New Britain herald., 1926-08-06
Was Seven Miles Off Dover and Two Miles From East Goodwin Liz h t s hip After 3 l-2 Hours in Water
Wind Somewhat Moder- ated But Heavy Rain Is Falling, Making Con- dition of Sea Very Un- favorable.

Dover England, Aug. 6. uP-er 'rude Ederle, plucky American r,r, swimmer, was about seven n,,tss o., this port at 4:45 o'clock this a,ter noon ,,, on her attempt to conquer tbe Engiish channel. She was abont tyro miles northwest of the East Good win lightship. ooa She had been in the water hours having begun her attemn. .. cape Gris-Nez, on the French sido at 7:09 a. m. -- S'ue
 lhe wind which has been kicking up a bad sea here had moder.tas slightly, but heavy rain was faii. ing and the condition of tbe sa, was Tar fom favorable.
 Nine Miles Out At Noon
 AL ten o'clock the American pirl was four miles north by west of Cape Gris Neg and still mak,ns good progress, although the wind aI that hour had freshened. creating Siight sea Her position was re- was far from favorable.
 At noon, about five hours after the start. Miss Ederle was nine miles out. He position was good and the weather was unchanrad ; with southwest wind.
 At ] D. m. Miss Ederle had cove- ed more than twelve miles and was still swimming strongly. Weather and sea conditions were unchanpAd
 The accompanying tug, AIsace later was lost from view thirteen miles to the north of Cape Gris Nez
 Starts At 7:ps 4. M.
 Cape Gris Neg, France. Aug. S 0p Gertrude Ederle. | the American swimmer started at 1909 o'clock this morning in an attempt to swim tl, English Channel The weather con. ditions when she took her plunge were fine.
 At S:52 a. m. Miss Ederle was swimming fast and making good progress a little to the north of 8 straight line across the Channel from Cape Griz Neg.
 The sea was smooth and the weather fairly warm with the tenn perature at 61.7 degrees fahrenheit.
 Makes Determined Start
 It was grim and determined swimmer that entered the water this morning. in sharp contrast to last year, when she dived off as If on "a lark" With set face she walked into the Channel from the sandy beach instead of diving from the rocks of the Cape, as before.
 She barely acknowledged the cheers of the few onlookers but walked briskly until the water reach ed her waist and then launched of with a steady crawl of eS strokes to the minute, making for the es- corting tug Alsace.
 She was going very strong. and her trainer, T. W. Burgess, was al- ready warning her: Take your time. Miss Ederle!"
 Creased By Her Sister
 Miss Ederle did not come from Boulogne on board the conveying .ug, as in her last attempt, but sub nitted to the greasing operation in he Hotel Sirene at the Cape.
 The greasing was done by her sister. Margaret. First a coat of lanoline about an eighth of an inch thick was applied and then layer of heavy grease. Miss Ederle then 6onned a navy blue swimming suit, cut deeply under the the arms, and over thls third layer of grease was applied.
 The swimmer displayed some i'm patience over the long greasing op- eration, and said to "Old Bill" Bur gess. her trainer; flor heavens sake, let's get started!"
 Water Was Cold
 Gee. but it's cold" were the first words as she struck off. It's fresh CT than last year." was her greet ing of the channel water. which registered 61 degrees fahrenheit as the sun rose over the eastern cliffs.
 For the first two miles after she caught up with the tug, Miss Ederle continued mechanically at 2s to 2s strokes minute, making good progress. The sea was very calm, and she raised her goggles over her for several hundred yards saying: ''it will be time enough to look through these things when tho breeze freshens."
 Strictly business" was tho motto aboard the conveying tug. with only Miss Ederle's father, sister, trainer Burgess, Ishak Helmy and swim ming official. Joe Costa, aboard be- sides the crew.
 Monograph Plays
 Newspaper men and photogra- phers followed on the ocean going tug La Morinie. The pilots of both tugs did their best to shield the swimmer from the increasing breeze which arose about noon after Miss Ederle had been in the water five hours. At that time she was nine miles out.
 There was no jazz band aboard he tug. but a phonograph began .o grind. Yes sir, she's my baby"
 Rescued Last Year
 Today's attempt at swimming the