The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-26
THOUSANDS At THE BATHS
YESTERDAY WAS THE BANNER
DAY OF THE SEA-
NEARLY 10000 TOOK A DIP
Crowds Were Steady the Entire
Day, While Evening Found
Rush That Taxed
Facilities.

Perspiring humanity gave liberal in
dorsement to DR.. Ohage and his public
baths yesterday. Thousands made the
grounds and its shady hooks a safe re-
treat from Old SoFs scorching rays while
as many more sought relief and gave
emphasis to the maxim: Cleanliness is
next to godliness' by dip in the waters
From 10 o'clock yesterday morning I'M
til the same hour last night it is esti-
mated that 10000 men, women and chill
dren patronized the public baths a figure
incredible to some, yet fully attested by
those who, out of curiosity, watched the
almost unbroken line of humanity as it
patiently stood in front of the office
where the suits are handed out, and as
patiently waited a chance to secure a
locker and a place where clothing might
be removed.
During the afternoon and on up to $50
o'clock children and women were in pos
session of the pools, the majority being
equipped with their own bathing suits
out after that hour the rush began. 1t
was surging, serambhng crowd that
formed in front of the office, where
three clerks dealt out with both hands
suits, towels and soap. but it was a good
natured one, and the half-dozen or more
officers, who kept an eagle eye on the
diminutive youth who occasionally for
SOCK his place in the line for a more
advantageous one farther along, had lit
tie to do. The line extended from the
wicket to the farther end Of the bath
ing pavilion, distance of nearly 200 feet
and at no time UP to $50 o'clock was 1t
broken. Additions were continual, and In
many instances a prospective bather.
when he had reached the wicket. did
service for friend or two by securing
suits for them. The rush did not abate
until o'clock
In the dressing rooms the crush was
equally as great and many eager for
the water sought some concealed nook
under the sheds in order to divest them
selves of their clothing. In the pools
there was a full acre of bobbing heads
the retirement of one only making room
Tor another. 1t was romping laughing
crowd, and age only lent to the hilarity,
the old entering into the spirit of the
occasion as we'll as the young
While the women's pool was not as
well patronized as that set apart for the
opposite sex, yet the applications for
suits were steady and kept the employees
IN, charge busy. On the pavilion thou
sands watched them disappear in the
waters and enjoyed the cool river
breezes
While Fillmore avenue furnished a
thoroughfare for those who came from
the West side to patronize the baths, the
majority awaited themselves of the short
cut via the stairway from the Wabasha
street bridge and the fill along the river
front. and this fact, DIR. Ohage says. he
will use as an argument in mis- opposition
to the proposed Omaha track right of
way With yesterday the practical open
ing of the hot spell and the probability
that yesterdays crowd will be doubled,
he is positive the tracks would prove a
detriment and cause many to stay away.
The bathing pools and facilities as they
are now, are at times inadequate to the
tax upon them, yesterday proving this
when the laundry had to be kept on the
jump to keep a supply of towels and
suits on hand, while three clerks were
unable to pass them out fast enough.
Next year the appropriation set aside
by the council will become available and
then two more pools will be added and
the pavilion enlarged One pool will be
for families, while another will be pro-
Vided for the men.