Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-17
BY the Associated Press.

TORONTO, Ontario. January IL
Toronto's congratulations were sent
today to George Young, youthtul
conqueror of the turbulent Catalina
Channel Mayor Foster wired him:
Il congratulate you on your wonder
full victory and the honor you have
brought to the city by your achieve
ment."
Plans are under way for civic recog-
milton of the swimmer and his
widowed mother who stayed at home
and prayed for his success.
Il told YOU so" was heard fire.
quently in Toronto swimming and
Y. NJ. c. A circles. Swimming com
panions told all sorts of stories about
his prowess in the water-how when
only 9 years of age he showed re-
markable ability; not even zero
weather could keep him out of Lake
Ontario.
But the greatest pleasure came to
his widowed mother, Mrs. Jane
Young. Her citation was followed i'm
mediately by conc,&n for the health
of her son. "Oh, / hope George
doesn't catch pneumonia" she eX-
claimed.
Mrs. Young LOEg Widow.
Mrs. Young became a widow when
George was only few months Old
She lived in Scotland then, but after
struggling for two and half years
she brought George to Toronto.
Through all sorts of hardships they
struggled, ever waiting for the day
when George would have chance 10
prove the confidence his mother had
in him And that chance came
through the aquatic ability of the boy.
txrion q
years of age; at he came under the
eve of John Walker, swimming in
structor at the Granite Club here.
Under the guidance of walker,
George made such progress that at
16 he held records and 10 swimming
championships. Now he is the holder
of four Canadian championships, the
22O Yards and 200 yards, free style
the quarter mile and / mile.
George had difficulty in getting TO
California. Unable to find any one
to finance him, he determined to 60
nevertheless. He and friend, VIII
liam Hastings, set out in an old motor
cycle to cross the continent IN
daunted by vicfssitudes, they reached
the coast. Young never for a moment
losing hope that the $4,000 prize
would be his. When his mother had
given him all her savings-S135-as
he started on his long journey, she
also gave him the motto: Don't fail
whatever you start finish.
Given Lift in Pinch.
Georges friends were particularly
interested in the story of how two
young honeymooners from Quincy,
Mass. Mr.. and Mrs. Jimmy Foster,
gave the swimmer and his pal, Hast
ings. a lift in their fiivver from Little
Rock, Ark, to San Pedro. The boys
were desperate, for their motor cycle
had simply refused to go farther,
their funds were low and things looked
dark for them. Notwithstanding this,
the honeymooners reported, the boys
laughed just the same.
Johnny Walker was more pleased
over the victory perhaps than any
other person in Toronto, except Mrs.
Young. The friend and trainer of
George said
Young is not only the greatest
swimmer that Canada has ever pro-
duced, but the greatest swimmer the
world has produced. The only thing
against him was that he didn't train
a scrap. But knew he had a chance
to win. Several times he has beaten
the world two-mile record swimming
in tank, though a claim has never
been put in, but he takes even better
to swimming outdoors.
Walker worked with Young early
in the fall, in preparation for the
swim. When the boy broke off strict
training and started the journey to
the scene of his triumph on motor
cycle Walker figured that he had
placed himself in danger of losing,
for it was the trainers belief that
the long swim needed perfect condi-
ton.
Never Troubled by Cold.
Young, his friends say, never was
troubled by co1d~,Water. as he used
a peculiar style all his own, double
shoulder movement that helped keep
him warm. The system is known
as the Carlton Arms but only
those with superstrength IL is
claimed, can keep up the stroke for
any great length of time.
Several years, ago Mrs. Young and
George We're employed at summer
hotel in Muskoka, George as a bell
hop. In a fire at the hotel they lost
virtually all their belongings, includ-
ing cup which George had cap
tured for swimming the Toronto
"cross-the-bay SWIM Mrs. Young,
jumping out of window, missed the
blanket underneath and injured her
spine so severely that she was
forced to undergo an operation from
which she Is still convalescing.
She considers the success of her
son was due to the fact that he
neither smokes nor drinks She is
anxious for him to come home, but
says that If he can benefit himself