The record-union., 1891-10-08
AQUATIC ATHLETICS.
Race at the Swimming Baths-Too
Much Speed.
Splendid Exhibition Of floating by q
Lady-To-nignt's Entertainment
Racing and Floating.

The first exhibition and entertainment
attempted by the Sacramento Swimming
Bath Association took place last evening
at the Pavilion of the association on
street. There was very good attend
ance and it comprised representative
citizens. a great deal of interest was
manifested
The Pavilion would have held many
more people, however, and it is to be
hoped that this evenings entertainment
will see it crowded.
The swimming contest for a handsome
prize was called on at 7:45. Judge j. W.
Armstrong, S. Prentiss Smith and
Thomas Harper acted as judges and Ed.
+. Smith as timer. The following young
gentlemen entered for the race: }.
Dolan, J. Davis, Z. BirdsaIl, A. Neither
colt, 4. NJ. Wolf, e. f. Kellogg, j. E.
Anger, i. d. Perry, II. II. Howard, w.
w. Grimm. The distance was by dOub-
ling, or making laps, 800 feet, the heats
best three in five, and the rests between
heats ten minutes. At the tap of the bell
the ten contestants went of evenly from
the shallow end of the tank making di-
rect for the stream of water pouring i'll at
Of speeding. They should have remenn-
bered that it is not speed but endurance
that is the desirable quality in a good
swimmer. Had the young gentlemen
been shrewder and more calculating five
would not have been distanced in the first
heat, which was won by Il. +. Kellogg in
the splendid time Of 1886. But 1t was
evident that Mr.. Kellogg was winded,
and that he had made the mistake of sup
posing swimming race to be essentially
matter of speed. For instance, he could
have afforded to lose the first heat if he
hid confidence that be could out-last his
opponents in the subsequent ones.
The second heat opened with five start
ers, one dropping out on the first lap,
Kellogg withdrawing on the second and
a. Nethercott taking the heat in 2;0l.
The call for the third heat found Mr..
Nethercott alone ready at the score, and
the race was accordingly awarded to him.
IF these same gentlemen were to enter
a second contest, unqueStiOnably they
would profit by experience and make
capital test of endurance, and exhibit en-
tcrtaining skill in the division of the
heats and the husbanding Of strength.
For they are all good swimmers and fine
specimens of athletic young manhood,
and can easily do better than they did
last night by sparing themselves until
the end Of the race.
The next exhibition was one Of floating
by Miss Maggie Young. She is q pupil
OF AlT. Barry and has had but five lessons.
She is graceful, admirably proportional,
weighs about 100 pounds and is cool and
s6lf-pOssessed. st To look at this swimmer
one would not think her capable OF such
an exhibition as she gave. She entered
tie water escorted by her teacher, and
after making q lap of nearly the full
length of the tank, turned upon her back,
extended her arms at full length and at
right angles to her body, threw her head
back and her body rose TO the surface and
10ated like a cork for an indefinite
length Of time. Her arms were GER
tGlnIy half exposed above the surface of
tie water the whole time and her head
two-thrdS lifted out V hile the line OF the
body just cut the surface OF the water.
She did not make stroke or a move
n.ent Of hand, as most who attempt float
Ing do. In short, she rested upon the
water as if reclining upon a couch, with
olt etiortful breathing or any eXertiOn
whatever, and gave as pretty an exhibit
ton Of the art OF floating upon the water
"a anyone could wish to see.
The young lady was loudly applauded,
and after showing how she had been
taught to swim and dive, she repeated the
floating exhibition, greatly to the gratiti-
C. tiOn Of the audience. One of the lady
spectators, who is more tleshy than Miss
\ oung and ought to float more easily,
was heard TO cXclaim: ut is too bad !!
I've been trying TO do that for six weeks.
and every time try, go to the bottom
Ike a StOne.n
And this was echoed by half dozen
ladies present. They Will learn after
umc that while ali persons may be
taught TO float by introducing a slight
s;ullng motion Of the hands, only the
few ever acquire the art OF breathing in
the act OF floating SO as to dispense with
all motion, as Miss Young did.
-,l
witnessed her exhibition last night, Miss
y Dung consented to repeat the floating
act tonight. The l&dy and her sister are
English women. and came here some
time ago, Miss Maggie being a teacher of
music Both learned to swim in the as
s0ciatiOn's tank, and both floated before
their second lesson was completed. They
are now equipped with an accomplish
ment every wife, mother and daughter in
the land should possess-how to take care
oi themselves II unfortunately cast into
Cecp water.
1t is fair TO say that there are several
ether pupils attending at the baths, young
and middle-aged ladies, who have be-
come superior swimmers, and several
VINO float well, but Miss NOung's progress
las, probably, been much the most rapid.
Some fancy diving and swimming fol-
lowed the tloating exhibition.
IO-nlght the second entertainment will
lie given, when the race viii be for lads
under the age OF fifteen. The distance
viii be one length and back. or 100 feet,
lest two out Of three heats, for hand
some prize and contestants must leave
the score at s O'Clock, sharp.
Richard Dale, the expert will then give
an exhibition of floating. an art in which
probably he has no equal. Miss Dung
win then repeat her performance Of last
night, doing so by special request Of many
ardent friends of the swimming baths
There Will then succeed fancy swimming
and exercises by men, at will. Possibly
gentlemen connected with the Sacra-
nento Athletic Club will also be present
and give examples of aquatic athletics,
hut this the management does not posi-
lively announce, as the athletes may not
10 able TO attend, tonight being a class
night at the gymnasium.
There ought to be q large attendance at
the baths tonight for the race by juven-
iiesis sure TO be very entertaining and the
floating exhibitions viii be as good as can
ba seen anywhere among the most ex-
pert.
NATURAL GAS
An Exhibition to be Given at the Well