The record-union., 1891-08-04
L0NG-FELT WANT SUPPLIED.

The Sacramento Swimming Bath AS
sociation last evening opened the new
swimming bath. The expectation was
that three or four hundred people would
attend. But what did happen? Two
thousand citizens, young and old, reputa-
bic, happy, laughing, joyous people came.
But as not SO many could possibly enter,
HUNDREDS WERE TURNED AWAY,
And so many crowded in that the direct
ors ordered the admission money re-
turned to those who were so far back in
the lobby that they could not see, and it
was done. AS it was, twelve hundred
and fifty tickets were sold, exclusive of
those redeemed as stated. Where all the
people packed themselves in that build
ing will forever remain a mystery. OF
course some came and after remaining an
hour departed satisfied, and made room
for others who came late. But it is safe
to say that at one time there were fully
800 people in the place.
AND SUCH A CROWD,
Happy, full of fun, ready to laugh on the
slightest provocation, josting, elbow
ing, pushing, all in good hutnor,
and with not word of complaint or
murmur. Down on the ground-f1oor
some windows were broken in by boys,
and few cIambered to the rear roofto look
in at the great half-moon window on the
south. But that was to be expected on such
an occasion, but cannot again take place.
as bars and devices have already been
ordered to shut off this style of crawling
under the canvas" By 1880 o'clock the
building was packed with human beings
and the swimmers of the Athletic Club
emerged from the dressing-rooms and
plunged into the bath while the people
applauded and the First Artillery Band
played all sorts of wet music and airs
suggestive of water and the disporting
people in and on ii.
IN HALF AN HOUR
More every bathing suit was in use and
the amiable lady at the suit cove held up
her hands and shook her head while
Superintendent Post, Vice-President and
all others in authority who had been
aiding in supplying the demand for
suits, and in bringing order out of con-
fusion and in maintaining passage-ways,
sank down and mopped their foreheads,
and declared it mo USE" Then the fun
began, and it rolled on fast and furious.
The tank was alive with bathers. They
fairly crowded each other, and at times
as divers and jumpers flew from the
platforms into the water, it seemed that
there must be accidents from collisions.
But none occurred, and not a thing hap
pened TO cast a shadow over the even
ing's enjoyment. Probably 300 Young
and old men and masters entered the
tank between S and 10 o'clock and dis
ported themselves before the hundreds of
spectators, and TO satisfy their own de-
sire for "a good swim" There were
many
SPLENDID SWIMMERS
In the tank, divers of very superior
skill and gymnasts and acrobats who
were perfectly at home in their ground
and lofty tumbling in the water from the
springboards, the slide and the orchestra
floor. How they reveled in the clear
water, and how some of them fairly
went wild in their delight and aquatic
sport, only those who looked on can un-
derstand.
ONE THING
Was well established, that the good
swimmers and divers are many here
and another thing was demonstrated,
that the water supply Is fine and has the
Endorsement of the bathers; and still an
other thing, that the swimming bath
more than meets expectation-it far sur
passes il.
ABOUT EIGHT-THIRTY
President f. b. Willis, after shouting
himself hoarse, managed to quiet the
bathers moment and win them from
their noisy sport long enough to intro
duce Director X. Z. Devlin, who was to
make an opening address, and announce
the programme of exercises. AS Mr..
Devlin appeared the bathers set up q
witty shouting, and he simply said, eve
were to have set programme tonight at
1hlS opening, but from what / see the
general enjoyment of these 'mermaids,
ana OF all, and with things as they are, l
think we had best abandon the pro-
gramme-go as you please" And they
did, and for two hours thereafter the
tank was the scene of unbounded mirth
and rational sport. The divers were in
deed too Venturesome often. for some of
them sprang from the high rail of the
orchestra gallery and others climbed to
the rafterS of the roof and dashed from
that thirtyfoot hight into the clear water
below. Repetition of these exercises
will be prevented from this on. and
divers must not go higher than the south
gallery. No chances of cracked skull
must be taken, and the directors saw
they will prohibit hazardous feats.
THE CONTESTS
In swimming announced for last night
could not be carried out, so great was the
crowd and so superintendent the animal
Snirits of the bathers. Tonight the con-
lists viii come of, however, and as the
crowd will be less, we may look for some
fine examples of skill in swimming,
diving. floating, oyerhand, 9 b4ekhand
It'll long after 10 O'Clock watching the
Fathers. and seemed 10th TO depart when
,aar IL the gong sounded "all out" II
Jxpa