LOUGH NEAGH (breadthways)
(12 July 1929)

Note: Mr James Murphy, a solicitor from Antrim, one of the witnesses on board the accompanying boat, drew up the necessary affidavit confirming the authenticity of the swim. The affidavit is the subject of a letter Mercedes wrote to Mr Murphy on 16 July 1929 requesting that on its completion he should hand it to Mr John Murphy for safe keeping until her return to Antrim. Unfortunately this document is missing from her archives, but the names of witnesses and a description of the swim published in the media follow:

Chief organiser and host: Mr John J. Murphy (Proprietor, Massereene Arms Hotel, Antrim)
Other organisers: Mr S Ashworth (Messrs Waters & Ashworth), Northern Ireland Tours. Mr J Barr (Antrim).
Skipper of motor boat: Mr N.M. Clark
Navigator:  Mr J. Wallace
Engineer: Mr B. Wallace
In rowing boat: Mr Hannan
Musicians on board: Mr B. Dyer and Mr R.A. Dickson (live vocal and ukulele music).
Witnesses on board, and at landing: Mr James Murphy (solicitor), Mr McKee, Mr Bristow and his brother, Mr Dixon, Miss Murphy, Mr J. Barr, Mr S. Ashworth Snr, Mr Ashworth Jnr, Mr Annett, three doctors, two local police constables, Mr and Mrs Shorthouse, Mrs Bristow, the inhabitants of the house at Whiteport who first took Mercedes in after the swim.
Skipper of an accompanying yacht: Mr Kirk

  
Précis of a report of the swim published in the Mid-Ulster Mail                  

Miss Gleitze left the Massereene Arms Hotel, Antrim, where she was staying, and travelled by motor car for Ardboe. She was greased and entered the water at 8.37am. She was accompanied by a motor boat and a rowing boat. The motor boat had on board [amongst others] a doctor, a solicitor, and a pressman, all of whom saw her enter the water and leave it.  

When she had been 5 hours in the water Miss Gleitze had covered at least 7 miles. She was swimming very steadily and chatted freely with the boatmen.

Mr B Dyer and Mr RA Dickson provided vocal and instrumental accompaniment to the swimmer, and records selected by Miss Gleitze were played. Her favourite records were Ave Maria by John McCormack, The Wedding Dance Waltz by Linckey, and I Dreamt that I Dwelt in Marble Hall.
The conditions could hardly have been better. There was a strong sun during the greater part of the day. During the day boats filled with passengers came close to the swimmer, who was loudly cheered from time to time.

Except when she was taking refreshments, Miss Gleitze kept using the breast stroke until the seventh hour, when she floated for a minute after taking her milk. When she had been 10 hours in the water, Miss Gleitze was forced by a stiff breeze to alter the course arranged beforehand. It had been arranged for Miss Gleitze to make for the Antrim landing stage but a strong breeze sprang up and the lough became rather choppy with the result it was decided to make for Whitepark [Whiteport], which is on the opposite shore from where she started.

Miss Gleitze touched bottom at 10.23pm, and scrambled on to the shore at 10.25pm. She collapsed. She was wrapped up in blankets and taken to a house nearby. After treatment she was conveyed to the Massereene Arms Hotel where hundreds had gathered to cheer a plucky girl. Still wrapped up in blankets, she was carried into the hotel and she acknowledged the deafening cheers with a pleasant smile. She was taken to her room and no one was allowed to see her until Saturday evening.

Swimming for 18 miles in fresh water must be regarded as a remarkable achievement.

The solicitor on the boat was Mr James P Murphy. The motor boat had on board Mr J Wallace, engineer, and Mr B Wallace, navigator. The arrangements for the swim were made by Mr John J Murphy, Massereene Arms Hotel, Mr S Ashworth of Messrs Waters & Ashworth, Northern Ireland Tours, and Mr J Barr, Antrim.

Mid-Ulster Mail, 13 July 1929