New-York tribune., 1918-01-13
Visit of Miss Fannie Durack.: /:
to This Country Serves
as Stimulant

American mcrmaids should write his
tory this year. Not only have they i'm
proved to the point where they threaten
most OF the world records, but the
nationwide growth OF interest in water
sports for women Will serve as an
vide ample opportunities for the lead
crs of all districts to try conclusions
in important meets and events which
viii Offer the spur of close rivalry and
signal honors at stake.
The outlook is especially bright be-
cause of the virtually assured visit to
this country in June, Of Miss Fannie
Durack, the famous Australian girl
swimmer, who has held the all-round
world championship Of her sex ever
since she attained leadership Mt the
Olympic Games or 1912, in Stockholm.
This will give our fair stars the first
chance they have ever had to measure
strokes with Miss Durack, and there is
evidence aplenty already that they IN
tend to leave no stone unturned IN
their efforts to develop the skill and
condition which will enable them to
lower the colors of the hitherto in
vinc;blc fore gner.
Brilliant Season Due
SO the stage is set for brilliant
season and everything indicates the
possibility OF seeing our water girls
accomplish fents which will place them
atop of the international heap before
the curtain fails OH the last title fixture
OF 1918.
A fine group of sprinters is ready to
Burns, of Los Angeles, thrashed SO
yards last summer in 20 As seconds
and 100 yards in l. minute 7 40 sec
cnds, both straightaway, the fastest
time ever made by woman IN open
water, and better performances, when
conditions are considered, than Miss
Durack's worlds pool records OF 49
and 65 seconds, made with the adva:l
tagc OF one and two turns, worth
second each, respectivcly.
Within an ace Of Miss Rurns's marks
for the distances have come Miss Claire
Gallgan and Miss Charlotte Boyle, of
New York; Miss Olga Dorfner, Miss
Gertrude Artelt and Miss Elizabeth
Ryan. of Philadelphia; Miss Frances
Cowells. of San Francisco; Miss Thel-
ma Darby, Of indianapolis. Eight cam
didatcs, hard in line for standard tig-
ures, without mentioning others near
ly as speedy and improving at sight.
All the foregoing girls, with the pos
siblc exception of Miss Boyle and Miss
Arte!t, are expert at the middle dis
tauces, and it is illustrative OF their
sterling ability that two have officially
Of
I minutes 32 3-5 seconds for 500 yards,
Miss Galligan and Miss Dorfner, while
a third. Miss Darby, has done so un-
officially.
At the half and onc-mile courses the
chances OF worlds iconoclastic per-
tormcnces by our fair natators arc not
very good. for Miss Duracks times are
superior by seemingly overwhe elming
margin, but far endurance swimming
we have two tested stars who need fear
no rivals.
Chance for Miss Freeman
Miss Lucy Freeman, of this city, ne
gctiated last September the classic
iifteen-mile Spuyten Duyvil to Battery
stretch in 8 hours and SO minutes, beat
ing by nearly half q mile the best time
ever made by man or woman over the
course, and previous to that Miss Anna
Kean, of Lansdowne, Penn. made
continuous swim OF hours s minutes
in the Delaware River, covering about
81 miles, a feat Of combined speed and
stamina considered the greatest ever
accomplished by member OF the sex.
In back stroke swimming three Of our
far dcvotees have displayed ability to
travel around record figures, Miss Ger
trude Arte!t at the shorter distances,
Miss Dorothy Burns and Miss Thclma
Darby over the regulation howard
championship course. On the other
hand, the breast stroke IS not at all in
favor among our mermads and at this
style of natat!on there is no hope Of
their assuming supremacy, for the
present at least.
At plunging for distance We may
even now claim world leadership, for
polls, hung up q record of COS feet,
never touched abroad. over year ago.
and Miss Charlotte Boyle boosted the
standard to 81 feet last August, while
several others have done around 60
feet, or enough to dispose Of any for
cign opponent.
Our fancy and high divers might
also be counted upon to outpoint the
champions of other nations in actual
of comparing performances in this
sport. except competition. competent
judges who have circled the globe pro-
nounce American exponents Of tho
graceful art the best. Mice Ai'een
Allen. of Los Angeles; Miss Constance
Meyer and Miss Thelma Payne, Of
Portland. Ore. Miss Helen PENN.
pocker. of Philadelphia; Miss Josenh.
me Bartlett and Miss Helen VAIN
wright, OF New York. are probably the
country's leaders. with Miss Allen in
OOGSeRalOn Of titlc 1ouro1. 80