Duke Visits Australia, New Zealand, 1915

Home , Australian Crawl, Frank Beaurepaire

DUKE VISITS AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, 1915

By E d w in N o r t h M c C l e l l a n

(PART TWO, Continued from November, 1956) With Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, George Cunha and Manager Francis Evans aboard, the “Ventura” steamed between the Sydney Heads on December 14, 1914. At Sydney, The Duke enjoyed a re-union with old friends like Cecil Healey, Billy Longworth and Frank Beaurepaire. To tell all of The Duke's wonderful adventures, E d w in N . M c C le l l a n how he broke world records and made thousands of friends for his country and Waikiki, Down Under, would fill a chapter of a book.

“George Cunha and I were invited to participate in the New South Wales Cham pionship Swimming Meet,” said Duke Paoa Kahanamoku recently. “Francis Evans accompanied us as manager. After the meet we travelled all through Australia to participate in handicap races” (Advertiser, 24, May 1956). Duke having defeated Australia’s speediest sprint-swimmers on January 2, the 100-yard freestyle in the New South Wales Amateur Swimming Champion 1915, his thousands of fans wondered how he would do in longer races. The ship, in the Domain Bath at Sydney. Bronze Duke of Waikiki gladly satisfied “Duke took the plunge in the style popu their curiosity and entered a quarter lar with Americans, that is to say, they mile race though W. H. Hill (Secretary ‘flop’ on their chests,” reported the Syd of the Australasia Association) wrote that ney Referee. At sixty yards, The Duke “Kahanamoku should not have gone in had but a lead of only a head over Billy for a 440-yard swim when he was train Longworth, and A. W. Barry the record- ing for the century.” holder. "With the spectators figuring that The Duke was on the verge of defeat, he DUKE DEFEATED IN 440 suddenly flashed ahead, leaving the Over three thousand spectators paid others behind, as if they were stationary “gate” to witness the 440-yard Champion objects,” explained The Referee. George ship of New South Wales at the Domain Cunha—the young “White Native of Ho Bath in Sydney on January 6, 1915. The nolulu”—took second place from Barry Duke faced Adrian, Page, Thomas and and Longworth, who finished in that Fitts. Due to illness Bill Longworth did order. not start. Arriving at the starting point, Duke DUKE WINS THE 220 surprised the spectators by plunging into In this same meet, Duke won the 220- the water—his usual habit before a race. yard freestyle with Page, second; George Cunha, third; Thomas, fourth; and Fred Williams was the starter. The quin tet hit the water together. Enthusiasm Boardman, fifth. Cunha would have fin ran high. “There never was so much ex ished second had he not gone out of his citement crammed into a short space of course. time as during the seconds it took the MAXIMUM SPEED WITH MINIMUM EFFORT swimmers to cover that last lap,” re “Despite the fact that he established a ported the Town and Country Journal. new world’s record,” wrote William F. The “Bronzed Islander” put forth his Corbett of the Sydney Sun, “some re supreme effort; but was “beaten by a ports of his condition suggested that the touch” by Adrian. Hawaiian could do better when occasion “Adrian . . . won the race by six required ... he had mastered the art of inches,” wrote Duke to his Dad. “I . . . securing maximum of speed with mini should have won . . . Really, I didn’t try mum apparent effort.” hard enough.” KAHANAMOKU-KICK TO REPLACE CRAWL DUKE BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR 100 “It is predicted by sporting authorities The Duke established a new world that the Australian “crawl” will have to record on January 9, 1915, when he won give way to .. . the "Kahanamoku Kick, ’’

[8 ] wrote the New York Times correspond ent in Sydney on January 16, 1915 (New York Times, February 14, 1915). This BUSINESS DIRECTORY correspondent concluded that Duke’s use OF O.C.C. MEMBERS of arms, legs, body and that he did not "bury” his head in the water as did A Heady Reference tor You the Australian swimmers, made his sys tem superior to the Australian method. INSURANCE “The ‘Duke’s kick’ serves all the purposes W. C. “BILL” MORRIS A ll K inds of Insurance of the ‘crawl’ ” and “it is much faster Prudential — Honolulu 5-1946 and needs less exertion than their own method of locomotion in the water,” RESTAURANTS concluded the Tim e’s expert. SPENCE & CLIFF WEAVER Spencecfiff Restaurants see back p a ge Duke Kahanamoku “Kicks the Crawl “GRANNIE” ABBOTT— “TRADER VIC’S" out of the Australians,” declared the 926 Ward St. Advertiser. March 3, 1915. This Hono lulu newspaper predicted that the “Ka LINEN SUPPLY hanamoku Kick” would supersede the JACK MAG00N “Australian Crawl.” Hawaiian Linen Supply 837 Kawaiahao St. SPORTSMANLIKE ACTIONS, GOOD NATURE MUSIC “Before Kahanamoku came here, there Any style for dancing, parties or club dates. was some skepticism about his achieve PETER HOWELL ments, but it vanished after his first per Office 5-8061, Local 318 - Home 24-4195 formance,” explained the aforemen GIFTS (Decorative Imports) tioned New York Times correspondent. T. DAHL OF DAHL’S WAIKIKI He then quoted this flattering comment 296 Beach Walk at Kalakaua by a Sydney newspaper: “Kahanamoku has justified all that was said of him . . . OPTICAL BARNEY FISHER— ISLAND OPTICAL CO. His sportsmanlike actions and good 180 S. King St.-Phone 50-3241 nature have made him very popular here.” AUTOMOBILES ROBERT “RABBIT" GUILD “Duke never once refused to enter a Office 9-5261 - Home 50-2328 race,” said Francis Evans. “Two or three times the unbearable heat had left The REAL ESTATE Duke weak and sick. He entered one BARBARA COOK— ED. B0LLES, REALTOR race with a bad ear, against the advice Office 5-2577 - Home 3-0749 of the doctor.” JESSIE MATTHIAS— ANNE O’NEILL, REALTOR OUT IN THE COUNTRY Office 6*1086 — Residence 93-7914

“Here in Allora, all is well with us,” PAIRY PRODUCTS Duke wrote his father, January 14, 1915. DAIRYMEN’S PROTECTED MILK "Swam here yesterday . . . in the 440 and AND VELVET ICE CREAM— 99-6161 won easily . . . We are heading for Bris bane . . . We’ll swim at Rickhampton, MEN'S SPORTSWEAR Maryborough, Mount Morgan and then JIM ANDRUS Andrade Resort Shops back to Sydney . . . after Sydney, we’ll Royal Hawaiian, Moana & SurfRider Hotels swim at Melbourne, then in New Zea land . . . My aloha nui to all at home.” Here in Hawaii Nei folks like to know with whom they are doing business. Other things be* “Most remarkable performances were ing equal, they would prefer to do business with their friends—including fellow Club members of given by The Duke at Brisbane,” re the O .C .C* ported Francis Evans. After visiting the So you know just who offers the products or towns mentioned in his letter and others, services you need, the "FORECAST" publishes this directory. the Kahanamoku Party returned to Syd Rates are nominal and will be quoted if you call E. P. "Ted" Mogill at the Club — Honolulu ney. 9-3676. (Continued on page 26)

[9 ] Duke Visits Australia AFFILIATED CLUBS {Continued from page 9) Aero Club of Oregon, Portland, Oregon. Arizona Club, Phoenix, Arizona. The Austin Club, Austin, Texas. INTRODUCING SURFBOARDING Bolboa Bay Club, Newport Harbor, California. “Kahanamoku added that lie intro Club Del Mar, Santa Monica, California. duced surfboard riding to the Austral College Club of Seattle, Seattle, Washington. ians," expressed the Advertiser, 24, May Corol Casino Beach and Cabana Club, Santa Barbara, California. 1956. “He had taken his board along.” Cork Club, Houston, Texas. Patricia Gilmore, in the Sydney Morning Country Club of Peoria, Peoria, Illinois. Herald, 7, March 1918, gave varying in Davenport Club, Davenport, Iowa. formation. She wrote that the first surf Deauville Club, Santa Monica, California El Paso Club, Colorado Springs, Colorado. board to be imported to Australia was Jonathan Club, Los Angeles, California. sent to G 1). Patterson from Honolulu Kona Kai Club, San Diego, California in 1912; but, alter being launched with La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club, La Jolla, California. ceremony, ended in the Patterson house Lake Shore Club of Chicago, Illinois. Los Angeles Athletic Club, Los Angeles, California. hold as an ironing board. Duke changed Milwaukee Athletic Club of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. it all in 1915, c o n tin u e d P atricia Multnomah Athletic Club, Portland, Oregon. “Having no board, he picked out some New York Athletic Club, New York, New York. sugar-pinc, from George Hudson’s and Old Pueblo Club, Tucson, Arizona Olympic Club, San Francisco, California. made one. T his board, which is now in Pasadena Athletic Club, Pasadena, California. the proud possession of Claude West, was Pacific Coast Club, long Beach, California. eight leet nine inches long and concave Press and Union League Club of San Francisco. underneath.” Duke chose Freshwater Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California. San Diego Club, San Diego, California. (now Harbord) Beach for his exhibition. Shadow Mountain Club, Palm Desert, California. “It was in February 1915 that the Aus University-Union Club of Tacoma, Washington. tralian board enthusiasts had their first Washington Athletic Club, Seattle, Washington. opportunity of seeing a ‘board expert’ Hilo Yacht Club, Hilo, Hawaii, T. H. Kauai Yacht Club, Lihue, Kauai, T. H. on the waves,” wrote Patricia Gilmore. Maui Country Club, Maui.

“Kahanamoku business with the surf American Club of Guatemala, C. A. board . . . set the Australians a task . . . American Club, Mexico City, Mexico. the larger board which, with Kahana Calgary Petroleum Club, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Carleton Club, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. moku is about eight or nine feet long Casino De Parral, Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico. and over eighty pounds in weight,” said Chihuahua Foreign Club, Chihuahua, Mexico. Fred Williams, Father-of-Surfbathing in Edmonton Club, Edmonton, Canada. Australia. Mr. Williams mentioned small Monterrey Foreign Club, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. Pacific Club, Victoria, B. C., Canada. hand-boards. William F. C o rb e tt de South Yarra Club, Melbourne, Australia. scribed I'he Duke in Manly Surf with Tattersall's Club, Sydney, Australia. Fred Williams (Australian Champion Terminal City Club, Vancouver, B. C., Canada. Surl-Shooter) and H. M. May. Twenty-one Room Club, London, England. Vernon Club, Vernon, B. C., Canada. {Concluding Pori Three in a Coming Issue) Waikiki Club, Lima, Peru.

-TRY- HAWAII'S FINEST DRY CLEANING BY AMERICAN ^ ^ l a u n d r y DRY CLEANERS AND RENTAL OF LINENS Sinco 1900 [ 2 6 ]