National Republican., 1883-09-04

day long they 90 clad in short sleeved flannel
shirts and trousers scarcely reaching TO the
knee. There are four brothers of them.
Mike, John, Ed, and Chris Chris. is para
lyzed through extreme exposure in the water,
and may be seon any day sitting in q chair
in tho cigar store on the beach that is run by
the brothers. The Bradfords are from Pitts
burg, and have regularly visited the place for
eight years. Their district extends from
the ocean pier to the park bath houses,
a distance of about half mile. During the
whole eight years they have saved here AS
lives from drowning, and what seems incredi-
BILE lost not single soul. The young lady,
Miss Rosenberg, Of Philadelphia, whose
drowning here recently was chronicled in the
Washington papers, was not in the district of
the Bradford brothers, but notwithstanding
Mike went to her rescue, and that of her
friend, Miss Wasser. He was too late to save
Miss Rosenberg, but just in time to rescue
Miss Wasser.
Thoir modus operandi of rescuing is as fol-
lows When person is drowning they throw
out line to him. As the majority of such
persons are too frightened to avail themselves
of the line, Mike or one of the others swim
out to him and support him above water until
tho other brother launch the life boat, and
rowing out to Mike and his charge take both
into the boat.
Mike remarked to me the other day that
the worst case he ever had was q big, fat fol-
low, weighing some 300 pounds, who clasped
him round the arms and waist like vice and
rendered him helpless. Had it not been for
the timely arrival of tho boat both would
have been drowned.
Before entering upon their humane calling
the Bradfords were engaged in the same vol
untary occupation on the Allegheny, Mon
ongahela, and Ohio rivers. Their whole life
1t seems has been devoted to humanity.
"Chris" was paralyzed June 49, 1882.
On Monday last was an eye witness to the
rescuing by them of four persons who had got
under the ocean pier, where there are many
holes, and being unable to extricate them
selves were clinging to the poles supporting
the pier.
The city wanted to employ them this sea-
son, but John says they preferred TO depend
upon voluntary subscriptions, as uncertain as
such subscriptions are, to working for u sal
ary.
l must confess that many of those rescued
by these brothers are not over appreciable. |
know of three cases myself where the boys
were barely thanked.
The bath houses in tho vicinity where these
brothers rendezvous are literally filled with
customers, due entirely to their presence.
AS an illustration of this, last Saturday
flfty-three Pittsburgors came here and all
bathed from the bath house where the broth
ers are located, just to be under their watch
full eye.
-Four years ago they saved the crews of the
Julia and Flora Curtis which were wrecked
here.
No sea is too heavy for Mike to swim in.
He can go out in any sea and get in with
out difficulty" remarked John.
Last Friday your correspondent did some
life guard service himself There is q young
lady here from Pennsylvania noted for her
total obliviOusness to danger and the great
distance she goes out into the sea. This
young lady observed on tho day mentioned
making frantic efforts to get in against the
strong undertow. The next moment huge
breaker engulfed her, and second or two
later l observed her apparently floating.
Suddenly she sank, and after short time
rose to the surface and as suddenly sank and
arose again. Half in alarm for her safety
and half of the impress ion that she was
merely sporting, l approach ed her mechani-
cally. Suddenly she turned on her side and
sunk quickly.
fastening to where she disappeared found
her lying at the bottom of the ocean. Rails
ing and supporting her the best L could,
called for assistance, and as quick as a flash
Mike and John Bradford were at my side,
and we carried her to their resuscitatng
room. After about five minutes manipula-
tion of her arms she was resuscitated. If you
believe it she wanted to go in bathing again
rlRnU away. gduuTudy buO
l ought to have mentioned saved two more
lives. Next year tho Bradfords are to open a
bath house of their own. If you ever come
to Atlantic il will repay you to give them q
call. They are, on the whole, the most whole
souled, courteous, warm hearted, and uncon-
ceited men have ever met. l was glancing
over some newspaper extracts of their daring
deeds yesterday that John has lately been
saving. He has collected about one hundred
items, which teem with laudations of their
praise.
You would never judge from the multitude
you find on the beach that the season was
virtually over, for there seems to be no ap-
parent diminution in the number of bathers.
The United States hotel closes tomorrow
and Congress hall on Monday next. 1t is an
amusing sight to sit on the beach and observe
the various bathers. Here your eye is at
tracted by half dozen Lydia Thompson like
nymphs promenading the beach, arm in arm
there q couple of rotund looking matrons, and
in close proximity lean, lank looking female
figures, and SO on. Many of the lady bathers
seem to array themselves in their bathing
costumes merely to promenade along the
edge Of the water and sit and play with the
sand.
Altogether, while the sight is pleasing to
the eye, think the moral effect is bad, this
gross exposure of the female form.
Last Monday the railways got up bicycle
race and fireworks for the purpose of attract
ing eXcursionists to the beach. Pressy, who
is remembered in Washington as fancy
rider won the three mile race. and Mr..
Green the hurdle and walking race Before
the tournament procession of the bicyclists
was had, and must confess my disappoint-
ment over the affair. Many of the riders
were attired in their everyday habiliments.
The fireworks were quite fine, and wit
messed by at least thirty thousand people.
To-day is warmer, though not unpleasant.
But am wearying your readers, SO adieu.
r. f. +.
Death OF William SchoenbOrn.
NJ Millintn oh hnr n nell lrnAnnr and