The Portland daily press., 1884-01-04
Bathing in Salt Lake.
Utah Correspondence of the New York Sur

Utah Correspondence Of theNew York Sun.
The b. t1ing is nearly all done at Point Gar
field. A large pier, running about 800 feet In
to the lake, is covered with little bathing
houses, and there are also some Duilt upon the
sands. Accommodation for not fewer than 400
bathers at one time is provided. Steps lead
down from the pier to the water, but WOO to
the bold and unwsry diver who ventures to
take header. He will think he has struck q
paving etone and swallowed combined sui
phur aud salt mine; for. in his astonishment as
the lncussioD, he will be pretty sure to ooen
bis mouth. The greater the force with which
one strikes it, the greater the rebound. There
is some danger, too, OF slipping into the water
face downward, aud not being able to turn
over, even where the depth is net greater
than two or three feet, for the resistancs OF
the water is so powerful that only yery
strong person can force foot through 1t to ths
ground.
During one of my visits l saw a lady, iust
about to step into the water, miss her footing
and fall face forward. She struggled violently
for several seconds, but her friends, who we're
unacquainted with the peculiar properties OF
the Salt Lake water, did not suppose she was
in peril. An alarm was, however, raised from
the pier, and she was lifted to her feet. Bat
for this timely help she would certainly have
been drowned in less than two feet OF water.
1t seems almost impossible that any liquid can
DO so intensely salt as this. The swallowing OF
a very small quantity produces violent vomit-
ing, the action of the salt being aggravated by
several other alkalis held in solution. The
proportion of salt alone is over 20 per cent
somewhat greater than that Of the Dead Sea-
and, even in the rough way of max
ing salt common in this region, name
~, flooding meadows and awaiting the
results of evaporation, gallon of salt
is obtained for every i've gallons Of water.
=. To those who cannot swim, and who have
been duly warned of the dangers to be avoided,
bathing 10 Salt Lake is particularly delightful.
AS ons lies upon the water sense Of lightness
seems to pervade the frame. One appears to
be half floating, half fying; for only small
portion Of the body will sink into the water,
and only the exercise of great muscular
strength can keep the limbs upon the surface
OF the water. The exhilaration producsd by
this novel feeling of lightness is very remaIk-
able. 1t seems to give the limbs absolute rest
as they float in the air, upheld by no conscious
voliton or expenditure of physical force. But
TO the swimmer the bathing is by no means so
enjoyable. The resistance of the water Is 50
great that to force a way through IL requires
great effort. / saw a strong swimmer, who
had gone out about 100 yards from the end Of
the pier, obliged to call for a boat, as he was
too exhausted TO make his way back. On com
ing out 1t Is necessary to sponge the body with
fresh water, as the salt forms a complete scale
armOr. Que man of our party, who forgot to
use fresh water on his head, speedily had his
black hair changed to very light gray.
= Fastened alongside the pier is an old steam
er, the Gen. Garfield, which used 10 take ex-
cursion parties upon the lake. About two
years ago FIRE destroyed her machinery. and
since then she has been turned into floating
restaurant. An excellent dinner is served to
the hungry bathers, at very moderate price,
and during the season trade is very brisk. For
some time capitalists have talked of erecting
summer hotel at Point Garfield, and at last
the site is said to have been selected.