Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1904-07-09
WOULD
PREVENT
DEATH
Precautions Should Be Taken
During Swimming Season

New York, July 9.-"Now that tn
swimming season Is fairly under way,
said Captain Tom Riley, the veteran
Coney Island llfesaver, ut may no
be a bad idea to give a few pointers
II to the average bafher that may come
in useful TO him some time or other.
"The first piece of advice | would
give is: Don't go far from shore. Swim
ming is one Of the hardest exercises
In the world, and a man must be well
used to It. No matter whether he is
as At as a fiddle to run five mile
race in record time, let him be care
ful how he tries to swim.
Every muscle is used when a man
is swimming, many Of them that are
never brought into play in any other
way. This is the main reason why
so many fellows get into trouble every
year.
"They feel good and strong and
when they get into the water they
swim and swim until they get tired
Then when they try to swim back
again their strength plays out, and II
help Isn't near by they get ratified.
The next day the newspapers have
another account OF An Expert Swim.
mer Drowned.
Getting ratified Is another thing
to guard against Nine times out of
ten this has more to do with people
getting into trouble than anything
else. Whatever you do or wherever
you are, keep cool-keep your nerve.
A man can stay ahoat a long time IL
he won't get ratified, no matter what's
the trouble with him.
There's a spot just of NortOn's
Point where you can't make headway
In one direction or the other. II
you are caught In there with a boat
you can't pull out, so you can have
an idea what kind OF work a swim
mer has cut out for him. There Is
only one thing to do, and that is to
keep cool and quiet, and after a while
the current will carry you out. but you
can't get out by swimming. That is
what we call sea puss.'
In a race had once some years
ago from the Battery to Coney Is.
land | got caught In this place. l
knew II the minute | reached 1t, so
didn't try to swim, but turned over
on my back and fioated.
I'm the course OF few minutes |
was whirled out, and went on and won
my race. Now, an inexperienced
swimmer would have got ratified, made |
big efforts to get out and finally have |
tired himself out and sunk.
Don't be afraid OF cramps is an.
other thing that all swimmers should |
remember There has been so much
said and written about cramps that
people are scared to death when they
feel a little cramp coming on in
toe or hand. Then they lose their
nerve altogether and give up, where
by being cool they could have made
their way TO shore in safety.
Lots OF the pleasure OF bathers is
taken away by this fear | won't
say that cramps are not slightly dan.
gerous, but they are never so bad
that a swimmer can't take care OF him.
self. Swimmers with any kind OF
ability ought TO be able to swim any
reasonable distance with any kind Of
4 eramp. The ones who are not good h
swimmers should always hug the
'hore and never take chances.
Cramps are brought on by swim. 7
ming. SO when you feel one coming =
~ stop using the leg or arm where
Is located, II YOU turn over ON your
'aek and noat while that will give /,
he cramp chance to go away. but
wen II Il doesn't II won't prevent YOU &
slowly and getting to shore. =
Most people think a cramp spreads n
lowly until It goes all over the body $
rom a little cramp In the toe. This s
'ht SO II Is always confined TO the u
~ or arm where Il starts. This Is La
roVed by the fact that It goes away t,
hen you Quit using the leg or arm. N
I have never yet been In a swim, .,
ing race for a long distance that M
aVent had a eramp In leg or arm
go' one In my right leg one time VI
, bad that The leg locked at the knee
INT every time | made a kick. Yet a.
not only anished the race but won
whenever you read eramp stories o.
'meone Is sure 10 mention stom. W.
a cramps, They are supposed 10
the mos, dangerous kind. You hear Nv
here people are doubled up like a da
'kknlfe and then sink Ike a stone -.
~, as a matter OF fact I'm al, NV es,