The San Francisco call., 1897-11-15
SWIMMING IN THE SURF.
Three Men and Dog Attempt
to Go Round the Seal
Rocks.
The Current Is 60 Strong They Fail
to Make the 0ircuit-The Dog
Gets Ratified.

Three men and a dog made an attempt
yesterday afternoon 10 swim around the
Seal Rocks but the current was 50 strong
all fallei TO make the circuit around the
outmost rocks. Although their purpose
was not fully accom- piished, some very
creditable swimming was done by the
three men, ana the dog, his friends main
tain, would have done we'll. TOO if he had
not become badly ratified by the crowd of
n olsy boys in Sutro's Baths.
The start was made from the Big rock
in the rear OF the baths. Carl Rulfs was
the first to leap into the surf, which was
dashlng so violently against the rock that
many Of the spectators thereon got u
drenching as the water fell.
Georce Harty next took the plunge. and
was followed by William Hench. who is a
swimmer of only three months expert
ence. Joe Myser's dog Jack, who had
been very reluctantly. half persuaded and
halI-dragged out 10 th~ rocks, swan after
the men until the first breaker struck
him, and then became discouraged and
returned TO the shore. Jack is said to be
strong and valiant swimmer, but the con-
fusion of the noise and crowds at the
baths where he was taken to be intro
duced so upset his nerves that he could
not understand what was wanted of him.
AS precautionary measure boat was
sent out to accompany the swimmers.
The effort to stem the tide was stubbornly
persisted in until the men in the boat
warned the men IN the surf that the sea
was so heavy :heY could not ppss bly,
nuke the outer circuit. Then they tried
10 force their way through the channel
between the rocks, and even that proved
very difficult. Sometimes thev would
seem to b. borne backward by the waves
toward the shore.
kuifs, who was the strongest swimmer,
passed through the channel first. He was
carried SO close to the rocks that some
thought he would be thrown against them
and badly hurt. Harty got into the chan
mel nearer its center and passed through
more safely. Hench Struggled long time
but " as finally CVe!borne and had to pass
inside where the current was not so
strong.
The seals displayed great curiosity in
the proceedings and as the men ap-
preached the channel they formed COM
plete line, from rock to rock, as if they
meant TO resist the passage.
Rulfs and Harry returned to the beach
out toward the Olympic pier in about %
minutes. Hencb, who was closely io.-
lowed by the boat, came to shore five min
utes later. When the men reached their
dressinC-room they were shudderlng with
cold. The spectators were disappointed
that the dog did not make the trip as they
wished TO see how he and the seals would
get along :Oga ther.
Al the Chutes an extraordinary dive
was made by Albert j. Baker. He leaped
from a height OF seventytive feet into
three feet seven inches o. water. He saves
himself from striking the bottom by max
ing a sort of shape curve when he
strikes the water. Otto Schultz, who had
been advertised 10 make the dive, had in
jured his wrist in previous dive and the
president of the California Swim min g
Club put Baker In his place. These two
divers are soon to have a contest for the
cham mpionship. The trial will pI bly, be
ON the Cliff House. The 150-yard N atch
race between K. B. Cornell and John CAT
vert was won by Cornell.