The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-17
.SWl FEAT
Continued From Page 81

Continued From Page 81
were picked up from the water by
the observation boats and carried
to the steamship Avalon, which was
the official receiving ship. There
they were hoisted aboard and cared
for by nurses and physicians in cases
where such care was needed. BY
mdd-evening Saturday the race had
siromered down to a contest between
a few Of the stronger swimmers.
Behind Young as he slowly made
his last gasping strokes to reach the
mainland. the last mile of sea was
clear Of swimmers who, the day
before, had started out aglow with
confidence. some clad only in grease,
some in swimming suits and one
in a suit Of flannel underwear. All,
with the exception Of the young Ca
madam, were forced to drop out of
the contest, many because Of the ex-
IRENE cold, which caused legs and
arms to become paralyzed. and
others because of complete exhaus-
ton.
None Of the women contestants
completed the watery marathon,
allowing Wrigley to keep the $751;
600 he had offered as special prize
to the first woman finishing the
race
The last woman to leave the wa
ter, Mrs. Margaret G. Hauser, Long
Beach, was dragged into a boat more
than three hours after Young had
completed the swim. She was un-
able to proceed farther after getting
to within three miles of shore.
Martha Stager, Portland, Ore, also
approximately three miles from shore
when she was forced from the race,
dropped out q few minutes earlier.
Women Make Fight
The game fight Of the two women
against darkness, fog and heavy
cross currents, however, was reward
ed by consolation prizes Of $4,000
each from Wrtgley, and the cheers
Of the hundreds who witnessed the
finish Of the ocean derby.
II could have made It easy"
Mrs. Hauser said when she was
helped aboard the steamer Avalon.
II felt fine and the tide would
have turned There was no
reason to have taken me out"
And with these words she col
lapsed, completely exhausted.
Miss Stager. too, was disappointed
that she had been taken from the
swim when It became apparent she
no longer could continue her .strug-
gle against the almost icy expanse
Of cold salt water.
IT wanted so much to get that
prize" she EXCLAIMED. trying unsuc-
cessfully to still her chattering
teeth.
Clarabelle Barrett, Pelham, N. Y,
school teacher who had been leading
the women swimmers, had to drop
out at 1870 a. m. when she still had
nine miles to 60.
Another ~favorite, Lottie Schoem-
mel, New York, swab for thirty
minutes with one cramped leg drag
ging ~uselessly. She finally was COM
PEELED to leave the water.
Two English channel swimmers,
Henry Sullivan, Lowell. Mass, and
Charles 10th, Long Beach, Cal,
were among those who were forced
to concede victory to the Canadian
youth. Other much-touted swim
mers to go down in defeat to the
treacherous stretch Of water were
Waiter Taber, Huntington Beach,
Cal, who claimed he swan the dis
lance several weeks ago; Norman
Ross, Chicago, one of the country's
best known distance swimmers, and
Pete Meyer. Ross and Meyer both
got within a mile and a half of
mainland.
Salt Water Stings
Young's eyes were burned from
the salt water. Otherwise he was
pronounced to be in good physical
condition at the finish. /.
Young was in normal physical
shape when he went into the water
and he was in normal condition
when he came out" his trainer said.
HE knew he could make the swim,
but he believed, as I did, that it
would not take so long. He thought
he would be able to make it in
eleven hours"