30 Hours - Cork
Cork (30 hours) – 25 to 26 February 1930
Eglinton Street Baths
Mercedes travelled to Cork to finalise arrangements for her next endurance swim. She had already visited that city during the previous month to see if the local authorities were willing to allow an event of this nature to be held in one of their municipal pools, and Mr Philip Monahan, the City Manager, had agreed to facilitate her at the 25 yard-long Eglinton Street Baths. These were almost as large as the Edinburgh Baths, although the seating capacity was smaller.
Mr Monahan introduced Mercedes to members of the Munster Branch of the Irish Amateur Swimming Association (I.A.S.A.), and she was invited to attend their next Committee Meeting to talk about her plans and to ask them to appoint stewards to supervise the event. At a subsequent meeting the Chairman, Mr J.A. O’Kelly, informed members that a very encouraging response had been received from various local athletics and sporting bodies for volunteers to help. This done, an agreement was put in place between her and the County Borough of Cork covering the same terms as before, ie 50 per cent of the admission fees plus £5 to defray her expenses.
Smoking ban: It was proposed by the organising committee to request that the public refrain from smoking as much as possible when on poolside.
She was also, as usual, ‘fed’ with music from a gramophone and records supplied by Messrs Piggott of Cork, together with instantaneous response from spectators to a request for community singing. A popular number had only to be suggested when it was sung with great gusto. The musical entertainment was stopped at intervals and replaced by handclapping to keep her alert in the water, and this stimulation was much appreciated by the swimmer.
For a period at midday on Day 2 she was in danger of being overcome in her struggle against sleep. However, about seven o’clock it became obvious from the effortless way in which she continued, that the feat would be accomplished.
Just before nine o’clock Mr Fred Curran, a well-known music hall comedian who was appearing at the Palace Theatre in Cork, made an appearance and added greatly to the festive atmosphere by performing numerous popular numbers – entertaining both Mercedes and the audience.
At 9.30 p.m., on a signal from Mr J.P. Weldon, President of the Munster S.A., she turned and swam towards the ladder in the corner of the pool. As she passed down the baths The Soldiers Song was sung, and this terminated in a continuous burst of cheering. When she reached the ladder, four members of the Swimming Association entered the water and lifted her out and onto a stretcher.
She was conveyed to a waiting Corporation ambulance accompanied by nurses and under the direction of Superintendent Ring of the Fire Brigade, and driven to her boarding house where she was attended by Dr E.V. Cantillon. He confirmed to reporters that her condition was excellent, which he said was extraordinary considering the physical feat she had been through. She did not suffer with any fatigue, and the only thing she complained of was sleepiness towards the latter part of the swim. It was reported that one of the most striking features of the performance was that, throughout the entire time, Mercedes maintained practically the same pace.
The interest aroused by the swim was considerable and, particularly from Wednesday afternoon until its conclusion, the building’s accommodation was taxed to its utmost. Total attendance over the two days was approximately 4,500. So great was the demand for admission on Wednesday evening that hundreds of people were forced to remain outside the baths. Inside, the spectators were uncomfortably crowded, but despite this the greatest order prevailed thanks to the efforts of the stewards provided by the Munster Swimming Association.
Mercedes was invited to appear in person at the Palace Theatre at the end of both ‘houses’ over the three days following the swim. On each occasion she was introduced to the audience by the comedian Mr Fred Curran, who had visited her during the swim, and who was topping the bill at the theatre. On the last of these days a gold pendant inscribed with the Arms of Cork was given to Mercedes by the City to commemorate her swim. This was presented by the Lord Mayor, Alderman Sean French T.D., at the conclusion of the second-house performance. Mr French congratulated her on her wonderful performance and hoped that in her future career she would find a moment for happy recollections of her visit to Cork.
In response Mercedes thanked everyone for the wonderful reception she had received and said she was very glad that she had chosen Cork for her latest record-breaking attempt. She expressed her gratitude to the warm-hearted citizens of Cork for their sympathy and support during the swim and said she was only sorry that so many were unable to secure admission to the baths to witness the final stages.
That people from all walks of life can be inspired by sporting achievement is illustrated in a letter to the Cork Examiner (8 March 1930) by one of the Swimming Association’s officials, Mr C.P. Murphy, who wrote that:
…he had occasion to visit the boiler house about 8.30 p.m. on the Wednesday and he found that, whereas Miss Gleitze was doing an endurance swim above, the stoker was undergoing an endurance test down below. Although he had been on continuous duty since Monday morning, he was so enthusiastic that he asked me to convey to Miss Gleitze the message that he was willing to do another 30 hours’ work if necessary.
This point is also illustrated in a poem dedicated to Mercedes by Mrs Isabel Burke of Rocksavage, Cork:
One Great Achievement More
Felicitations! Neptune smiles on thee;
Thou’st won thy test in Cork upon the Lee.
Methinks thy trust in One who e’er hath power
Hath strengthened thee throughout each stressful hour.
Aye, music’s charms were glorious to thine ear;
From Irish hearts sprang forth a wondrous cheer.
One great achievement more, fresh glory, yet…
On, onward still, thy pluck we’ll n e’er forget.
Excelsior’s thy motto … Not in vain–
Bravo! The world’s record thou must gain.
Then, laurel-crowned thy future sure will be.
Adieu! Good luck! From Cork upon the Lee.
