The Washington times., 1894-08-01
SPORTED LIKE WATER DOGS
Swimmers Contest for Prizes at the
Bathing Beach.
VIEWED BY MANY SPECTATORS
Four Gold and -Four Silver Medals Presented
Plain and Fancy Diving-Longest Swim
Under Water-Exciting Fifty-yard Race
Superintendent Stevens Speech.

Inere was any quantity OF fun, frolic, and
genuine enjoyment. together with excitement
born Of earnest but friendly contests, yes
terday at that part OF the river front known
as the bathing beach.
The occasion was the annual aquatic sports
and swimming contests whicn take place at
that popular resort Of human amphibians
The contests were announced to commence at
O'Clock, but long before that hour
the water was literally alive with
humanity, and the shore Of the river was
crowded with spectators lining the bank for
nearly quarter OF a mile. The spectators
all seemed to know some Of the contestants,
and took a lively interest in the proceedings.
The prime mover in all matters relating to
the beach is W. X. Stevens, the superintend-
ent. The position is an honorary one as
there Is no emolument OF any description at
tached to it, and Mr.. Stevens, with a phian-
thropy worthy Of tho cause, not only gives
his time and energy in behalf OF the
free public baths and the safety Of the
bathers, but he spends annually large
amount Of his own money. Mr.. Stevens
and MIR. j. Z. Jones, who also takes gre at
interest In the beach, got up the sports of
yesterday afternoon. Four gold and four
silver medals were given to the lucky COM
petitors. -Four of the medals were given by
the gentlemen named; merchants in this city
contributed the others.
SPORTS OF THE FATHERS.
Before the contests commenced about 800
or 400 boys disported themselves in the
water, much to the amusement of those on
shore. The bathers tumbled over barrels,
played leap frog, tag, and many other
aquatic games. The shallow water reserved
for small boys and those who cannot swim
presented no less lively appearance. The
little fellows seemed to enjoy the water like
young ducks. Policeman d. ]. Cotter, who is
detailed to the beach, had his hands full in
endeavoring 10 keep order and in keeping out
OF the water as many OF the very young boys
as he could when the time for the sports ap-
preached. Mr.. Cotter blew his whistle Justify
and called ''time' at 5 O'Clock, and Mr.
Stevens announced that the contests would
commence and ordered the course clear. J.
Z. Jones and s. II. Agnew acted as judges
and W. Y. Stevens as starter.
The first event was a contest in plain and
fancy diving, in which there were five en-
tries as follows: William L. Bailey Philip NJ.
Garnett, Charles l.. Smell, Lee Counselman
and ]. S. Hamilton. The prizes were: First,
a gold medal presented by ". Y. Stevens,
WhicA hds NOn Dy IDDip NJ udEuttt, WuO Te-
ccived thirty-eight marks out of a possible
forty; and, second prize a silver medal pre-
sented by the Overman Wheel Company, won
by Lee Counselman.
Mr.. Garnett's deficiency was in the plain
diving. He received the total of marks for
his fancy performance. which was exceed
ingly pretty, and was loudly applauded. The
results were announced after each event, and
received the appreciation OF the spectators.
The second event was the longest swim
under water, open to patrons Of the bathing
beach, all ages. First prize. a gold. medal;
second, silver medal, both presented by W.
y. Stevens. The entries in this event were:
W. A. Barr, r. Z. Buchanan, R. L. Sulkeld,
l.. @. Hamilton. Philip Garnet, ". P Rider.
and c. Il. Rogers. The first prize was won
by Sulkeld, who has saved eight or nine per-
sons from drowning during the season. He
is employed at the beach for that purpose.
". P. Ryder won the second prize.
MOST INTERESTING EVENT.
The third and by far the most interesting
event of the day was a flfty-yard race for
boys under fourteen years Of age. The prizes
in this event, which were similar to those in
the others, were presented by the Family
Shoe Store. and Mr.. J. E. Jones. The entries
were: George Jacobs, Joseph Craven, Joseph
Walsmith, Frederick knoop. Arba Tindall,
and W. F. Donaldson. The race was a most
spirited one. The little fellows got off well to-
gether. 1t was case of nip and tuck for the first
fifteen yards and the enthusiasm of the spec
tators became almost uncomfortable When
the course was half covered Tindall and
Jacobs began to forge ahead, Tindall, the
smallest and youngest of the contestants, in
the lead by about n length and half. This
position was maintained to the end when
Tindall finished, winning by four lengths
from Jacobs, who was second. The specta-
tors and all who saw the race became wild
with excitement az the imaginary winning
line was neared, and when the result was an
nounced the cheering and applause was tre-
mendous.
The last event was a 100-yard swimming
contest. open to all comers. the prizes for
which were presented by the St James Hotel
and the Family Shoe Store, respectively.
There were ten enteries in this event as fol-
lows: W. V. Reed, Joseph Craven, r. E
Buchanan. Francis Copp. +. c. Pratt. Harry
Omelia. Howard NJ. Blandy, Philip Tindali,
George yogt, and William A. Jack, il.
Howard NJ. Blandy won the first prize,
W. V. Reed was good second, being two
seconds behind.
In awarding the gold medal to Raymond
L. Sulkeld for the longest under water SWIM
Mr. Stevens said it gave him great pleasure to
do SO, as the winner had been instrumentalin in
saving the lives OF eight boys since the season
opened. After the presentation was made
the medal was grabbed out OF Sulkeld's
hand and he was caught up on the
shoulders of two or three stalwart
fellows who rushed with him into the
water pitching him headlong from their
shoulders. He dived under the water and
was lost to sight for couple of minutes or
more, when he reappeared about fifty yards
distant, and received the plaudits of the
crowd. Policeman Cotter caught up little
Arba Tindall, the ten year old son of the
Secretary of the District Commissioners, on
his shoulders and carried him up among the
spectators.
sUPT. STEVENS SPEECH.
At the conclusion Of the awarding of the
prizes Mr.. Stevens made a short speech, in
which he said he had been working at the
beach for the purpose of preventing loss of
life by drowning for five years without any
assistance from Congress. He said he had
received a good deal of assistance from pri-
vate citizens, but none from Congress. He is
endeavoring to get bill passed by Congress
to appropriate 100000 for the purpose Of
making safe and convenient bathing place
where all who wished to enjoy that privilege
might do SO without danger.
"Only yesterday" he sail, ''there was a boy
drowned up there (pointing to the place).
'Tis true he could not swim. and he was re-
fused admittance by Mr.. Cotter, but you can
not prevent boys from bathing and If they
cannot bathe in a safe place they will go in
where it is not safe, as in this case. There
were two boys together and but for Life
Saver Sulked both would have been drowned.
Sulkeld managed to save the second boy just