, 1860-09-14
THECITY.
How to SWIM In a Surf


1t The msesipg Of tho Academy Of Sciences,
on Tuesday evening, ~ interesting discussion
was had upon tho method Of s.imming safely
in su:f, and ffcm practieed swimmers present
the following fao!s we're elected.
Waves in deep water ART usually smooth At
the top, so .ha. s4immer, or person floating
upun plank has no difficulty in keeping 10,
being gently lifted by the waves, and then set
Ting quietly as they pass by. Hence, those
who escaped being carried down at The sinking
Of the Lady Etgin, had comparatively little
trouble il aoaiing away upon piecea Of tbs
wreck. Bu. ~ the waves approach The ehalIow
mater at the beach, they undergo change.
They become higher aad sharperat Tho cres',
aud the summiss moving tastcr than tho bases
topp}e ortr forwards In = continuous cataract
or" conb,'' e=d ths waves in thia form arc sig
ui6cantly ca1lad "b.ealers." It is this roaring
crest which orern helmed and drowEed 50 many
men ia tto late dis4ster, within twenty rods
Of sl.7'c, a:cr bt~lrg aoa:ed safely for miles in
the deep Va. !. Nos, It ought 10 bs known to
al that, with lltle intelligent cars, shsse is
difficulty in swin1isg through The vorss break
ers ever raised on Like Michigan. To this cad,
little paesious rt 4ctics il surf swimming il
Al undeutted aay4ntsee, but by no means in
dispels4L|e, AuJ to'ersba swimmer, if he will
ncte tia following points, can reach the eho1e
in Lske N:ch'gad Without help. and ifhe is not
ewinm=r, h: Gao do il wi!h tbs help Of
board, or other mears ot keeping him aoat,:.in
SPIT. Of ting oteske1s. :
Isl. The person Hus. Eaia!ain such a1:h-
tiou 81 to 4es ii. asts as they e7prcseh. ,Hnisi
shore, 90 y. te ep1n fye to win5Wsr6; or
the per.on +rsaT fics bol.tly but, aad trust to
the psoFutiha of"tha waves 10 bring him to tie
neaci. lfhe '.tteupt t' bwim ri: aight before
I ths bscakere, wthoa: to:k:nR behind him he
viii he taken ucarares BY the "combiag" ofthe
awells, and a:ransied by taking IN water.
81. He Uuat cIce:EIn1J tnaL HIS head will b.
momen1arily covered with water ard foam
at eTery passage oi cres:, but this ,s
? R7os no consequence whatever, if the rersun is
a,arc Of i!s c,mirg, and holds his bresth at the
r iuseaa @! its psss4ee. Tae cfesss are IRON ten
t. ft@en rods apart, and the water between
.hesn il .k siasoth Al c3ull be desired. All
that is hRaEed then, is tt.. lha swinmar, With
o,t hing a!arned Ut The tr'ghsful appearance
Of tbs wares, keep coclly on his course watching
their approach. As Ee rikes upon wave, be-
viii see q roaring Cataract three or four iect
h'sa 1u :l:ng toward him as though It thze,tened
d-=1ructi"n; but II he uoids his breath a no.
u4eut, tie crest will pass harmless over him,
aud III ~ ins:a:t Re will find himself on The
wind~aT elcpo Of the wave, perfectly safe and
ready to continue rs before.
q. If the person is 1oatiog upon bosrd CT
plank he should turn his head toward tbs COM
lnE waves, sad keep his foe. &. right angles to
item, haluing. bis breath " before when the
creSs pass. IA this Wey be will be safs II .lIlv-
en- to tbs beaea bu. if he ali5~s the board to
be struck BY the waves si!ewise, lie may be
rolled over ard over, and in his fright let 70 his
hold.
! Ii u number Of persons are driftia sshore
os small ra!t they ought Eot to attempt to
stand or sit upon it when they 1eech The break
aad tha -persors thrown ctf. Just before
| cn:srlng 1ha outer line Of breakers The whole
| party must let themselves do*n into tie water
| by the windNkfd ride Of tbs rat, and 20
through holding on to its edge. In this way
tee weigh! Of the party will tend to prevent the
.:: tram capsizing, and If it gees to pieces they
viii DO n s!tua!lon to ee:zs the fragments for
| flats.
. In the ocear, the J" uuder tow" is IN obsta-
clo to 'aai!cs. F1s uadsr-tor Is an under cur
| rent setting outward, which ca!riea oG tho
| water driven in b7 the waves On tbs eur.
face, cnd such is its strength in tLe sea
| that persons Rra sometimes carried CT
by It so lar Is to drown before they car be reg
| cuea. In the Likes tie uader:rw is seldom
s.rcrg enorea 70 be dan. elous; nu: i: it ccca.
| sious TN! trouble, the s~inner shoula lie ~
rear 10 the surface OF the water IS po.sisl= un-
I'll he csn secure go9e footing in shallow MA
Ter, and then make Ais EaJ to the shsre ue-
| tween t.!o waye4,
G:h. Every euas MAJ il Cli:ago should ex-
ercs5e himself ia Turf swimming, Tor which the
ss1d beach ii tie North sidu Eresenis safe
.nd e1csllent opportuai:- a, ev=tx gaze cf wind.
In :ai5 way oas may no: only bs prepared 20
ave Iia oW4 life il IN emerze1cy, hut also 70
preserve the lives al scores of c.hers who n1sY
require a3E:c. III suca fearful accidents IS the
wreck o: the Lacy E!gia.