days N order TO ascertain how