Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-13
PICNICS IN THE PARKS.
Whole Families Spend the Day and
Luncheon in schenley.
TIE RIVERS FULL OF BATHERs,
Several Deaths by Drowning Reported to
Coroner Mcdowell.
URGENT NEED FOR PUBLIC BATHS


necessity for public baths were both illus
trated with great emphasis in this city yes.
terdav. Hundreds of dollars in gold were
as nothing in comparison to the pleasure,
happiness and satisfaction enjoyed by many
thousands of people in the cool shade of the
countless trees at Schenley Park or inhaling
the invigorating breeze from the elevated
situation at Highland
The day opened excessively warm, and
early in the morning people began to
wonder how they would endure the heat
that was bound to come as the hours rolled
along. To many the thought of the country,
the fields and the shade trees came like a
dream and then came the realization that
only half-hour's pleasant ride was neces-
sary to make the dream real To think was
to act with many, for long before the
churches had assembled their congregational
crowds began to flock to the parks
Whole Families Picknicked in tile Parks
Whole families went, provided with
luncheon, to spend day of rest in the cool,
pure atmosphere, awav from brick pave
ments and the hot, sitting air of the built
up portions of the city, All day long the
cars were going out full and coming back
nearly empty. From soon after noon until
after 6 o'clock last evening the procession
entering the main entrance to Schenley
Park reminded one of the throngs to the
old-fashioned celebrations of the Fourth of
July. People came in all sorts of convey
ances-on bicycles on cars and on foot
There were many pairs of lovers there,
groups of boys and girls, little outing
parties of grown folk, and people of all
walks and stations in life. During the
afternoon it seemed that every tree in the
park protected some person from the suns
rays, and the shaded hillsides were numer-
ously dotted with reclining seekers for rest
and comfort.
1t was estimated that 40, 900 people visited
Highland. Many remained late, and the
cars coming in from the East End were
crowded until nearly midnight
The Weather Man Abused, as Usual.
Down in the city those who could not get
away sweltered and endured the heat as
best they could. The maximum of torrid-
ity was reached at 2 o'clock in the after
tered from go to 96 in the shade at that hour
though the weather clerk, with aggravating
coolness, famed himself with a chip hat as
he remarked that the weather gauge on top
of the new Government building only
showed 88 degrees. This, he also said, was
cooler bv two degrees than one dav about
TWO weeks ago, but no one believed him
and no one ever will
Anyone desirous of gathering an argu-
ment in favor of public lighthouses need
only have walked along the wharves and
the city's river front yesterday and then
paid a visit to Coroner Mcdowell. The
rivers were alive with youthful bathers all
around the city, and the police, where they
made an effort 10 put a stop to the pleasure
OF the swimmers, had lively and generally
unsuccessful time of il. Along the Allie
gheny river side modest folk crossing the
bridges found it good policy to look straight
ahead to avoid vision of shocking nudity
presented by the urchins, and in some cases
young men who swarmed in the water along
the wharf
The Rivers Alive With Bathers.
This was particularly the case above
Ninth street and as far up the river as |
Sharpsburg. On the Monongahela side |
from Lock No. 1 to the western limit of the |
city swimmers were also numerous. Down |
about the Point bridge and the West End |
the police made bold effort to capture the |
youngsters, but were only laughed and |
jeered at for their trouble, the lads always !
making their escape with little difficulty.
The first fatal swimming accident of the |
season occurred Saturday evening and the |
body was recovered yesterday. Twelve |
year-old Edward Butler, son of Joseph But /
Ter, Of the Ligget Spring and Axle Com |
pany, ran down from his fathers Office at |
the foot of Spruce street, Allegheny, to |
play along the river shore. An hour or two \
later his father learned that his boy was
drowned. He had gone in for Saturday |
evening battle, and, getting into one of the |
treacherous holes that abound in the rivers
all around the city, sank and drowned be-
cause he could not swim The body was
found within few yards of where he had |
been last seen and was taken to the parents
home.
McKeesport Contributes Another Victim.
a similar case was reported from Nc
Keesport yesterday, and, now that the water
has become warm enough to tempt the
boys into it, the death roll from that cause
is expected to grow rapidly. Last summer
q persons swimming in the rivers here
abouts were drowned. In a majority of
cases they were boys, unable to swim.
Speaking OF this record Coroner Nc
Dowell said: II don't believe there is an
other large city in the country where so
many people lose their lives in this way as
in Pittsburg. The reason is, to me, plain
enough. In all other big cities where there
Is an extensive water front provision is !
made for the cleanliness of the masses
and for instructing the boys in the inval-
liable art of swimming by means of practi-
cally free bath houses. In New York,
Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Cleveland and
other cities, these institutions are conducted
in such a manner that they exert powerful
influence for good, as we'll as saving MANY
lives. In some cities the municipal govern
ment conducts them as parks, libraries or
other public affairs are managed and this, L
believe, is the best method. But it would
be possible here, as in some other cities, for
private citizens who desired and could afford
to benefit mankind to establish a practi-
,ally free bath.
Could be Easily Msde SeIf-supporting.
"a grant from the city could bes ecured to
place large bathing boats at convenient
places along the warves and after the first
lost they could be maintained either by
small private subscriptions or bv charging
small sum, say penny, for the privilege
If taking bath Even at that small sum
Turing the summer season, 1 believe there
would be sufficient patronage to maintain
uch an institution. A boy or a man would
willingly forego the pleasure OF avoid the
-isk of a swim in the river if he could go
nto bath pool for penny, and many
'ne VINO tails to bathe with
proper frequency would manage
o take bath once or twice
week at least. The bath
ng institutions now in operation in !
his city have done much good already, but