New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-28

THERE Is no LACK OF EXCITEMENT AND DAN
GER-HIDING FROM cops"

GER-HrDING FROM cops"
Many a New-Yorker has pleasant memories VI
the pond or stream In which he learned 70 SWIM AZ
a boy This body would be shallow. or II IL was
not he would for a long time venture no TURNER
ont than 10 to his chest. Perhaps his first efforts
would be 10 swim toward the shore from point
where the water reached his waist. II he founo
himself accomplishing a few strokes successiuny'
he would venture out a little further But usually
he would not 90 over his head until ne had mao
several months OF practice-that Is not uh'csS Nv
was in the arms OF some ran
Blu, the New-YorS boy who lives along tne river
front is brought UP in a sterner school ne may
90, into the surf at Conev Island or South Beach
once IN a great while. out the Hudson or East
River Is where he actually learns this sport lners
l. no shelving beach. and the water Is many iees
deep Yet scores Of boys. some Of them not TOO oia
for ,ha kl,Aerrarten teach themselves TO swim eacn
summer
The big Mnrket-st pier favorte haunt for
swimmers Yet il 4. an extremely dangerous place.
and the man who IL an expert IN quiet ianes ahu
rivers must be extremely careful. here Inc tde
edd,es and swlrs. and the current Is Ike a mill
race Pilots tugs must take accurate account OK
the sylf, tide or their craft Will be driven against
bulkheais or other vcsse.s About the piers. the
course OF the water is ever shifting. The boy who
intrls.s himself TO II cannot tell until he gets INTO
{, is, which way he VII be carried, and how hard
he will have to struggle TO get back to safety'
slider plunges FOR his nrst swim. 1t may be In the
dav time or 1t may be when darkness mas aadei
>, the danger Of the turbulent waters. He mas
era yled under the pier with lot OF other boys
and undresses on a crossbeam. This IN tseit IL
delicate Undertaking. The stringer may De oniy
i've or six inches wide. and a touch from ne'sh-
hor who ia getting Of his clothes may send tho
,o,ce into tho river The clothing is hidden on =
beavv beam which IL foot or so below the moor OF
tho n,.r Then all is ready for the first entrance
into the cold stream.
Rones dansle from the pier into the water and
the how who is learning TO swim Is encouraged 70
slide down one OF these There is deal OF urging
on tho rart OF the crowd. ard the pupil IS many
immersed never letting go the rope. you may %
sure He kicks and splashes around, Always
closely watched by some OF his older ieho"s' Inv
Markets. pier has been the scene OF many ni's-
hans but seldom is a boy drowned while learning
n svm After several afternoons or evenings
sr.,, holding tho rope and kicking. the boy goes
step further and takes stroke or two. BY mo
end OF the summer ne is competent 70 look al'er
hlmse. and perhaps he OF the corps OF ihstruc'
tors for new "greenhorn'
Tho exnert even at the age OF ten or twelve. -
wonderfully strong swimmer He will allow tne
,,s % arr him out and then Will battle against
3, Ike a Trojan He may 10 make no prog
ress against thu mill race OF an eidy' put rea''y
gains the fraction OF inch al each stroke anu
I In fifteen twenty minutes VIII De pach at '"o
pier. OF course, some are uro""e"' hoa'' a.
always handy. and when youth exnaus's ms
strength and is swept out and away ne is pau
risk for an Insurance company. IL WOULDN'T %
profitable 10 insure his life for 20 per cent pre-
MUM ,,
\ policeman occasionally tries 10 arrest the SWIM
,,ers Usually IL is because the younger boys chat
him II is seldom that he gets anything ou' MS
trouble for his pains The dark beams under ''e
! ,,a- are capltal hiding places He doesn't uare
! Chamber along the narrow. slippery planks' ana
! he did the BOYS would easily escape Owing 10 .'e,
sunerlor agility and knowledge OF the ground. 4"
he gets A .owboa;. It doesn't help MIN. Inc pos'
Green out 10 the floor o. the pier or 10 the sireSA or
| 80 sarnersi lie rat on the great beams when ats
paraed from the roof or tnis hoo,esS rs'a fsiy
| ment by only few inches. There tney are sate'y
| hidden. Through the scarcn the ho.N,"s yfts.nmsr
| the boys continue untl inc u''s"'N'' fO
San oecasionai incident is the visit OF moi Ss
who has learned that her boy Is III ;" hss
6nyers i,rhing 10 Clasp a good stick with which 20
teach the lad 20 keep ou OF me water As se ,Sst
pears the word is passed to ner achas hi
his .'ole LADY is after him He quickly reaches ~ ~
rlothIng slips them en- and creeps along the oexs
10 the street Meanwhile. his mother LOOKS ior n IA
| in vain some one tells her that the BOY 100
| TO see him she becomes greatly alarmed az hns
| down the pier she goes. crying ana "rHss"SS ,m.
hands until some one persuades her 20 ~ Eur the
There she finds the little rascal piaylns Wy enT
habv as innocent as n lamb. lie VOWS ne nasn'
been the Markets. per Tor a wees ""' ~
Instead OF being whipped he Is hussg,a those on
81. Eas, side tie knots In the clothes OF tneI
! comrades who are In the water When tne 'tst ,na
starts 10 dress the others gather afouh' 'As
S"'"' ecbaw roast beef the beef Is tough
| Chaw all day and you can't get enough
Chaw, chaw, cha"'