, 1874-09-12
WOMEN SPORTING IN THE
WAVES.
Mts* Assto Bennett nut r1or pnpIIs--
1srcnHfln- Gsrral1erS that Would
Trouble old Swimmers.

Hktsx Kss1o Escaanet. aud Flor pupIjs--
IsrcaHfiiis Fsrrai1erS that Would
Trouble asItl Swimmers,
From the Nclo York Su,., Sept, 6,
IhirstiAy afternoon q brisk breeze was blow.
ing IN from the soa upon Fort Hamilton, aud
tho beach between tho fort mud bath. rho
watera OF tho hay woro somewhat agitated ly
.s nfeeSe, to e,nt'a aa to aowtoppe waves roo In
tnas Of Newport and Long Branch. 1t waa q
ttnlo when touo but e11,erionced swi1nu1orn
would lave ontorcd tho wator atd oyon thoy
ron no slight risk from the forco OF tho waves
aud the strength Of tho incoming tido.
Upon tho platform in front Of uulall, wl,ito-
washed building, on tho beach, Htood fourteen
ladies and QUO gentleman. lilo ladies wero iii
from New Yorli, mud tho pupils Of Mias Kato
tlcunn was o. Sftn reporter, md tho only ona
who had been Lonorcl with au invitation to wit
noss tho foata Of the ladies in the ,wator Tho
party wero discussing tho practlcabllity OF In
Denmott made her appearances. She said:
Lad!oa, wtll aolyo tho problom for you in a
practical way"
Thon she disappeared In tho little building.
Miss Hate Dcnnott IL q brnnotto Of medium
'Aolght. She IL tho Superintendent Of tue Eley-
entl4-stroot bath In this city. aud .cachor OF
swimming. She is very enthusiastic, mud will
argue oil day upon tho necessity Of knowledge
OF swimming to woman.
Within five minutes Hiss Bonnet roappoared
thrown around hor. Sho pnuBcd for al Instant,
then sApped lightly down tho beach. At tho
watora edge she threw OF hor waterproof, gavo
q light bound forward. and was battling with
crosts, and now she. was lost to sight in tha
depths. Whoneyora!io appeared tho spectators
coua wisncua tho oasy, graceful motion with
which sao swami. On, On. silo pushed, until Bhs
had swan at least 4 quarter OF d milo from the
shore. Then uho Turned a oolnersault in td
water, coming up on her back For fcw sec.
onda she tloatod lightly on tho wuyes, borno
land"ard by tho incoming tide. Then Hhe swain
TOW straight strokes. All at onco sho plunged
md for what soomod y long time to those whe
woro watching acr, roinauod uudor water. S,1d.
douly Bhe reRppcarGd upon tho surfnco, several
yards nearer the Hloro. A cheer arose from hel
anxious pupils on tho beach. AftAs Bennett agaiu
Turned n HonlctsanIt il, acknowledgment of tLit
salute. Tlcu turning upon her Aide, she swan
1ew yards i'll that position. As sho noared tht
beach slle ulade anothor dive, and when ahs
again rose&to tue Burfaco she wAs within fea
feet Of tho shore. Sho ca,no up dripping like
again, n..l she said:
"Now, girls, haro golvcd your problem. 70,
call SEQ how much danger thore Is. !"
Tho girls ~ onco went to their dressing -ro on
and aiiss Eounets sat down to hayo few world
with tho Sun reporter.
Reporter1How many girls have you taught. t.
Mills DannottI haven't the faintest idea
KNOW hnYo taught several htndrodB. 60ml
aro verY young, and sonio aro very old. laya
QUO pupil who is GU years old, md eau swim lxs
tiah. But horo they come. You must cxcus,
! mo. Tn going to join in their fun to-day.
From tho bath-houses filed tho ladies' ircgsed
III bathing; COSTUME. Their trcsses wore Of the
gan,o model as thoge used BY tho bathora at Lont
Brunch and Newport. light and oasy, giving flll
opportunity for tho play Of tho limbs. Tht
girls rushed down to tho water With shouts and
laughter, dasllctl recklcssly into tho wayca,
luokod themselves precisely as u man would dc
under similar circumstances, aud wcro soon pail
ding about i'll all kluds Of positions. Thcr,
woro young, girls md middle-agod 1adics
Loan girls aud plump ,FirIs. Ihoy hwam singh
aud N pairs thrco linked together aud fon
linked together. Thoy dovo aud thoy aman
untlcr watcr. Tlloy flontod on their backs, ane
mado little whirlpools in Which they swuus
around tho cirela. For half m hour the water,
witches sportel npun tho wavos. an1 then With
moro shouts aud more laughter they rushed III
tho baacll, tho water dripping from tlloln 1lkt
liquid pearls dresBod themselves In street a!tiro
n1il started for Now York.