The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-20
SWIMMING BY TROLLEY.
Anyone May Learn to Swim with Psrfeo.
Security.

ANYONE may LEARN 10 bNlm "11n FtFAept
Security.
New York Herald: Swimming by
trolley is the latest innovation in tho
world OF sports. One may see the now
city In operation In the tank Of the
New Manhattan Athletic Club, over In
Madison avenue. II Is fine fun. although
Of course, there Is no electricity about
IL. You need not know anything at all
about swimming TO enjoy the fun. You
supply the motive power-the trolley
does the rest. And what q Joy II is for
the poor devils who were too teRderly
guarded in their boyhoOd TO learn how
to swim! They simply tumble In and
paddle away. Us II they knew all about
the art and mystery OF natation.
The trolley wire used to be about 100
feet long. extending from one end of
the swimming tank to the other. but
Fred l.. Balmes, the inventor Of the
plan. found the distance too great for
comfort and shortened the wire, so that
II now runs diagonally across the tank
and extends only forty feet. The
scheme is as simple az A 3. c. The wire
hangs about two feet above the surface
OF the water The pupil. In swimming.
buckles around his body a broad cam
vas belt that reaches from the should
ers more than half way to the hips. 1t
Is fastened with two straps, To the
top straps are fastened two or three
links OF chain. terminating In a biz
ring that is fastened TO a swivel.
Armed In this panoply, which isn't
half so formidable TO wear as Is is to
read about. the pupil gently slides down
/ into the water as far us the waist. The
trolley wheel is hauled up near him.
Then the ring Is snapped up on hook
that hangs from the trolley and the pu-
Pill Is ready for launching. II he Is very
timId he Is cOaXed, urged, and prayed
TO insert himself in that pool. II is
surprising how thoroughly afraid big
men are OF the water-nOt thirsty Ken
tuckIans. either. but sensible fellows.
who are really anxious TO put water
to its normal use by swimming In II
Fred, are you sure that we won't
break" asked a 200 pound man from
Wall street. as he looked up apprehen-
sively at the thin steel rtng.
at will carry a ton" said Balmes re-
assuringIy. Thereupon the great man
threw himself nat on the water, eX-
calImed: boo with great
vchemence. and walloped wildly with
arms and feet. The wire saRGed down
heavily. the trolley wheel sQueaked and
reyolved, and the great man found him
self shooting forward In the water with
great leaps and bounds.
Great Scott" he exclaimed. as he ar
rived almost GREATNESS at the north
end of'the trolley route. Great Scott!
but this Is fine! It's like flying through
the ART" Thcreupon he swung heavily
around on his swivel and started on his
return trip. He stopped midway.
Hey, Fred" he exclaimed: what
would happen II the blamed thing
should break"
ut would be very sad" replied Fred,
solemnIy. You'd have TO walk out. The
waters only four feet deep at this end
OF the tank"
The members OF the New Manhattan
Athletic Club have no end Of sports In
their tank. Besides swimming races,
they have water polo. diving contests
and competitions at swimming dis
tances under water The prettlest
events are the swimming races over
hurdles. The raft making races are
very exciting.