The times., 1897-09-07
Races at the Bathing Beach
Viewed by Thousands.
TOURNEY A GREAT SUCCESS
Thirteen Spirited Contests Pulled
Off Amid Genuine EnthusIasm-
Policemen and Firemen Among
the Aspirants for Aquatic Hon-
Ors Events in Detail.

popular institution has long been Known,
bat such geueral expression OF adinlra-
tiou an satisfaction wasnever before mani
tested a. any one time.
The occasion for this was the annual
swimming and diving contests for prizes,
particiuated in 10y some Of the thousands
who have daily during the summer en joyed
the Luxury Of a swim in the Potomac water.
The tournament was under tie manage
nent II Sept. Stevens and had been care
fuIly arranged as TO detail, and proved
to he thoroughly enjoyable TO The COO or
mort persons who witnessed the contests.
The time set fer the Tournament to begin
was 8 O'Clock, and for more than an hour
before that time and az hour later people
assembled on the beach. The benches We're
soon occupied, but the crowds did noJ
murmur and patiently stood beneath
broiling sun aud waited for the contests
60 begin.
1t was just such a cosmopolitan crowd
as always turns out at interesting times IN
this CITY, and they arrived in all styles
snd fashions. Some rude in victcrIas and
Iandaas, others drove In phaetons. few
were On horseback, and hundreds rode
wheels, and stfll ether hundreds walked.
There were young and old. the visurousand
infiun, the athlete and the cripple Those
IN the crowd who found the burning rays
of the sun more than they could bear
seated themse elves on the grass along the
driveway at tie foot OF the Monument,
where shade trees were plentiful and voted
tlessing, but these Lovers Of comfort did
not nnger in their cool retreats after the
pistol shot was heard and the sport tegan.
They l0ined the greater crowd along the
waters edge, and M each contest became
more and more exciting their enthusiasm
became hotter than the sun, and rooiers
yelled and howled, regardless OF the s'resms
Uf perspirs ton that descended from their
heads TO tiieir shoes
II certainly was an animated scene. In
the river Were a score Of row boats filled
with mea and women: the polic= boat Wig
ilant was at anchor near by and d dozen
policemen in one-third that number Of
boats were busy keeping the swimming
course open, and the diving floats free.
Scores Of young men and women gave
amateur exhibitions OF their prowess when
the coltesss wer. not on, ana their joyous
shouts added L. the nveliaess u the oc-
caSion.
At about 4 O'Clock the races began and
from that tiE.lc TO the finish at 6:45 the
thousands OF spectators We're treated 70 "a
series Cf tie most interesting and closely
contested aquatic events ever witnessed in
Washington. A. times the excitement was
intense and the contestants were freqpe ntly
appIaCued long and loud for the game
fight they were making for medals and
hoaors.
The program was carried our as ar
ranged, with the exception that the race
for policemen was called in the place
OF fancy diving for the accommodation
of the contestants The most exciting
aud interesting events were the 250-yard
and 5OO-yard races. In the former, there
were five entries At the start SIzer and
Hudson took the lead and kept together
throughout iii pear the end, when Hudson
pulled away and won by about lengths.
In the 500-yard race. there were nine
entries. An excellent start was made, all
getting off well together. Cugger and
Tindan sOon showed in front, ard at the
finish turn TindaIl had just the least the
best of il. At the second turn he had
increased his lead to about thirty feet, fol-
lowed by Crowley and Crugger. At the
be,fnning Of the fourth hundred yards
Lowe forged ahead, and was soon making
claim to first place. He gradually gained
On 4H4lalf anu lut9 Adll4t " NAiS lAAc
making stroke for stroke. he could not
overtaEe TindsH, however, who beat him
by about three feet.
A great deal OF interest also centered
in the aIl-around event, including plain and
fancy diving, under water swim, and d
fifty yards straight away race. In this
event the medal last year was won 10y VIII
Hadson, and his friends thought he had
- =, but faa
lost il, after q closely contested race.
Summaries:
First race-Fifty yards; for boys under
fourteen gears OF age. First prize, W. X.
Stevens medal; second prize, pair bonling
pigeons j. Bennett, won, c. Williams
second, w. Howard third. Time 90
seconds.
Second race-Fifty yards; for boys under
sixteen years. First prize, ToKalnn gold
medal: second prize, bathing suit, by
spalding; third prize, pair OF shoes. a.
n. Tindau won, Willie Fischer second,
!. T. Nash third Time, SO 1-2 seconds.
Third race-IO0 yards open 10 all. First
prize, Neumyer medal; second prize. scarf
pin. pearl, Jacobs Bros. j. +. Faulkner
won, W V. Bennett second, Philip TindaH
third. Time, 1876.
first prize, Reuter- gold medal; second prize,
gold wetcn chain. L. L. sIzer, won; j. w.
McAfee, second; L. Crugger, third. Time,
1:14 1-2.
Fifth race PLAIN diving; first prize,
Foigt medal; second prize, bathing suit.
J. w. McAfee, won; George A. Chase, sec
Und; Mccarthy, third.
Sixth race -Policemen's race: 100 yards
straight; first pnze, medal. Phil Brown.
Won; Sam Brown, second; Sergt. Daley,
third.
Seventh race-Fancy diving; first prize,
silver cup; second prize. gold link buttons.
]. ". McAfee, won; II. VaDderventer, sec
ond; T. L. Sanders, third.
Eighth race -25O- yard straig glita wa y; first
prize, medal; second prize, medal. VIII
Hudson, Won; E. L. sizer, second; p. Tindall,
third. Time, s:l1.
Ninth r2oe-Fiye hundred yards, breast
stroke swim. First prize. medal; second
silver medal. A. n. TindaIl, won; Lowe,
second; A. II. Crowley. third. Time, 9:36.
Tenth race-Long under water swim.
First prize, gold medal; second, swea ter.
p. Brown, won; p. ID. Simonds, second; Fred
Diamond, third.
Eleventh Face -Aii-round swimming plain
and fancy diving, underwater swim, and
fifty yards straightaw ay SWIM ]. w.
EcAfee, won; A. II. Gro wiley, second; VIII
Hudson third.
TweifsA race -Consolat ton. 100 yard
dash: gold medal. Open to all who had
not been placed in the previous events.
There were five entries, and after hard