New-York tribune., 1901-07-07

City. -. j.. July 'iic eii
ergies OF the thousands Of visitors at this resort
n, ~ he devoted lust at present contr1ving
rev and unusual wsys OF doing nothing This may
rA something Of a paradox. but II is true ldling
Is the employment Of the hour, and II there Is any
Mace on earth where this employment can be made
enoya bic 1t is down here in this city py the sea-
where nature and man have Joined forces and con-
verted the sanIv desert into an ideal resort tnat
offers attractions to all classes and unpleasant
features to none.
The beach. OF course is the central point OF In
terest these hot days Just as II is when Its
appearance is changed by winter storms For 1t IS
z fact that. while trees and otne- green things are
practically unknown the beach proper, summer
and winter make almost much difference in the
looks OF things they do in the forests of the in
terror Even the sand to change its ap-
pearance under the influence Of the summer sun.
and the waves are of deeper blue.
It is this part Of the city. then. that is most in
the public eye just now. and the life and activity
along the strand amazing TO the person who is
here for the first time. The bathing grounds are
wonderful In extent and remarkable for their
safety Absecon Island. which Atlantic City IS
built is nine miles in length and there is splendid
bathing nearly every foot of the way. The part
Of the beach ordinarily used for bathing is grow
ing in extent every year as the city expands. and
now reaches from the Royal Palace Hotel on the
east 10 the lower end of Chelsea the west, a
distance Of about three miles. The greatest crowds
congregate between Maryland and Georgia aves.,
but as these two points mile and half
apart the great territory to be covered by the life
guards is easily seen.
Nearly the entire summer force Of life guards
is now on duty twenty-six men patrolling the
beach constantly TO protect ndiscreet and careless
bathers. This number will be increased to thirty
four next week This force is under the direction
Of Captain Charles Lake, an experienced and tried
life saver, who has been member Of the beach
patrol since IL was established. nine years ago.
Captain Lake is assisted this year by Charles l..
Rutter also an experienced life guard. who takes
part Of the drudgery Of looking after the men off
the captains hands. The growing extent Of the
popular bathing beach made the appointment of
an assistant TO the captain absolutely necessary.
SAFETY OF BATHERs
It is Atlantic city's proud boast that her drown
ing record is smaller in proportion 10 the number
Of bathers than that Of any other resort in the
country. The aggregate number Of bathers each
season is hard to estimate, but ii doubtless runs
into the millions, as IL is not unusual for hfty
thousand people TO make their appearance in bath
ing suits in one day in the height of the season.
OF all this enormous host only an average Of one
each year has met death from drowning in the last
ten years. Hundreds of rescues by the life guards
are recorded but almost every one of these per
sons is endangered as the direct result of disre-
gard OF the ordinary rules of common sense
Night bathing has become popular fad IN the
not weather. IhoSe VINO nave lf3eu IL soy Lin
nothing more enjoyable could be imagined than a
dip in the waves by moonlight. Moonlight sailing
parties also popular, and white winged yachts
are be seen gliding up and down the coast until
midnight nearly every night.
Yachting and fishing are the leading diversions
next TO bathing Dozens of parties go out from the
hotels every day, either for a sail on the ocean,
fishing trip in the inland waters more ex-
tended excursion to the fishing banks just off the
beach. where the big fish are 10 be found In
yearly every the disciples of Izaak Walton
return with good evidence Of their days sport the
supply Of weakhsh and other denizens Of the deep
being apparently inexhaustibe. Power launches
are becoming extremely popular and scores OF the
handy little craft 70 be seen fitting about in
the inlet on the ocean, while steam yachts which
closely approach the dignity Of seagoing vessels
are oy no means rare. Local yachtsmen have FOUND
II especially convenient to be made entirely indie
pendent Of wind and tide by the of naphtha and
Vapor engines. and a number Of sailing craft have
been fitted with engines auxiliary power for
use when becaimed. But at the time. the old
fashioned method Of propulsion by sail power alone
sth retains its place the aquatic sport that is
most popular with visitors
but all these things TO a certain extent the
natural attractions Of the resort, and the arti-
hcs beauties Of the city also deserving of
attention The one thing Of this kind which attracts
most attention from visitors is the board walk
which has been described so often that would
'nlnk that everybody knew all about il. A most
peculiar thing about the board walk is that as II
hss been Increased in size the crowd of prom
saaoers has also increased and the walk is
sniost as much too small to-day was
4e oid walk ten years ago. The first board
az deserving OF the only twelve feet
.i'e This increased TO sixteen feet. then to
-shtg-four feet. as the city grew. and finally the
.'seht hne structure OF steel and heavy timbers
80 teet IN width, erected. But this is
- being outgrown by the enormous throng OF
s.Asr evenings. and IL will be many years
ehe present growth IT, the resorts popularity
Aues before the remaining twenty feat rA