The New York herald., 1874-09-25
MERMAlDS AND MERMEN,

Swimming Matches I'm the East River
Yesterday AftcrnoOn-A Ladies' Race,
GentIemen's Race ana q Race Against
Time by Mr. JOhnson-Trautzc and
johnson in the Bath.
Yesterday afternoon an immense concourse Of
people assembled at the foot Of Sixty sixth street
to witness swimming exhibition In which Mr..
Johnson the English champion, was advertised to
appear Long before four O'Clock, the time men,
toned for the opening of the exhibition, every
point Of vantage on the river front, from Sixty
filth to Sixty-seventh street, was taken up. The
primeval trees, which have shaded the
Indian, the Old Dutch fur traders and thou
sands Of modern open.air dinner parties and
even perhaps, the redoubtable Captain Kidd him.
SELL were weighed down by hundreds OF agile
boys, who rechned In savage ease In the crotche5
OF the limbs, shedding, IN pleasant variety, alter
shells on the crowd below. The lockers on. on
terra frma were, indeed. as mixed and varied a
fighters moved TO and fro by ladies OF fashion, VINO
at Long Branch had known Mr.. Johnson ana
admired his swimming. MIR. Andrew Trautze.
With his trainer, Mr. Ben Wnlteman,
and the handsome couple were stared at as much
as they were at the Branch. The arrangements
Tor the race were not as perfect as they might
have been, and great comment was ehcited by
the presence OF famous sawdust man, who
seemed to nave entire charge of the affair. It is
pity that this exhibition in which amateur ladies
and gentlemen took part should have in any way
depended ON the efforts OF person OF the calibre
of the individual Just mentioned, or that he was
allowed In any way to connect himself with 1t.
THE PROGRAMME.
The programme OF the exhibition contained four
items, 10 wlt-Flrst, genteman's amateur race,
three-quarters OF inile; second race against
time by Mr.. Johnson, one mile; third. ladles'
amateur race, half mile, and ourth an exhiDi-
ton OF fancy swimming by Mr.. Johnson nr. smith
was appointed judge, and the first race began and
ended with no interest. The entries were-Fred.
Jack, Hubert Praager Oscar weber q ana r Jonn m
Weber followed close behind, wniie IN tne Instance
Fred Jack ana Fagan brought up the rear. Pagan,
although the last man IN, was ueCIaTea py Mr.
the first one WHO mad touched Aag Which was
stationed on the n0at at tue loot or Sxty-slxth
street. Prgger and Weber mildly protested against
the decision. but they we're not heard ana The de-
Clsion was left unaltered.
| The next event was Mr.. Johnson's SWIM What
time ne made or the exact distance he swan no
Knows, as no time was taken anu the distance
In the ladies' race there were seven entries, but
virtually only four contested as the other three
Contestants were Minnie Leopoldt, Molue Leo.
poldt, Emily Brann and Josey May, ana they came
In to the winning point In the order in which they
are named. The winner OF the race was presented
with gold locket and chain by Mr.. Gus Williams.
Alter the ladies' race, Mr.. Trautze In response to
the call from the people about him and the
earnest solicitation OF his many friends, decided
to give an exhibition with Mr.. Johnson in the
river. When he had stripped and was prelared
to 60 in, Mr.. Johnson was indisposed 20 out and
he decided to give an exhibition In the tank.
Mr. Trautze not being an aquatic gymnast did not
! care TO go into the tank where Johnson was per.
forming his antics. Al last he was prevailed upon
| 10 80 In and alter dodging around the tank ioI
some minutes, Traut2e and Johnson came ou
| together, and as they sauntered up the hillside
the moon came ont and cast svery simmer o;
the now placid water of the river and looked OF
| the deserted hill where short whine before
, motley sgoxd had been.