Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-08-23
Manufacturing TO SWIM.
Numerous Schools on the Mil
yankee River,
FREE BATHING PLACES.
Thousands Patronize the Whitaker Es-
tabhshment, Now Under Mu-
nicipal Control

On blisterinE hot SIMMER dag there
can be nothing more delightful than Il
=. din IN the cool water of Lake Michigan
or of the Milwaukee river above the dam
and il is therefore natural thai thousands
.of MilwaukeeaRs enjoy the swimming
places which are afforded taam. On the
river may be found a number of excellent
swimming schools, one Of which. owned
by George Whitaker. is conducted this
season by the city and is free to al who
care to avail themselves 81 IT'S c0Hyeu-
fences. The Othe: institutions are mHln-
taiued on the same general plIhcipie that
the city school is. each HAVING Il great
variety of apparatus. swings. jDhoEGan
slides. spring boards. dipping wheels, fig
ing rings aud similar paraphaiaeiia for
obtaining the great degree Of eNJoE-
ment ouJ of the sport.
All on the Upper River.
The schools are all above the dam
which insures a supply of clean water
uhcontaminated 10y sewage or drainage.
An interccptins sewer has been con-
struCted By the "ity by lueans of which
this part Of the river is entirely free
from impurities and is suitable for swim
ming, boating and summer resort pur-
poses.
ROhns swimming schoul lies immedi-
ately above the dam on the west side Of
the river. 1t is we'll equipped and is
accessible from the east side by means of
"a private ferry which was hui!t after The
old foot bridge over the 3am was swept
away by the ice.
Across the river on the east side is
William Bechstcin's school which has
one of the largest equipments of appa-
ratus both for teaching swimming and
for the enjoyment Of the sport by those
proficient IL its mysteries.
Public Bathing Place Successful.
short distance UP the river on the
east bank is the Whitaker school This
is almost directly under North avenue
bridge and has always been . popular re-
sort. Since il has passed into the con-
troll of the city it has been patrunizpd by
thousands every month. In fact the
number who have attended the school has
been so great that one man has been M
able to cope with the crowds -Four ad-
ditionai attendants have been engaged
to assist Supt. BelIinghausen. As nc the
other schools those wishing instruction in
the art Of swimming iaay receive il up
on payment of fee to the teachers who
may he had there. The purpose of the
swimming place under the management
of the city is not so much to impart in
place where the multitude of boys aud
girls and adults in that section of the
city may bathe.
The swimming school OF G.. Busch on
the west bank of titA river. some dis
lance beyond North avenue bridge, is one
of the newest schools and since its open
ing has done thriving business.
How Pupils are Taught.
The beginning in the art of swimming
is taken in charge by an instructor who
has himself mastered the strokes and is
competent to give his knowledge to 9th
ers. William Frey, one of the teachers
at the city school, says that the begin
uer does not know when he takes his first
stroke alone A belt is passed about the
learners waist and to this is attached
rope the end of which is held in the in
Structor'a hand This is used 70 support
the swimmer. who gradually learns that
certain strokes serve to give nm Impetus
20 the body and at the same time to suS-
tain him. The teacher observes that his
pupil has mastered the stroke ana little !
10y little he relaXes the rope which suS-
tains the swimmer. Sometimes i'm three
lessons the beginner learns the stroke
aud is able to sustain himself. AS a
matter of fact it requires but very little
effort to keep ones head ABOVE water. |
Ky initiating the chest and living on ones
hack II is possible 10 remain on the sur
tace without any movement of the hands |
or feet. This is acquired only after
much practice, however. and beginners
wonder why it is their feet are 50 heavy, |
causing them to sink.
The Various Strokes.
Some swimmers use what is termed
the overland stroke. Boys call il swim |
ming sailor fashion" Others use a
wide, sweeping stroke. This is perhaps
the most popular and most generally |
used. Beginners left TO themselves ac-
quire Il stroke similar to that employed |
by a dog. II is an easy method OF re-
manning ut the surface, but it is not cal !
ralated to give the swimmer great speed |
While there is no doubt a large pro-
portion of the people seldom ii ever go
near or upon The water, yet il is unque>-
t'onabiy valuable accomplishment to be |
able to swim. Sometimes 20 be able 10
sustain ones self even for few min
ntes or to be able to swim hut few
feet is sufficient to save lives. Often
when boat capsizcs it requires but Il
few strokes to reach the side ot the
boat, which will sustain the be until
hclp arrives.
Every swimmer is subject t. cramps,
ana 10 guard against accident each Of
the swimming schools has we'll equipppd
attendants who keep close watch Of the
hathers lest some OF them drown.-Even-
lhs Wisconsin.