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The experience they have gone through
down south, no doubt, was calculated to damp enthusiasm.
When it is remembered; however, that
Queensland and New South Wales conjointly agreed to reduce the liabilities
involved to a minimum, one cannot help being impressed with the fact that
the negotiations have revealed, on the part of the controlling officials,
a more than justified lack of enterprise and pluck.
Presuming, for
the sake of argumment, their pessimistic estimation of the celebrated Hawaiian's
ability to arouse interest, say, only sufficient to enable them to partially
refill their depleted exchequer, is not an exaggeration of the position
of affairs, it is difficult to imagine how it wijj ever be possible for
them to liquidate their debts.
It is, at any
rate, comforting to be aware that hope has not yet been abandoned that
some means will be found of ensuring Kahanamoku's appearance in Melbourne
and Adelaide.
CUNHA ANOTHER
SPEEDY MAN.
Our thoughts
have been so much occupied with the "Duke" that it has quite escaped attention
that provision has been made for him to be accompanied by, as the stipulation
reads, "a swimming companion," in addition to a manager.
This role is
almost certain to be filled by another Hawaiian, who, it is somewhat of
a relief to know, does not lay claim to any such fearsome and diffficult-to-be-pronounced
surname as his famous fellow-countryman.
He is a performer
of some repute, and his name is Cunha.
He has made a
trip or two to America as one of the Duke's entourage, and has distinguished
himself by finishing second to his compatriot in numerous events.
His speediest
effort in public over the hundred appears to be 57sec, and he consistently
swims 50yds in the vicinity of 25sec.
Cunha, like the
Duke, is a natural swimmer, and it therefore goes without saying he will
be thoroughly at home under our open-water conditions.
Although, as
I have already stated, I believe Longworth will be seen to the very best
advantage from 220yds onwards, I do not expect that either he or Barry
will break 58sec in the race for the hundred yards premiership.
Longworth has
a championship swim of 56 4-5sec to his credit, but he was sprinting exceptionally
well that year.
Albert Barry,
the present holder of both State and Australasian titles and Commonwealth
record (56 3-5sec) , has never yet bettered the figures quoted in an actual
struggle for supremacy.
A two-seconds-less-than-the-
minute pertormance has mostly been l that was demanded to win the honors.
That being so,
I am prepared to maintain that the probability is Cunha will be runner-up
in the contests over sprint distances.
Cunha should
be especially useful for exhibition purposes at places where the Duke performs
and there is no local talent available capable of making any sort of showing
against him.
The circumstances vividly recall Stockholm,
and the perturbations members of the Olympic team underwent as the s.s.
(sic, S.S.) Finland, with the "Duke" and other American representatives
on board, hurried in the direction of that port.
We knew, instinctively or otherwise,
that kahanamoku was the individual we had most cause to fear.
A name is not supposed to be of any
significance, but we were not then familiar with the Hawaiian nomenclature
and I rather think this was a factor in keeping him in our dread as an
opponent.
It had been rumored time and again
that the Finland had reached her destination, and we began to greet such
anouncements with the same contempt as war scares nowdays.
But I recollect one or other of our
party one afternoon suddenly bursting into the room with the startling
infirmation, "He's here! I've seen him!"
There was no necessity for any further
explanation as to whom the reference applied.
Where we were staying was only a short
distance from the "Swim Gladeon", as it was called, and when our informant
told us the Duke was still in the water when he left, we immediately rushed
off in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.
He was standing on the side of the
enclosure just about to take a plunge.
The first thought that occured to me,
after I caught sight of him, was that he was not as pleasant-featured a
man as Alick Wickham, nor was there anything prepossessing about his physique.
He was tall and somewhat lanky in build.
No sooner had he entered the water,
however, than we were spellbound with admiration of the fish-like rapidity
with which he cleaved the element.
He worked his feet - which we had not
failed to observe were unusually large - after the style of propellers.
The disturbance made by his leg movement
increased the likeness.
When we came to study his action more
critically we noticed he placed his arms in rather an unattractive way.
But this imperfect was forgotten, almost
as soon as noted, because we were unconiously impressed with the fact that
in this instance, as regards any aesthetic flaw it might be possible to
detect in his stroke, it was a case of handsome is that handsome does.
DUKE'S ATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY
On closer aquaintance we found the
Duke, as we soon began to to term him, a very friendly man.
He was particualy obliging in the matter
of giving exhibitions for our special edification or illustrating any feature
of his stroke.
He speaks English well, with American
mannerisms of a mild description.
One of the first things we were anxious
to find out was whether the title "Duke" was an aristocratic appendage,
or merely a term of endearment.
We discovered he had not inherited
the distinction, but that his pals had conferred it upon him, probably
because they considered him a prince of good fellows.
Kahanamoku quickly installed himself
a general favorite.
This reputation was confirmed as the
competition progressed.
After the first couple of rounds of
the 100 metres, it was realised the result was a forgone conclusion, and
his fame was firmly established.
Although he was the cynosure of all
eyes, and was attracting far more attention than any of the great exponents
who were displaying their prowess there, his notoriety never had the slightest
effect on the Duke's deportment, his demeanor being invariably modest and
unconcerned.
A Mr. Darnell, of London, a liberal
donor to the Royal Life-Saving Society, who came across with Mr. William
Henry, carried away by wonderment of the marevellously fast performances
the Duke was registering, and as an incentive for him to strive to the
full extent of his powers offered to present kahanamoku with a 25-guinea
cup in the event of him touching 60sec for the said distance.
That the suggestion was not preposterous
was shown by his having covered the course at Hamburg, a few days subsequent
to the Games, in 61 3-5sec, which now consitutes the existing world record.
Sixty-two three-fifths was acually
the closest he got to the mark at Stockholm.
The task set for him by Mr. Darnell
was responsible for the Duke swimming a badly-judged race in the final,
which enabled me to get much nearer to him at the finish than would have
otherwise happened.
I overheard the manager of the American
team, Mr. Otto Wahlde, remark to Kahanamoku, on the way to the post:
"Now, Duke, this is the last chance
you've got for the Englishman's trophy."
As a result of this admonition, no
doubt, the Hawaiian started off at a terrific pace.
He shot away from the rest of us like
a hydroplane.
I saw a streak of foam disappearing
over my horizon.
That was enough.
I concentrated my worries elsewhere.
But bafter the motorist had traversed
about 90yds he ran short of petrol, and his form loomed up again in my
vision.
This occurrence simply electrified
me, and minimised my own impending tiredness.
There was another incident that that
occupies a conspicuous niche in my memory of what took place on that historical
occasion.
It was enacted on the starting platform.
The King and Queen of Sweden and other
members of the Royal family were in attendance.
The sale of tickets had been stopped
by the police.
Every available inch of space was filled
by by the expectant crowd.
As can be imagined, the moment was
one of intense excitement.
We had been allotted our stations,
and the spectators duly advised of our identity and the countries we represented.
Just as we were about to assume a crouching
attitude, Bretting, the German representative, left his post, at the opposite
end of the line to where Kahanamoku and myself were placed.
Not a a few of his countrymen, it might
be mentioned, had unbounded confidence in his ability to seriously dispute
the issue with the Hawaiian.
Bretting walked straight up to the
Duke, shook hands with him, turned to me and did likewise (he had picked
up the crawl from seeing me swim in Hamburg six years previously), and,
retraced his steps.
I had not yet recovered from my astonishment
at this proceedure when the Duke's voice broke in:
"Say, Healy, he must think he is going
to deliver the goods."
The comment struck me at the time as
being immensely funny, and an involuntary peal of laughter escaped me before
I collected my wits sufficiently to make the rejoiner:
"Then blessed is he who expecteth nothing."
A big gathering of prominent swimmers
and officials awaited the steamer's arrival at the wharf.
Many others, however, myself included,
who were anxious to be present to greet the visitors when the stepped ashore,
were misinformed as to the time the ship was due, and thus prevented from
carrying out that intention.
The party consists of Kahanamouku,
Mr. Francis Evans, manager, and Cunha, another swimmer or repute.
To the suprise of all, Cunha is not
an Hawaiian native as was thought, but a white man.
He was born at Honolulu and is of Portuguese-Irish
descent.
Both he and Mr. Evans are short, slightly
built men.
They look small by contrast alongside
the Duke, who stands over 6ft.
The tourists were officially welcomed
at the Hotel Australia at 5 o'clock on Monday afternoon.
Followers of the sport congregated
in great force.
It was the largest and most representative
assembly of natatorial enthusiasts ever seen in Sydney.
The guests were recorded a magnificent
reception, the hero of the occasion, Duke, of course, being specifically
signalled out.
The president of the N.S.W.A.S.A., Mr.
James Taylor, who presided, in proposing the health of the visitors, remarked
thatthe controlling body had endeavored unsuccessfully in the past to secure
the presence of champions from other parts of the world to measure blades,
as it were, with Australians under their own conditions.
It had remained for the Olympic champion,
Duke Kahanamoku, to be the first accredited International swimmer to visit
these shores.
The toast was supported by Messrs. H. Y. Braddon and C. W. Oakes, and drunk with enthusiasm and cordiality.
In replying, Mr. Evans conveyed the
best wishes of the hawaiian sportsmen to Australians for their kindly invitation..
He stated that Mr. Rawlins was extremely
sorry at not being able to undertake the journey.
He explained that Mr. Rawlins had recently
been elected a member of the legislature and he was debarred on that account
from making the trip.
Their reception had been such as only
benefited the greastest sports-loving country in the world.
The chairman's announcement of the Duke's
name was responsible for a great burst of cheering, which continued after
he had risen to his feet.
Kahanamoku did not portray signs of
self conciousness.
He faced his audience calmly, and spoke
deliberately.
He said he had been looking forward
to visiting Australia for the last two or three seasons, and felt sure
he was in for a good time.
Cunha also made a few observations.
None of the party, as a matter of fact,
revealed a perchant for public speaking.
All my glowing impressions of the Duke
(as a man) were re-established.
I had managed to get a chance to shake
hands and have a chat with him.
He is a splendid dispositioned fellow,
and I cannot concieve the thought of anyone taking other than an instant
liking for him.
I make bold to predict that he will
have ingratiated himself into the affections of a large number of Australians
before departing on his homeward voyage.
I could not detect any alteration in
his appearance.
He says he feels well, and his looks
donot belie him.
The Ventura struck it pretty rough
about 24 hours before she entered the harbour, but the travellers weathered
the storm without suffering any dire consequences.
THE DUKE HAS IMPRESSIONS.
THE SURF BOARD FOR THE BEACHES.
This information, I am sure, both swimmers and surfers will be delighted to be acquainted with, as holding out prospects of the acquirement of the knack of manipulating them.
I have not as yet seen Cunha in the
water, but Longworth, who I consider an excellent judge, assures me he
is a flyer; at least, that is the estimation he formed of him after watching
him play about in the element for a while on Monday.
Cuhuna is not at all unlike Percy McGillivary,
who, next to the Duke, was perhaps the most prominent member of the American
Olympic team.
I enquired of Mr. Evans if the voyage
across in the Ventura was uneventual.
"Not altogether," was his comment;
"we lost a propeller," which made me anxiously question, "Not one of the
Duke's, surely?"
Mr. Evans was happy to state the Duke
was still of the twin-srew variety.
Bye the bye, Mr. W. W. Hill enlightens
me as to how Kahanamoku came to be called "Duke."
His birth corresponded with the visit
of the Duke of Cummerland to Honolulu, and he was christened so in honour
of that event.
The visitors were located at the Oxford
Hotel.
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two hours after his arrival in Sydney. |
He is one of the Honolulu party now in Sydney. |
Kahamamoku has decided not to compete
in the longer distances.
He is not a distance or middle distance
swimmer.
However, on this tour he has agreed
to swim in all championships up and up to and including the quarter-mile;
and will appear in the hundred yards on January 2, 440 yd. on January
6 and 220 yd. on January 9.
His companion, Geo. Cunha, will swim
in the 100 yards and the 220 yards events on the two Saturdays, and will
swim in the first-class handicap on the mid week gala.
Probably an attempt will be made on
the 50 yards or 75 yards record, or a teams relay race over 220 yd., two
men each racing 110 yards, will be arranged.
The matter will be settled within the
next day or so by the executive of the A.S.A.
The second is the termination of the
Melbourne club to compete at the carnivals is gratifying....
The Australian Swimming Union received
a cable message from the secretary-treasurer of the Amateur Athletic Union
of United States, through the Hawaiian Athletic Association, vouching for
the amateur standing of George Cunha and the Duke Kahamamoku, and granting
them permission to compete in Australia.
A similar statement asked for by the
United States Athletic Union regarding the understanding of the Australian
swimmers, was cabled.
Longworth, Barry, and Cunha (Kahanamoku's
companion) put up some speedy performances In the Municipal Baths, Domain,
yesterday.
Longworth covered 440 yards in 5min.
30sec., Barry got over 110 yards in 1min. 2sec., which is only 3-5 seconds
slower than Kahanamoku's world's 100 metres (slightly less than 110 yards)
record,
accomplished at the Olympic Games held
in Stockholm, two years ago.
Barry, it might be mentloned, is being
trained in gymnasium work by Mr. Snowy Baker, for the forthcoming contests
which are sure to excite world-wide interest.
Cunha's contribution to the swimming
sensations of yesterday was 100 yards in 57sec.
Entrles for the several events In connectlon
with the approaching championship meetlng,
have closed, and are unusually numerous.
Mr. Hay, the association organiser
for the carnival, spent the whole day Monday and the greater part of the
night receiving them.
Those who will compete for the 100
yards honors are:- Duke Paoa Kahanamoku..:
George Cunha, W. Longworth. A. Barry,
LO. Solomons, H. M. Hay, G. Wyld, J. Huie, Tas Jones, E. G. Finlay, J.
Stedman. B. G. Page.
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E. S. Marks was prominant in Sydney sports and was a member of the Manly Surf Club in 1910. S and G Champion (2000) page 134. Sydney's premier athletic track is named The E.S. Marks Field. Postcard reproduced from private collection. |
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