The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-19
ISLAND CITY NEWS ITEMS.
Colonel James Stephen Hoaa's Bath
Was Largely Witnessed.
FRANCHISE FOR THE ELECTRIC ROAD,
IL VIII he Granted on Certain Cond,-
uons--Pcrmancnt Organization
for Labor Day Celebration.

| Galveston. Texas, July 1S.-The Hon. J
stephen liogH has taken bath-in the
gull Despite tho stories OF sink holes,
whiripoois. and other things. the great
storm tossed statesman gave old ocean
treat last night. and In the presence o.
| a thousand persons he gamboled In the
shifting sands. let the breakers toy with
MS classic shape and had a gay time. lie
| was with Frank Fitzhush of the ORTIZ
Vein Fitzhugh Cotton Commission com
| pany OF Houston. and when the news
spread that the big man was going TO give
himself up to the sea there was rush for
seats on the pagoda bath house pier. How
}. stephen ever got bathing suit that
htted him remains mystery, but when
no appeared on the bath house steps ar
raycd In single garment a shout won't
up that might have been heard on the hay
lont The governor was coy about ven
turing in. He was very disnificd. or tried
to be, as he descended the steps Near the
bottom he stopped a moment. Then he
very deliberately lowered one OF his ,ootslc
MVo'sleS INTO the water to ascertain II the
water was cold
ouch, he exclaimed 80 loudly md with
so much evident surprise that some per-
sotiS thought an irrevorent crab bad taken
bite at him. The big man leaned over
anu rubbed the big toe that had come in
contact with the water That seemed In
prove roassurins, and then. summonine ali
ms COURAGE he made u mighty leap, and
a moment later the sea had hidden him
from view
me impact with which Colonel uogp
struck the water was terrific Spray from
'hc sceno or the meeting Of the forces dis
'u,Sed user for great distances about
ny roport al the collision was immense.
w men the form Of tho big man came into
sight again It was not tho thing of beauty
IL had boon few minutes before The
colonel sputtored and blew aud blew and
splnitored, and then he spluttorcd and
blew some more. Where he got 40 much
water as he expelled in the minute after
his jump into the sea is n mystery for n
CANT from him tn regular cascade
Ihc crowd shouted to him encouraginC-
iy. and he Just made up his mind he was
gong 10 surprise tho natives. AS soon aa
II" Hot he salt water Out OF his eyes and
ears and nose and mouth and discovered
that tho water was only about two feet |
deep where he was he wsded out further |
INTO the sea and shouted a challenge to |
'lishueh to follow him. MIR. Fitzhugh |
vas only too willing Soon they were |
having a fine time. The colonel. the long
nr hc stayed In the water the livclier ho
got. IT. may surprise some persons. but 1t
Is the absolute truth that lie played leap
rpg' van, 'ng over Fltzhugh'E back with as
much agility as If he weighed only $50 In
icau of about 800 pounds Ito ducked
'ltAhurh repeatedly and Fitzhugh duckod
him. and tho two men had ns much fun
's two school boys out for lark
When they tired Of the sea they went In
md dressed They declared they had more
'un than at any time in years Tho gov
'rnur says he naed TO be y great hoy for
aud he love. the water sin
ui--ho said this rcgroMully-hc isn't ms
'oung a. he used to be- although he some
ines tries to makes himself think that
10 il.