The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-15
CHAMPION DANA THOMPSON.
A Crowded Audience Witnesses His
Swimming Last Night.
The Quarter-Mile Race Won in 1855
A Fine Exhibition to Be Given
by Him To-day.

Not since the night of it's first opening
has the Swimming Bath been so densely
crowded as it was last night to see the boy
champion swimmer, Dana Thompson,
swim his quarter-mile race Not only
was the gallery crowded, but the floor on
the front and both sides Of the swimming
tank were filed with ladies and gentle
men, till it seemed as if the proverbial
zone more'' could find no place.
Director Fred york had charge of the
programme, and he astonished the peo-
pie. Generally parades and entertain
ments of this sort commence from half
an hour to an hour later than the an
nounced time, but in this case the per-
Torrance had been announced to COM
mence at sharp, and it did so.
At o'clock the first race, of 100 yards,
was called and had six entries Of Sacra-
mento amateurs, being won by Il. Clark
in 1871 after good race.
The second event, the long-distance
dive, was also won by him, the other
competitors being SacrameHtans.
The 2OO-yard race. the third event, was
won by Dana Thompson, who was handi-
capped two lapss, in BIB.
He also won the contest for the neatest
high dive, which was done from the raft
ers.
Then came the great event of the even
ing, the quartermile race, in which
Thompson had broken the worlds rec
ord.
For this there were five entries, the
prizes being two gold medals, for first
and second places, Thompon and Danny
Green, between whom there is continual
emulation, being both handicapped two
laps, or one round of the tank
Alter their turn came, however, the
other contestants left the water at the end
OF one round and the two had the race to
themselves. Back and forth they went,
amid the plaudits Of the spectators.
Thompson slowly but surely gaining on
his opponent, until at the end Of the race
he had beaten him about fifty feet, MAX
ing his quarter mile in 1865, with sixteen
turns to make.
1t was a tine race and Green struggled
gamely, but Thompson could turn more
quickly than he, and gained a little in
that way on each round.
lie is phenomenal swimmer, with a
style Of his own unlike anything hereto
tore seen on the coast. The sweep Of his
arms alternately, instead of in unison, as
IS usual III overland swimming, propels
! him forward without cessation OF his
progress, and as he plows through the
water with his head submerged at every
9eloA6, he I6IllllluS one Oh Il monitor Win
its submerged deck.
Green is also a fine swimmer with a
style somewhat resem bling Thompson's,
but not so clean-cut and automatic.
y. d. Jenny of san Francisco was ref
cree and Fl. d. Gamble, timekeeper.
As many who would have liked to
see Thompson and Green last night
We're unable to do so, an opportu-
nifty will be given to see them to-
day, as they will swim quarter
mile race between 10 and II o'clock this
morning and will give an exhibition Of
fancy diving and trick swimming in the
afternoon, and those who did not see
them last night will do well to improve
an opportunity which may never present
itself to them again. The directors an
nounce that in the near future they will
give ladies' race.