New Britain herald., 1927-01-15
CATALINA SWIM TO
 BE STARTED TODAY
More Than 100 Natators to
 Compete for Wrigley Prizes

Avalon, Catalina, Island. Jan. Is (United Press) - Upwards of 100 swimmers, including more than a score of women will begin a free for-all race across Catalina channel today for S4o,o0O cash prizes offered by William Wrigley, Jr.. gum king and owner of this pleasure isle.
 Men and women Of all ages, from lj 10 65, among them some of the worlds greatest long distance swim mers, will enter the cold waters of Catalina 1sthmus in the splash and scramble for the mainland, 19S miles distant as the crow flies.
 Officials estimated that the con- tcstants will travel o5 miles to reach the goal. and figured that 17 hours will be the minimum time for the crossing.
 The man or woman who finishes first will receive the original cash purse of S25,000 which Wrigley es- abolished several months ago 10 ad- vertisc his island resort. If the first swimmer to arrive at the mainland is man. an additional s15,0O0 will be given to the first woman who reaches shore.
 Some of the feminine contestants will swim in the nude, their only covering being thick coats of axle grease. Considerable controversy was aroused by the women entrants who will swim without bathing suits, and despite pressure from the Los Angeles chapter of the ". c. T. L., and other organizations, the commit tee staging the event decided to al- low it.
 Among those who will swim sans bathing suits are Mrs. Charlotte Moore Schoemmel, of New York. and Reba Bobby" Schwartz. noted Los Angeles mermaid.
 Other women in the swim will in- clude Miss Clarabelle Barret. English channel aspirant. of Pelham. x. Y., Miss Margaret Hauser. Long Beach; Mrs. Della Sullivan. Holyoke. Mass: Miss Martha Stager Los Angeles: Miss Myrtle Huddleston. Long Beach, ! Mrs. Saga kolb. Ocean Park, and Miss Jean Mckenzie, of Carpenteria, 1 Nal.
 Mrs. Anna F. Van Skike. 65-ycar i old Santa Monica mermaid. who | 'wam 10 miles on her last birthday. | s among the entries also,
 Henry Sullivan. B. first American 70 swim the English channel. is prominent among the male contest | ants. Charles 10th, 42. who swan he English channel the same year hat Sullivan accomplished the feat. | n 1923, is another entrant for the ! Nrigley prize. Both are from Bos- on and have been in training here or many weeks.
 Another entrant is Art Banfeld, | JOS Angeles elevator operator who anne within three miles Of crossing he Catalina channel in September. lave succeeded at that time but for idal waves resulting from the Jap .nese earthquake.
 One Of the principal worries Of many of the swimmers will be the
  nan-annoying barracuda sharks, and ther hig-sea fish. fhe grease coats corn by the aquatic artists are partial protection against the both rsome sea-fsh. The sharks and arracuda in Catalina channel how ver. are not of the man-cating var aty. But they are intensely cuyi- ms. according 10 the swimmers who lave trained in the channel. and hey may cause trouble for some Of he contestants,
 Accompanying trainers will be rmod with pistols or rifles 10 ward If any of tho big fish which might .ct too hothorsome.
 Thousands Of persons will watch he sea marathon from aboard team"rs, provided for that purpose.