Search swimsCurrently displaying: 4 results You've searched for:Surname: "M" xNationality: "Scotland" xSuccess: "Failed" x Field to search All fieldsSuccessful swim numberSuccessful swimmer numberSwim ranking (England-France)Swim ranking (France-England) Search term Filter by Year 1908 (3)1910 (1)Filter by Decade 1900s (3)1910s (1) Sort by: OldestNewestSwimmerSuccessful swim numberSuccessful swimmer number Mearns, James - 08/08/1908Description Started South Foreland. Removed from water exhaustedSwimmer(s) Mearns, JamesDate 08/08/1908Duration of swim 14:00Pilot Captain BirchfieldPilot boat Sea Wolfe steam yachtTrainer Billy KellingleyNotes TRYING TO SWIM CHANNEL Dover, Aug. 10. In an attempt to swim the English Channel, James Mearns, the Scottish chnmpion, nearly lost his life. Leaving the English coast Saturday night, he was within three miles of France, after being in the water fourteen hours. Mearns was persistent and he labored unti he became so exhausted that one of his attendants (Billy Kellingley) aboard a tug had to jump in the water fully dressed and support the swimmer until he could be rescued: Lethbridge Daily Herald, Canada, Aug 10 1908Success/failure Failed (725)Direction(s) England-France (657)Mearns, James - 23/08/1908Description Heavy winds and strong seas. Abandoned after 8 milesSwimmer(s) Mearns, JamesDate 23/08/1908Duration of swim 03:10Notes In his second attempt to swim across the English Channel, which was started yesterday morning, James Mearns, of Aberdeen, the Scottish champion long-distance swimmer, had the bad fortune to be caught in half a gale of wind about two hours after starting. On his first attempt, a fortnight ago, Mearns narrowly missed achieving his object, in a fine swim of fourteen hours. The heavy seas set up by the strong wind yesterday caused the captain of the tug, after Mearns had covered eight miles in three hours and ten minutes, to advise the abandonment of the attempt, as it would be madness to continue it in such conditions. That this advice was right was proved by the Strong gale which sprang up in the Channel a few hours later. Among those who accompanied Mearns on his swim were Councillors Duncan and Leith, of the Aberdeen Town Council, and Mr. F. Brew and Mr. G. Henry, captain and secretary respectively of the Aberdeen Swimming Club, to which Mearns belongs. An exciting adventure befell a boatload of the party who were attempting to find a place for the swimmer to start from. In the darkness, soon after two o’clock yesterday morning, the boat struck a rock and narrowly escaped capsizing. At length the effort to get the boat ashore was given up, and Mearns was greased in the boat and had to swim ashore before he could make his start: Manchester Guardian 24 August 1908 Success/failure Failed (725)Direction(s) England-France (657)Mearns, James - 07/09/1908Description Abandoned at 2.06 am after 14 miles. Started Shakespeare Cliff 8.25 pm. Pilot boat Gnat tug, trainers and pacemakers, Jack Weidman and Professor BiberoSwimmer(s) Mearns, JamesDate 07/09/1908Duration of swim 06:20Pilot boat Gnat tugTrainer Jack Weidman and Professor BiberoNotes Shakespeare Beach (Admiralty Pier)Success/failure Failed (725)Direction(s) England-France (657)Mearns, James - 06/08/1910Swimmer(s) Mearns, JamesDate 06/08/1910Duration of swim 09:15Notes South ForelandSuccess/failure Failed (725)Direction(s) England-France (657)