The New York herald., 1872-08-11
METROPOLITAN NAIADS.
Feminine Muscle Ahoat-A Prize Swimming
Match Opposite Blackwsll's Island
An Exciting Scene on tho
River and the Shore.

me swimming festival yesterday, at the foot OF
FSny-nfth street, East River, presented q scene Of
excitement and curious incidents not frequently
witnessed at bathing resorts. The place is located
directly opposite Blackwell's Island and is styled
The Oriental Salt Water Baths" The festival was
got up for the purpose OF testing the proficiency Of
the pupils OF the establishment, who daily assemble
around the premises to struggle for fame in natatora
enterprise There were three swimming matches
ior prizes varying from $25 to $780, contributed by
Mr.. Heysich, swimming master Of the baths. The first
was contest between six handsome young ladies
0f peculiar notions, ambitious ideas and salt water
propensities The start was given by Mr.. Heysick
at ffteen minutes to three O'Clock The six young
female adventurers stood in bathing costume on
the pianks beneath the steep overhanging rugged
rocks. Their names were as folows:- Katie
Allen, In blue bathing suit, with snowy tasselled
Asngcs; Miss Br0derck, in black and white suit;
MISS westermer, in red; MISS Cohen, In red;
MISS siegle, black and white fringes, and
Miss Candfdus in gray, with light borders.
The first plunge Of the fair ones into
the rapid stream was watched with much
anxiety. The boat around which they were to turn
was rocking In the tidal current about four hun
tred feet from the bank or pretty nearly in the
centre Of the river. Miss Allen and Miss Siegle,
afeer recovering from the effects OF the first dive,
struck out boldly ahead OF the others The next in
mont were Misses Cohen and Westermer Miss
Stegie apparently lost power before the boat was
yet reached. Miss Broderick struck In about this
time with steady strokes. The three others failed
20 breast the breakers In the centre OF the river
and had TO be taken aboard the boats. Katie Allen
SWAN steadily, with Miss Broderick very close be-
hind, until the two fair disputants reached the
bathing landing In state OF nervousness and
anxiety. Mr.. Heysich proclaimed
KATIE ALLEN THE WINNER
gold ring, worth about $780, was the prize but
Qlla n
smiles and congratulations that awaited her on
shore. Miss Broderck was also awarded gold
The second match was one of less interest than
that Of the ladies'. The contestants in this were
river. : Their names names % were as follows:-G winter,
" Foster, Charles Foster A: Browsky, Maurice
A.s% sesndFs Sam ana seSoo
boy STRIPPING, about sixteen, won by about
two lengths. 4. Browsky came in second and
for the young athletes and half had to be taken
aboard the boats in the centre Of the river. The
rocks and on the platform near the bathing house
and manifested no small share OF anxiety as to the
The third and best match was between ten stall
wart sinewy men, whose names were as iolows-
William wO Charles Beet Samuel PRapR John
AZ ten minutes to four O'Clock o.,soS the the
a heat Of the sun was growing less effective The
breakers were becoming stronger and the current
more rapid. Iuey were 10 swirl w bIoCkWeue
Island and back again to the baths. SIX swan di-
rcctly across the river. Four took oblque dirce-
ti0ns according to the drifting OF the current.
0ubleman, an officer in the police stan OF the Nine
teenth precinct, showed great artistic dexterty In
his method OF swimming He first allowed himself
to be drfted by the current until he was directly
p0ste the end OF the island and then swan straight
across to the bank. Mr.. Wolfe, however, took q
more systematic course. Breasting the tide up
the river as far as Sixtieth street he then swan
with extraordinary rapidity down with the current
and reached Backwels Island before any Of the
others were within 100 yards OF 1t.
All eyes were upon Wolfe from the music plat
form, and loud cheer was given as soon as he
could be observed. Gubleman, meanwhile. had
back at lively pace, the stewards boat accompa-
nying him. The backward courses OF both men
were in totally different manner planned. 0uble-
man swan past the island and then struck
across in straight line, while Wolfe re-
sumed bis former plan Of first breasting the
breakers without much eXertion. About half the
number were now entirely exhausted, and had
taken refuge with the boatmen on the yachts Rapp
and Gateman were still struggling manfully, but
we're entirely beaten by Wolfe and Gubleman. The
two latter approached the landing from different
starts at an angular point, Gubleman first and
Whfe about four minutes later. The match was
ner by all on the landing and PLATFORM but very gen.
erousy conceded the hOnors to Gubleman, after
short dispute. Samuel Rapp swan in third, and
Gateman fourth The prizes were-for the hrst
SIS; for the second. $50, and for the third, gold
ring. worth about $780,
Messrs. Wolfe and Gubleman challenged one an
ether for $3.50 to swim forward to and back from
Backwell's Island, on Sunday next There were
many admirers on the platform to greet the men OF
muscle on their safe return.