The morning times., 1896-03-18
SWIMMING BY TROLLEY.
Anyone May Learn to Swim With
Perfect Security.
Ne,r YotL Herald
Netc YOrk Herald.

Swimming by trolley is the latest inno-
vation in the world of sports. One may see
the novelty in operation in the tank of the
New Manhattan Athletic Club, over in
Madison avenue. 1t is fine fun, although
of course, there is no electricity about it.
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 a JOY it is for the poor
devils who were too tenderIy guarded in
their boyhood to learn how to swim!
They simply tumble in and paddle away,
as If they knew all about the art and
mystery of natation.
The trolley wire used to be 100 feet
long, extending from one end of the swim
ming tank TO the other, but Fred l.. BalIres,
the inventor of the plan, found the dista nee
TOO great for comfort and shortened the
wire. so that it now runs diagonally across
the tank and extends only forty feet. The
scheme is as simple as 4 b c. The wire
hangs a bout two feet above the surface of
the water. Thepupil, In swimming, buckles
around his body broad canvas belt that
reaches from the shoulders 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 big ring that is fastened to a swivel.
Armed in this panoply, which isn't half
so formidable to wear as il is TO read
about the pupil gently slides down into
the water as far as 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 pupil is ready for
launching. If he is very tinid he is
coaxcd, urged, and prayed to insert him
self in that pool. 1t is surprising how
thoroughly afraid some big men are of the
water-not thirsty Kentuckians, either,
but sensible fellows, who are really anxious
to put water to its normal use by swimming
3 in it.
Fred are you sure that we won 'tbreak?'.
asked 200 pound man from Wall street
as he looked up apprehehnsive1y at the thin
steel string. 1t
1T will carry q tion,'i said Balmes re-
assuringly. TherPunon the great man threw
himself flat on the water, exclaimed = Boo
o0-r-r-r-r-hi' with great vehemence, and
walloped wildly with arms and feet. The
wire sagged down heavily, the trolley
wheel squeaked and revolved, and the great
man found himself shooting forward in the
water with great leaps and bounds.
Great Scott!'n exclaimed he, as he ar
rived almost breathleSs at the north end of
the trolley route. Great Scotti but this
is finei It's like flying through the air!''
Thereupon he swung heavily around on his
swivel and started on his return trip. He
stopped midway -
Hey, Fred he exclaimed; what would
happen if the blamed thing should break?''
1T would be very SAD replied Fred
solemnly. 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 com
petitions at swimming distances under
water. The prettiest events are the
swimming races over hurdles. The raft
making races are very exciting.