The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-09
SUNDAY At BATH.
Two old Farmers Predictions About the
Weather aud - Swimming Match.

chilly wind blew over the sands at Bath,
l.. l.. yesterday the sky was heavily overcast
and the waves were rough and choppy. In the
grounds and pavilions around the hotels were
only few visitors. and they shivcred in the
wind few boys tumbled about in the surf for
a short time. and then crept up the bank and
into their clothes with pale faces and purple
lips. 1t was advertised that there was TO be
grand swimming match of McCluskcy's Hotel
between George II. Wade. champion long dis
tancc swimmer. and Prof Joseph Van Beurcn:
stakes 800 side. distance one mile straight
away.
At 3 o'clock. tho time announced for tho
match, 100 or poo persons strollcd along the pi-
azzas and the beach and the long wharf and
asked each other where the swimmers were.
and whether the match was really to come of.
No one could guess the conundrum, and 80 the
people strolcd again and ate ice cream nj %
cents II plate and smoked 5-ccnt cigars. for
Vhich they pnid D cents.
Even the old house that stands nv The sea
under the hig willows was deserted until two ul,l
farmers who live In the ncighborhood dolcfuy
took seats ia a dismal corner. ont ot TN" wind
How old il this hous" Z asked the reporter
81 one whose facc and hair and clothes aud
wild -hrimmod Quaker hat were all Of the -smc
huc-griszly gray. The aged man looked mp
with u lone expression and after a moment or
two uf giim reflection replied. snrcastically.
As old ~ you. How old are yout'
To question concerning the swimm ing. both
mon kindicd into "A glow Oi enthusiasm. and
urn-c quickly and gaH'd uut upon the pillows.
" Thar. said the man IN gray. point NJ to the
lowering horizon and the misty shore or Jersey.
thar. didnf ! ten ycY Hood tide in Their ar
| thar and So" Their wind ping them white caps
ON Their shore. \ swimming match Wei. |
lU'Ss moi with iniinit" scOrnl Didnt tell
! Their ole man how il ud bc, But no use talk lng
ter him. Hc'il allus have his own way and 80
/ he must have Their mat III ter.day.
II WAS o'clock hcior" the Swimmers made
/ their appearance, and were escorted 10y their
/ trainers and yelling crowd down TO the end Of
/ M wharf. Van ljcuren was aitircd in blue and
/ white trunks. and his competitor I'm brown ana
white. over th' shoulders Of onr was thrown
a striped bcd, quit. Over the shoulders Of tn,
! other "a gray blanket. Wade. who Is short and
/ mus .ular. looked fresh and confident. while
! Van Beuron WAS slightly pal", and he trembrd
! in the sharp wind. Both m IN wcrc placed flat
| On their backs in a large boat. and accompanied
! hy their trainers. were rOwcd away toward
/ Cnucy Island. On and on over the frothy bill
/ lows danced the two bonts. until al length they
/ were mere specks on tn bay. soon II began Il
/ boz ask a whether tho swimmers wcrn going L.
/ Cap May or simply t. Concy Island for beer
| Al length a per. n Oh the piazza, vino WhS look,
| hron closed since he first placed II 10 his eve
announced that ne had seen splash. and that
beyond all question the iwomcn were STRUGGLING
toward home.
Afi.r a short time longer ii was seen that on,
Of the honts was pulling vigorously toward ~,
/ wharf, Every one was confident particularly
| the owner of the telescope, that he saw i've
| heads hohhins in the waves just in advance o
| the boat and that Wade was trlil. ahead q
| Van B'urrn. When TIA" boat reached Tho land
! ing Il WIS found that II was Van Bcurcn WHO
| was ahead 90 the other man. ns h" lay stif witt
| crlml- under hi- itduuilt IN thu bottom 81 th'
! b.it. "" was almost nm 'One rious when born,
/ Co the wharf. He soon recovered. His trainer
said that when h. started ON the match he out
| swan Wade until taken with the cramps. II,
minutes after ia. start. Meanwhile. Wade. ~
oOmpanicd 10y the other boat. SWAIN steadily
| with even stroke and reached the shore, appar
| emily rs fresh as when he went in. He made
| =