The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-07-20
de KIDS TEMPT
FATE In RIVER.
SCORES GO SWIMMING EVERY
WARM DAY.
Public Baths at Calhoun and Harriet
Are Too Far Away for Them and So
Every Year Grim Death Takes Its
Terrible Toll.

River swimmingholes were full yes
terday Of boys and men, flirting with
danger from the swift current and the
treacherous bottom covered with slime
and snags and uneven with dangerous
stepoffs. And yesterday was a typical
swimming day
How many times have you been In
today?" was asked of a typical
urchin who was putting his shirt
over back that was tanned to a rich
saddle color. II
"Five times" he replied with a
blush Of shame at his insignificant rec
ord.
From the Twentieth avenue bridge
south to the Lake street bridge. the
"swimmin' holes" were full of men
and boys. The boys were in the less
dangerous places padding content
edly, with an occasional group Of girls.
The grownups choose the swift cur
rent and the log booms where diving
is possible and spice of danger adds
zest.
The urchins could name the differ
ent drownings Of the year and give the
exact dates.
1.-THE last Teller was about your
size,'' said one youth to T e ] Q u r
n a j man, with as much nonchalance
as If his hair was not still wet with
tempting the fates.
L
ested persons who toured the river
banks yesterday afternoon inside the
city limits that men and boys. and
| girls are going to battle, and that
those residing far from Calhoun and
Harriet are bound to battle in the
river The safe public bathing places
which have, attendants are a long ways
from the center Of population The
| class which bathes in the river either
cannot Or will NOT nav ear fare. to the
baths, and walking is. out~of the ques-
ton. 1t is a question whether stiff
ordinance against river bathing would
not diminish the daily swims. to a
minimum rather than drive the crowds
to the lakes. &C., r
The alternative Is public baths IN
| the river. inexpensive establish
ments would be effective. The ordi-
nance against bathing au naturel has
general observance in it's breach, so
| that under the circumstances every
thing necessary to a river bath would
be gratings to prevent the swimmer
| from being carried to his death, and
an attendant to rescue the swimmer
who went out too far beyond his
depth inside the preserve Gratings
weighted to the river bottom would
keep out debris and keepzin the swim
mers.s s .,.:S...
A favorite place for the West Side
men and urchins is above the Ply
mouth avenue BRIDGE Inexpensive
baths could be put in here which
would save from future sdroWnlngs
under the logs in the booms.
! Across on Halls island the swim
mers have found an ideal place. Inc
deep water is a long way from the
good and above all, high weeds screen
the place from view. With steps
from the Plymouth bridge to the
island and expenditure Of 500 or so
the place could BE made ideal:
IN the east channel ait the head OF
Boom island will be found scores OF
youngsters daily. They choose the
with banks near together and danger
apparently far away. Yet boys are
drowned in this channel. It could be
put in shape for boys and girls by
raking the bottom and stretching
wire MEETINGS above and below. .
For the youngsters below the Wash
/ ington avenue bridge several good
places can be found, or have already
/ been staked; out by the kids. The
same simple precautions are all tnat
/ is necessary here. The river swim
mers scorn towels All they want is
the wetness the depth and enough
sweep to make swimming interesting
Thus the expense Of maintaining safe
bathing places would be almost NIL
j Once established these resorts would
1 be popular AZ swimmers are gregg
rious. Police warning would restrain
i them within the Enclosures.
1 Several business men have offered
Imoney toward a bathing fund simply
i to do away with the frequent drown.
l ings. It is understood that the alder
i men in the wards thru which the river
i flows will be urged to take action
\ then the money will be forthcoming