Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29
CLOSED TO SKATERS
Elective, Measure Against
Sport on Tidal Basin.
ACT OF RREoAUTIoN
COMMISSIONERS SEEK TO PRE-
VENT Loss OF LIFE
Warnings Have Failed to Receive At
tention - The Ice to Be
Broken Up.
ACT OF PRE0AUTI0N


Broken Up.
Skating on the tidal basin will be at an
end within about twenty-four hours. IL the
plans Of the District authorities are sue
cessfully carried out. The Commissioners
have determined upon q means to effectual-
ly prevent persons from using the basin
for skating purposes, and by stopping
the sport they hope to prevent a recurrence
OF the unfortunate disaster which happened
on the ice at that point last winter. The
Commissioners say they dislike 10 interfere
with the pleasure OF the skaters. but that
In order to avoid possible danger at the
basin they feel obliged to take prompt and
decisive action in the matter. Consequently
they have ordered Harbormaster Sutton to
fit UP the harbor boat Vigilant with an
iron Prov and break up the Ice In the basin
with as great dispatch as possible.
Late last evening Maj. Sylvester called
up Commissioner West by telephone and
reported that, despite the warning signs
which had been placed all around the tidal
basin. and Notwithstanding the fact that
the roadway to the basin has been barri
caded and a police officer stationed at the
ice. there were nearly 800 young people
gliding over the smooth surface of the ice
In high glee at about o'clock last even
Ing. The police department, the major
stated. has exhausted all means within its
power to prevent the daring young folks
from going on the ice at this dangerous
point, and while the ice was about four
inches thick at that time and apparently
solid 1t seemed advisable for the Commits
sioners to take some action to prevent the
0f I,ac ,c1rn
fact that thaw might result In disaster.
Commissioners Confer.
Commissioner West Immediately called
Commissioner mcfarland by phone, and
later the harbormaster was also consulted
over the telephone. Mr.. Sutton was directed
to make arrangements to get the Vigilant
in condition for breaking up the ice and
was requested to call on Mr.. Mcfarland
this morning The Commissioners dis
cussed the subject this morning and when
the harbormaster called he was instructed
by Mr.. Macfarland to proceed with the
breaking up of thesice on the basin.
For severaE months Mr.. Sutton has been
attempting to secure from the authorities
$500 with which to repair the harbor boat
and get 1t into condition for the work of
the winter. The treasury officials, how
ever. decided that the balance remaining
in the emergency fund of the District could
not be used for repairing the Vigilant, and
a delay in fitting up the boat was thus oc-
casioned. The amount necessary for the
repairs, however, has been included in the
urgency deficiency bill, which the Commits
sioners hope will be reported to Congress
Immediately after the holiday recess, and
which they hope will carry the item men
toned They consider that the exigencies
of the occasion demand prompt action in
the matter and warrant their directing the
harbormasterr to have the boat repaired
and properly fitted out for breaking the
Ice.
The boat will be placed on the marine rail-
way late this afternoon, and when the tide
Is sufficiently high tomorrow to permit of
the Vigilant's entering the basin the ice
will be broken up and the skaters will then
be obliged to abandon the resort.
Considered to Be Dangerous Place.
The tidal basin Is considered as danger
Gus place for skating. and this apprehension
seems justified by the catastrophe which
occurred on the basin last winter, when the
ice gave way and several young people lost
their lives, others being rescued from
drowning only by heroic efforts on the part
Of some of the skaters. the police and by
ISLANDERS. While the ice is now about four
inches thick there is a warm current con-
tinually flowing into the basin from the
s;nce ~ is 40 a;facnIt TO determine when the
ice might become unsafe. and since the ad-
venturous spirit Of some persons is always
more pronounced than their good Judgment
anu cpmm1n sense, !. seems t ~ . Ina
Steps oe taAe H., az oAIe " neeI eho 10 eioo O.
81 sKa.eS' nc pasiI ~ ui.ueI IN ,sc,, VI
tlle onteo S.1.es ~ Gu t 80, po. ~
are poweIiess " piesen. peisons I'm. 81
ing on the ice. An tney can no - " Maln
, Inc skaters OF lne aanssrous co ..an
rms mas peen zone, Out without avail
Police to Continue Warnings.
-,. -, ..,,a ar
While the harpormaseer Is settihs reaoy
the Vigilant for carrying out the plans of
the District authorities Major Sylvester has
ora.r.a tho lieutenant of the nrec,nct I'm
olueieo ~. - ,o.ss a.
whose Jurisoictioh inc pasii ID ioca.eu "
instruct all the officers TO warn skaters
from going on the Ice of the basin, and to
do all in their power to prevent the young
folks from going into possible danger. Ma
Tor Sylvester states that when the officers
last n;pht went on the ice and warned the
skaters to get off they Withdrew with COM
mandable nromntness "A few NJ the more
darina sn;rita howawar u,igbt deciina to
comniv 9th the commands If the nf3cers
and IN that case the a,tbor,ties womiT he
.,n..,. vi - anSorca tha,r daraards "e