Evening star., 1927-08-31
GERMAN IS LEADING
IN MARATHON SWIM
George Young Among Scores
Forced Out of Ontario Race
for $4,000 in Prizes.
BY the Associated Press.


TORONTO, Ontario, August S1.-
Ernst Vierkoetter, the steel-muscled
German conqueror of the English
Channel, passed the Smile mark on
the 21-mile marathon this afternoon,
still miles in the lead of 101 en-
trants in the $4,000 Lake Ontario
swim.
Battling brutally cold water and
slightly increasing choppiness. en-
trants fell by the wayside by the
scores, the last few miles of the first
third being figured by rescues more
thrilling than the water classic it.
self.
Since the drop out at the smile
mark of George Young, Toronto,
leader of the first miles of the race,
Vierkoetter continued to increase his
distance from his closest followers.
At Z miles Edward keating, New
York. winner of the Lake George
marathon, dropped from the running
and his place as third was taken by
Mark Burditt. who, like Young, previ.
ously the favorite, is a Toronto man.
Summers Still Second.
Byron Summers of California con-
tinued steadily in second place. but
made no advance on Vierkoetter,
whose handlers shouted themselves
hoarse with encourag cement as the
German shot gracefully through the
blue waters far in the lead.
Leading the women, 80 of whom
started. was Miss Ethel Hertle of
New York, swimming strongly and
easily and promising and looking for
the finish. She was fourth from
Vierkoetter. After the drop-out of
Heating, the others shot up a place,
John OHalloran of Barrie, Ontario,
taking fifth place; Georges Michel,
Paris, swimmer of the English Chan
mel, sixth, and Howard Chdffee of
California, seventh.
The contest was enlivened around
the lead men by the English German
''Hochs" and "Hurrahs"' of Vierkoet.
ter's handlers, and by music in the
camp" Of flying fish" gummers. In
the California boys boat band, to
encourage the swimmers, kept up an
excited concert of lively and popular
airs.
Wallace MuIlin Moves Up.
At the end of the first third of the
race some of those in the scattered
ably. chief among them being Wallace
Mullin. Kansas City; Jack Hahn, De-
troit, and Peter Meyer, Cincinnati
Outdistanced by miles but gamsly
pounding through the water came
many swimmers, some of whom had
been first favorites for lead positions
May Elwell, Revere, Mass. was second
woman, mile behind Miss Hertle.
Lucy Diamond, Jane Sion and Lottie
Schoemmel were placed thirty-second,
thirty-third and thirty-fourth, re-
spectively.
Summers dropped out, little after
2 o'clock relinquishing the second
place he had held for several miles.
By noon the following competitors
in the marathon swim were included
among those who had dropped out:
c. Johnston, Ocean Park. Col: M. A.
Garland, Cleveland; r. A. Bush,
Woodland, Wash; J. Nanzenrieder,
Washington. D. c.; T. Adams, Youngs-
town, Ohio; j. Carton, Detroit, Mich;
H. Miller, Dayton. Ohio; o. Weker,
Ashtabula. Ohio; j. Shervenek. Tay.
lor Springs, Ill.
Young, who made the first four
miles in the fast time of / hour and
36 minutes, lost to Vierkotter half a
mile further on the course.
The German, swimming very
smoothly, SIS strokes to the minute,
nosed out Summers, Californian, from
second place, and at 11:O5 was ahead
Of the Toronto youth.
Cramps Put Young Out.
Young, swimming 81 strokes to the
| minute, continued for some distance
further at cool pace, making no
effort to retain the lead.
At 11:22 am. he quit the water,
suffering with the cramps.
Young's Withdrawal created great
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