Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-12
ONLY ONE LIFE LOST
Annual Report of the Free Bathing
Beach.
Necessity for Beginning the Improve
ments Appropriated for-Detaiis Of
the Year Large Crowds.


annual report on the bathing beach. He
says:
The whole number Of bathers registered
on the beach books is 29.923. To this num-
Der should be added about 300 for coIored
boys who used the beach without register
Ing. 1t was a daily occurrence for two or
three to register. and when the houses were
oEened for them. they would let in many
others. In this way many disreputable
ba thing suits entered the water, and when
discovered. the wearers led the policeman a
chase through the bushes. But as the
facilities on the colored side were not in all
respects as good as on the white side,
very broad margin of leniency has been
shown for their escapades
The hot term was very short, lasting only
about three weeks, but in that time nearly
half the seasons bathing was done. There
were over 1900 entries in the first eleven
days Of August. and there were three days
In succession Of over $50 entries each.
AS large percentage of the bathing is
after o'clock each day. four or five at
tine were crowded into some Of the rooms
rms Is extremely unsatisfactory. as it led
10 some thefts. 1t is easy for q thief to re-
turn to the room before the others do, rifle
their clothing and depart. His address be-
Ing fictitious. he cannot be discovered. Yet
w Aol tudI any increase IN the
number OF dressing rooms is needed at
present, because when a natatorium for
nude bathers Is ready for USE l think that
n1ne-tenths Of the bathers will be accom-
modated IN the premises especially desig-
mated for that purpose. A long dressing
shed with boxes on the wall for clothing is
the usual plan, much less expensive than
INDIVIDUAL rooms, and requiring no at
tendance. Lad es' mornings have been quite
a success. being more regularly attended
IMAM the public hours. Quite a number of
ladies' have learned to swim this season
and one lady swan for an hour and a
quarter without a rest. She could swim
only few strokes last year. Swimming
brings into use the muscles of the arms and
crest, and Is wonderful invigorater in de-
Weeping those organs A large majority of
ladles learn to swim very slowly, a few
strokes taking their breath away. This IS
overcome only by persistent practice, which
acquires strength.
!fere has been one death at the beach
Inn. Inns season. clifton Norlein a lad of four
teen years. was missed by his GONNA MONS
ana search Of fifteen minutes found his
body under water not far from tn. wharf
severe confusion on the head indicated
Ina .nat ne struck the bottom in diving. He
mad been seen diving from the wharf in
swallow water. Il is said that he was a
very reckless bog. and that ne said on his
way TO the beach that he would learn to
SWIM thls time or drown. I do not think
that the facilities of the beach nor tie
management are in any way to be blamed
for that accident. Life-saving assistance
mas been rendered by the life guard and no
licemen to nearly fifty pers ons this season.
The tornado Of September % took sway
both wharves entirely: threw down $50
lineal feet OF the yard fence, destroyed a
shed, unroofed four rooms and carried
away the float. The fence material and
wreckage have been gathered and stowe d
| in the yard. The float was recovered and
| returned by Policeman Samuel Brown by
| halt days hard labor. 1t IS lodged on the
beach. All movables of any value Rave
been stored at my residence FOR next Sea
sons use. There were eighty new rooms
added, tin roof put on the office and
many repairs done this season. on the ap-
preparation Of the last fiscal year. OF the
S,O appropriated for maIntena ice for the
present fiscal year 1884 has been expend-
| ed, leaving balance of sG7O.OG for current
and contingent expenses to July !, 1897
The Appropriation Of $4,000 for fitting VI
| the little basin as bathing beach remains
| intact. My recommendation relative to
| that has been referred to the Secretary OF
War by your office. I have hoped that this
vantage Of the pleasant fall weather and
unemployed labor to do this work without
hurry. If the work is not IN progress be-
| fore the next session of Congress :. will be
difficult to obtain more money when it will
| be most needed. The $4,000 of the present
appropriation would not half pay for the
| dam alone, built in governmental ctyle. and
yet that Is all we have to build the dam
and do five times as much other work to
| fit the premises for service. If we could
| begin now, when labor is lille, that $4,000
| could be made to go over a great deal Ct
ground toward the end in view.