The Illinois Athletic Club annual river marathon, in the Chicago River, was an event of unusual interest. Sixty-four swimmers entered for the contest, which was won by Joseph Steuer, whose time of 48:21, over a course approximately one and one-half miles, is considered remarkable, in view of the conditions. The temperature of the water, between 58 and 60 degrees, was the coldest ever encountered in a similar swim. As a result, only nineteen of the original field finished. Steuer literally plowed his way through the water, using the Australian crawl and changing his stroke whenever necessary to rest himself. -Moving Picture World, September 2, 1911, p. 646.
The film was promoted as featuring Anne Harris, showing the bathing beauty in the advertising. However, it was not a full one reel and was split with a western comedy called "The Auntie and the Cowboys."