The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-07-03

buoy that will keep you afloat indefi-
nitely, even II there is only three or
four inches of air inside.
Remove as Much Clothing as POSI-
bic.
When you see that you will soon
have to take your chances in the wa
ter, remove your shoes, coat and
waistcoat. Your shoes, filling with
water, will tend to drag you down, and
your coat will also be an added weight,
especially when it becomes thoroughly
soaked For this same reason the ex-
igencies of the occasion would permit
a man to remove his trousers and a
woman her skirts. A woman, espe-
cially, should not hesitate to take off
her skirts. The air that is caught in
them will cause them to spread and
keep her adoat for a minute or so, but
after that they will be detriment that
will speedily drag her down unless help
soon comes or she has something to
use as a float. In the latter event
her skirts will still be a constant and
every increasing menace. Surely, I'M
der such circumstances, she cannot let
herself be guided by what is known as
the proprieties and still be true to
herself and to those who love her
OF course, If you can get hold Of
life preserver you will be well equipped
for all emergencies, provided you put
1t on properly. Otherwise it will sink
instead of float you. To put on a life
preserver, drop the bands over the
shoulders, put the two loops up un-
der your arm pits, and, II you have
time, tie the various straps But If
time presses tie only the straps in the
back and every purpose will be served.
No matter how you may be equipped
for the sinking of vessel, II you are
a non-swimmer you can scarcely hope
to escape being drawn down by the
force Of the suction. When you feel
the decks giving way beneath your
feet, take in all the air you can, grasp
your float firmly and hold your breath
as you go under. Hold your breath
and hold on to the oar even though
you go n--down-down-and II
seems as IL you were never coming I'D
again. But you will come up just as
surely as you went down, and when
you do, your body VIII shoot half way
or more out of the water. As II does
so. let out some air-not all by a good
deal; just enough for a little relief.
After that your body will settle in
the water and you can proceed TO
breathe as already described and work
with the oar. The ordinary vessel will
not create a suction strong enough TO
pull you under and keep you down
longer than the longest time you can
hold your breath when life and death
depends upon your doing your very
best.
when Caught In an UndertOv.
For the bather at the seashore the
greatest danger 10 swimmer and non
swimmer alike Is the undertow. NY
advice TO any one imperiled in such a
manner is to 60 with the undertow in
the shape Of a dive, II he is not TOO
far out-say in eight or ten feet of
water. He will go to the bottom and
probably get under the current, thus
preventing his being carried further
out 10 sea and giving the beach walk
err time to get a line to him without
much difficulty. Such tactics can be
kept up easily for from FIVE to seven
minutes, the swimmer coming to the
surface whenever necessary for fresh
air, and diving again just as soon as
he gets It,.
While the non-swimmer will not
know anything about diving. he can
reach the same result by not trying
TO keep himself anoat and by lowering
himself toward the bottom.
Never Get Gay on the Water.
Never get gay while in or on the
water is another rule that should be
vigorously observed by swimmer and
non-swimmer. The man who rocks
the boat. he who founders about the
sloop IN an effort 70 appear funny, and
he who tries 10 show of his powers
OF endurance by staying in the water
beyond the usual time--all are court
ing death by drowning for themselves
and probably others Never be other
than sane and orderly, and n you are
In a boat with some one who is act
ing the fool bring him up with a