Palisadian., 1925-09-04
JOHNNY 'FRECKLES' DEvINE, DESPITE
HIS tender ACE, SWIMS HUDSON
RIVER IN THIRTY-FIvE MINUTES
Is Presented With Large Cup by Nicholas Schenck Who
Urged Johnny to Try the Stunt; Feat Commented
as Remarkable by Press of the Country.

Every newspaper in the country
last week carried front-page stories
of the marvellous feat of little Johnny
''Freckles" Devine and his mighty
swim across the Hudson in 35 min
utes fiat. Considering the fact that
the youngster will not be seven years
of age until next November, the stunt
was all the more remarkable.
Nicholas M. Schenck was really in
strumental in this latest of sensa-
tions by getting Johnny to take the
chance.
1t happened thus: Johnny, his dad
and his mother were taking in the
park last week as the guests of Mr..
Schenck when, in the course OF con-
versation, he asked the youngster il
he could swim the Hudson.
Sure / can," snapped back Johnny.
We'll, I'll tell you what l will do"
said Mr.. Schenck. 'Tf you do it, I
will give you anything in the park
that you most DESIRE"
Il want all the hot dogs l can eat,
all the waffies, too, and then / want
to ride on the Motor Parkway for an
hour straight" said "Freckles."
"And I'll add to that solid silver
loving cup" spoke up Mr.. Schenck.
The day chosen was last Monday,
and it looked more like an outing Of
the boys of the park than for Johnny.
First, there was Charles Strickland
with his camera, perched on the roof
OF one of the motor boats hired by
Mr.. Schenck for the trip across.
The banjo player OF the band was
busy side-swiping the incoming and
outgoing ferries with his little launch.
Arthur Holden, the adroit high diver,
gave the signal to start from the 135th
street pier, and twenty-six camera
men gave a sigh of relief as little
Devine plunged into the water.
AT first he made no progress what
ever, swept boldly downstream by a
circling current not to be denied. But
he stuck to it. His father began to
speakencouraging words to him.
stick to it" and Its gonna be all
right when we get out further"
$50 is your old man." came back
Johnny.
Two life guards from the park, Ed
die Beavers and Emil Lurasche, with
one OF the locker boys, Mike Stock
neck, plunged in Immediately after
Johnny, sort of Four Horsemen OF
the Hudson, making history.
Midway across, Mike got a cramp in
his foot, but kicked it out after few
brief, exciting moments in which he
refused to even grasp the pace-making
rowboat.
Couldn't do that, you know" he
explained afterward; would have
looked bad. and besides, what would
Mr.. Schenck think OF one OF his boys
who could not swim the Hudson?"
Eddie and Emil Immediately formed
a talking committee of two to try to
outtalk Johnny, but gave up the job
midstream.
He literally talked" his way across.
"The water tasted rotten; were we
sure that Mr.. Schenck would be on
the other side to meet him; who was
the kid away back yelling for help (it
was William Fox of New York City
with cramps, and pulled into neigh
boring boat after Johnny told them
to-; why didn't that passing scow
have roof over it; how long was
the Motor Parkway, and he was go
ing to eat a dozen hot dogs and waf-
fles just as soon as he reached the
park were a few of his re-
marks. The fact that no one answered
him mattered little-he just talked.
Reaching the Jersey shore, down by
the Aluminium plant, he was greeted
by huge delegation of water follow
ers. By the way, the New York side
was jammed at o'clock-must have
been thousands perched all along the
shore. They cheered loudly when
Johnny jumped off, then followed his
progress through spyglasses.
He could hardly wait to get up to
the park after he landed. Reaching
there. he was met by Mr.. Schenck and
presented with cup almost as large
as himself. See the picture for de-
tails.
And then began the fulfllment OF
his desires. Mr.. Schenck literally
gave him the park and for four glo-
rious hours "Freckles" had one of the
best times of his life.
And so endeth the chapter of the
record swim of "Freckles."