Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-07

epochal performance. and also Lillian
Cannon, the Baltimore swimmer, who.
with a fine show of craftsmanship
swan beside her and chatted gaily
with her rival when the going wal
very rough. And she completely ran
away from Lois Timson an English
swimmer, who had come out from
Dover in small motor boat to cheer
Trudie on.
Never Felt Seasickness.
Both Helmy and Miss Cannon he
came slightly seasick, but not so Ger
trude. When the terrific wind and
vicious seas made vocal communica-
ton from tug to swimmer impossible.
cheering MESA ees were written on A
blackboard and the board lowered
over the side for Trudie TO read.
These included messages of encourage
ment from America received by wire
less aboard the Alsace.
As night began to settle over the
turbulent waters and a heavy rain
set in. when Trudie was about a mile
off the English coast and swimming
down the third tide of her Journey,
the cold. racing sweep of water down
from the North Sea. she stopped talk
ing and settled down to the serious
business Of finishing this brutal task.
BY now the tug captain and Miss
Ederle's trainer had put down their
fears and recovered somewhat from
their anaZement and returned to CON.
fldence in the girls astonishing forti-
tude and stamina and were shouting
assurance to her that she could not
fail TO succeed now.
Last Squirt Incredible.
Red. green and blue flares were
dotting the coastline from Deal to
South Foreland when finally Trudie
made her last speedy dash. She gave
all she had for this gesture of
triumph. and her progress through
the raging water to the surf was
at an incredible rate.
The Alsace had to stand out bit.
but we watched her plough on
through the heavy rollers. head
through the foaming surf and, as a
wave receded. stand erect on the
sandy beach
Trudie was in-her goal attained
but far from all in, as thu slang
phrase 1t. After what the ex.
petition had been through We on the
tug could scarcely believe our eyes.
1t seemed too good to be true. A
woman-our Trudie-had crossed the
Channel under her own power.
The now centered searchlights
showed us that she was soon swal-
lowed UP in a welcoming throng,
hastily drawn from far and near
along the coast, but soon she was
made out tearing away from the
handwringers, heading back toward
the surf.
Kindly hands had difficulty in re.
strs lining her from going back into
the water again. She later explained
ii had occurred to her that all these
welcomers were strangers and that
she had friends - good friends -
aboard the good old Alsace. and rela
tives, too.
Meant TO Swim to Tug.
She had meant to swim back to
the Alsace and thank those who had
aided her to accomplish whatever ii
was she had accomplishment her
dazed IL happy state, she could not be
sure, as she later admitted, just what
1t was all about.
From the sea. the first person to
reach her was correspondent or
a press association aboard the tug
La Morinie which had caught UP with
Trudie and her official accompanying
tug three hours out of Girls NeZ. The
Morinie was heavy laden with CORE
spondents, photographers and news
paper cameramen. but about an hour
before she touched the sands of Eng
land the Morinie's wireless had failed
and. having nothing better to do,
the correspondent, in his enthusiasm
ovef his countrywomaii's victory
over the relentless sea. had gone over
board in his street attire and swan in
to personally congratulate her.
Trudie said nothing while she was
on shore being lionized by the vel.
coming thousan ds for brief period.
AS she explained later she was too
bewildered by 1t to think of anything
to say. But when she entered a
rowhoat to board the Alsace to race
to Dover TO spend the night, she said:
well pop. l guess get my road
ster''
Father Wins $175,0O0 Bet.
pa Ederle had promised her the
gift of an automobile If she succeeded
in negotiating the channel. He can
we'll afford it for he had wagered
SIS 600 against s175,oOo through
Iloyds that she would succeed
When she returned to the tug and
clanibered nimbly aboard she said:
I'm all right but | can't realize
what it's all about. / guess every
things all right so long as / made
1t. I'm the first woman to swim it,,
am / not?" She refused solid food
and wanted only to rest on couch In
the cabin as the tug proceeded at full
speed for Dover. After time she
demanded pineapple to ease her
swollen and severely cut tongue. Her
face was slightly swollen too. and she
was very cold and sleepy. but cheer
full and seemingly far from exhausted.
II can freeze now she remarked
with a. broad grin.
Crowd on Tug Joyous.
Aboard the Alsace there was de-
liriuna of joy.
Margaret went overheard before q
row boat was lowered. Pop EderIe