Cape Town (46 hours) – 18 to 19 March 1932
Although in 1932 South Africa had numerous fine outdoor pools, it did not possess many indoor tepid baths – in fact at that time there were only two in the whole country. The city of Cape Town housed one of them, and the local authorities granted Mercedes the use of the Long Street Baths (opened in 1908) on generous terms, offering 60 per cent of the gross takings (less tax), with the Council to be responsible for staff and all advertising. Whilst preparing for the endurance swim the gymnasium and training accessories of Don McCorkindale were also placed at her disposal.
Programme of events
Gleitze Archives
Exterior of Long Street Baths
Online image posted by Cape Town Archives
Inside the Pool
Online image posted by Kobus Scheepers
Mercedes had already finalised arrangements for a double-crossing attempt across Table Bay between Cape Town and Robben Island, starting on 25 March, and this endurance swim in the Long Street Baths would not only give her an opportunity to increase her British endurance record, but would act as a ‘warm-up’ for the open water event.
She entered the water at 1.30 a.m. on Friday, 18 March, swam through Friday and into Saturday. Amongst the spectators at the event was a large party of Highlanders who had been attending a rally in the town. They came to the baths and remained until early morning. They helped to keep Mercedes awake during her most tiring period by singing and performing on poolside. On the second day a journalist covering the event enquired if she felt any discomfort physically from her long immersion in the water, and she told him that the only thing that worried her slightly was the tenderness of her skin. She explained:
Last night I touched a match that was floating in the water, and it felt just as if a hot iron had been placed on my skin.
She completed 46 hours’ continuous swimming at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, 19 March, and a report of the event was printed in the Johannesburg Sunday Times
on 20 March, 1932.
Peggy Duncan, the first South African to swim the English Channel in 1930, and the first woman to achieve a one-way crossing from Robben Island to Cape Town, turned up at the Long Street Baths to cheer Mercedes on, and they carried out an animated conversation, mainly about the endurance swim. Peggy remained on poolside and acted as a steward for the event. Mercedes wrote to Peggy before she returned to England, and her letter underlines how friendships can be formed between international sportspeople, and how competitors are moved to support each other in their endeavours.
Text reads:
My dear Miss Duncan,
I shall be sailing for England on the Llangibby Castle on July 27th and I feel I simply must write to you before leaving, to tell you how very much I appreciated the sporting kindness and friendliness you showed towards me during my stay in Cape Town. It was lovely of you to act as steward for my 46 hours swim and to give me so much of your time. Your dear mother too was very kind and I thank her too for the interest she took. I was very sorry indeed to hear that your health has been rather poorly of late and I trust sincerely that by now you are once again strong and well.
Wishing you continued success in your career, I remain,
Yours very sincerely,
Mercedes Gleitze.
