Copy of the hand-written list of the towns and cities targeted by Mercedes.

“Dear Sir,

I should esteem it a great favour if you would kindly have my following proposition brought up at the meeting of your Baths Committee for discussion and kind consideration:-

Would it be possible for you to let me have the use of your Corporation Baths for the purpose of undertaking an Endurance Swim?

As you know, I am endeavouring to win for England the World’s Record for Endurance Swimming at present held by America, and the fulfilment of this intention is dependent entirely upon the sportsmanship and goodwill of the different Authorities controlling baths.

My application to you today is instigated by a feeling of trust in your sporting willingness to extend the use of the necessary facilities and to help to make this very difficult task which I have set myself, a comparatively easy one.

The results of my endeavours to set up endurance records to date have been as follows:

1) January – 26 hours Edinburgh Corporation Baths

2) February – 28 hours Dublin Corporation Baths

3) February – 30 hours Cork Corporation Baths

4) March – 31 hours Liverpool Corporation Baths

5) March – 32 hours Derby Corporation Baths

6) April – 33 hours Huddersfield Corporation Baths

Below I am giving you a few facts in connection with these six swims:-

* In each case I had an all-night audience – in fact a continuous audience from start of swim to finish.

* In each case the swim was a financial success – the average profit being one hundred pounds for the Corporation and one hundred pounds for myself.

* In each case the event passed off without a hitch of any kind, in spite of the huge crowds that had to be dealt with

* The three largest attendances recorded were as follows:-

Edinburgh 7,000; Derby 7,000; Huddersfield 8,000

It is my policy in each case to add one hour to my previous record as this enables me to build up my stamina gradually without experiencing any undue physical strain. The American record stands at somewhere between 50 and 60 hours.

My terms of contract with Corporations for the above are as follows:-

1) The gross takings to be shared equally between the Corporation and myself.

2) The Corporation to undertake and pay for cost of advertising the swim in question.

3) I to receive five pounds to cover travelling and training expenses.

4) I to be responsible for my own health and safety.

Organisation of Swim:- This is very simple and comprises the following:-

1) Advertising:- Posters and small Bills for public advertising sites, shops or tram cars.

2) Time Keepers:- A group of honorary stewards would have to be formed who would do three hours duty in groups of three at a time. The duties of these men would be to see that I actually swim continuously without floating and without touching any object bar feeding utensils, and also to keep the official log of my swim and to sign same before handing this document over to the next relay of time keepers. It does not matter if the men in question are not from Swimming Associations (members, though, should prefer this), as long as they are men of good repute.

3) Temperature of water: This is usually kept at about 75º.

4) Feeding: I usually have a quarter cup full of hot drink – milk and coffee alternatively – every half hour, and an egg beaten up in milk every fifth hour. One of the time keepers on duty usually hands me the cup.

5) Music: In each of the towns where I have undertaken an endurance swim, a local gramophone firm has lent a gramophone and records free of charge against advertising value.

6) Medical: In each of the towns where I have swum, a local doctor and nurse volunteered their services free of charge, and have attended to me at the finish of my swim, and in each case a local ambulance has been lent free of charge to convey me from the baths to wherever I happen to be staying.

7) Admission Charge: The usual fee for admission is 1/- plus 2d tax.

In conclusion I would ask you to kindly let me have your decision with regard to my above application as soon as possible so that I may reserve whatever date you may choose for the event for your town. I shall be free to swim in your town on any date between April 26th and November 4th 1930 with the exception of the following periods:

May 12th to May 24th, incl.; June 15th to 30th, incl.; July 6th to 7th, incl.; 

July 15th to 30th, incl.; October 16th.

On the 7th November I leave England for New Zealand to make an attempt to swim the Cook Strait.

Awaiting with interest the favour of your reply, and thanking you in advance for your very kind consideration of my application.  

Please address your reply to me as follows: c/o G.P.O. Sheffield.

Yours very truly, 

Mercedes Gleitze”

********************

Douglas

Dundee

Hull

Newcastle

Stafford

* 20 did not possess an indoor pool; 

* 6 had insufficient spectator accommodation; 

* 2 were fully booked for the season;

* one was having a new pool built (and invited her to re-apply the following year); 

* 8 acknowledged her letter but did not follow-up; 

* the final 8 declined – two of the latter saying that their baths committees did not think it right to deprive their usual patrons of its proper use for up to two days.