"Mrs. Van Skike Makes Record"
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| Mrs. Anna Van Skike has attracted worldwide attention for her remarkable aquatic feats. She was sent to California five years ago to die. She now celebrates her birthday by plunging into the ocean and swimming for 12 or 14 hours. [1924-08-30 Venice Evening Vanguard, Photo by Coffey Studios] |
Mrs. Anna Van Skike of Santa Monica has again established a new endurance swimming record by swimming 16 miles and remaining in the water from 8 o'clock yesterday evening until 5:30 o'clock this morning, celebrating her 64th birthday. Her record last year was 12 miles.
At the close of her birthday swim which started from the Venice plunge and extended to the mouth of Topanga canyon and back to the plunge Mrs. Van Skike announced that she was still strong and could have made several miles more except for the strong tide facing her.
After battling the tide for nearly two hours Mrs. Van Skike was taken from the water by Life Guards Pedro Hull and Earl Cady. She had one breakfast in Santa Monica after leaving the water and another when she arrived home.
