New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-20
An Elepen-year-old Girl
AmazeS Swimming World
Philadelphia Lass Invites
Mermaids of Other Cities
to Meet Her Over
16-Milc Course.
By l.. de B. HANDLEY.

Florence Mclaughlin, the ELEVEN
year-old Philadelphia girl who last
summer made a continuous swim OF
nine and three-quarters miles in three
hours and twenty-five minutes, appears
to have unlimited ability and ambition.
The published news that she intended
to invite the leading mermaids of New
York, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to
meet her in contest over the sixteen
and threc-quarter mile Chester course,
in the Delaware River, has been con-
firmed by John Mclaughlin, her rather
who seems quite confident that, WIN or
lose, the plucky little miss VIII sue
coed in completing the long trip.
He scorns the idea that Marathon
swimming may injure the child. After
every test he has had her examined on
the spot by medical authorities and
thew have marvelled at her perfect con-
dition. Not once has she given the
least sign of exhaustion or even dis
tress.
For the rest, the best proof Of the
benefits derived by the chubby maid
from the sport of her choice is the
ruddy health she has enjoyed since tax
ing il up three years ago. She has
grown daily stronger, brighter, more
rugged. Recently she gave an exhi.
bition of jiu jitsu, the japanese art OF
self-defense, and astounded the specta-
tors by handling her 200-pound teacher,
Sergeant Rodman, like q featherwelght,
tossing him over her head and throw
ing him in half dozen ways.
Nor has her athletic work prevented
her mental development. she was, so
far ahead Of her class last winter that
the school authorities gave her special
instruction and allowed her TO SKIP
year. She graduated with 1914 points
out Of possible 100.
George r. Hodgson, Of Canada, the
Olympic swimming champion, will not
compete at the Panama-Pacihe water
carnival. The committee in charge IN
vited him and offered to defray his eX-
penses, but other engagements inter-
fered with his acceptance. He is now
at Ithaca. with Frank McGili, the crack
sprint swimmer of the Montreal Atm
letic Association, and they propose 10
adopt a more thrilling type OF sport
aviation.
Charles Durborow, Of Philadelphia,
has taken his final long swim IN "ntiei-
patton of the Chesapeake Bay test
which is scheduled for next Saturday
and his trainer says he was never IN
better condition for trial OF speed
and endurance. The giant Philadel-
phian will start from Cape Charles NJ
dayb-eak and he calculates that unGer
normal conditions he should reach cape
Henry, across the bay, in about tnir-
teen or fourteen hours. Men famiIlar
with those waters, however, believe the
swim will prove equal in distance ana
difficulty 70 the crossing OF the Eng
lish Channel, and may take TWO OF
three hours more. Some consluer
beyond human strength and stamina
owing to the swift tides. battling cur
rents ard prevalent rough water. IL
will DC great feather IN Duroorows
cap if he succeeds.
The best swimmers and divers OF the
METROPOLITAN district will bid for ANA
teur Athletic Union titles on July ., az
Rye, under the supervision OF the rye
Beach Club, and there is promise OF
keen competition in both the 44O-yara
swim and the high diving contest on
the twenty-five foot tower. Never De,
fore have so many able. evenly matcheo
candidates aspired to championship
honors in New York and neignoorhoou'
News comes from Chicago that mar
ry Hebner, Of the Illinois Athletic eiuo'