Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-11
LACK OF KNOWLEDGE
Responsible for Many Fatal Accidents
by Boat and Canoe.

SNSAS Pos'oiA6 year SWcllS tue IOIB
list OF those who go out on the water
in boats and canoes. and who from lack
of ordinary care yield up their lives.
Many very wise and well-meaning men
and women have given whole books Of
caution to the inexperienced Many in
fallible rules are given by instructors
and in newspapers and magazines. II
one-tenth of the sermons which have
been preached against carelessness in
handling boats and canoes were read,
and If one-tenth of those which were
read were needed, the death roll of our
sweet and inconsiderate young women
and our brave and rash young men
would be greatly reduced. Fact is, we
have become so used to safety on land
that in our confidence we forget that
when one embarks on water he is deal
ing with different material Perhaps
there Is no way to prevent these I'M
timely deaths. Perhaps it was fated
from the beginning of things that so
many of our friends were to be
drowned. But back of these refiec-
tons, none of which affords consolation
to the stricken friends, is the lurking
idea that all this might have been pre-
vented. had the victims stopped to take
thought.
1t is no consolation to the survivors
to say that death was due to Needless
ness, though such is the fact. For as
many years back as we can remember
and they are not few-the men and
women and the boys and girls who be-
lieved that everything was safe beyond
question have persisted. There have
been men in boats dragging the lakes
and rivers for days. There have been
funerals which We're most touching in
the sad lessons which they taught. The
flowers have shed their perfume above
the whitened clay, words intended for
comfort, but which afforded no conso-
lation, have been spoken out of full
hearts. Tears that awaited not have
fallen in showers amid the greenery of
the cemeteries, and the mourning kim
dred have returned to darkened homes
from which the light and joy had gone
out forever. Such scenes are touching
in their depth of sorrow; but mournful
as they are, they seem to be unavailng,
because before the flowers of memory
have blossomed upon the fresh earth,
there are newer graves added to the
enclosure, and the cruel water claims
still other victims to sleep beside those
who have preceded them.
There are certain phases of human
conduct that nothing can reach. If
advice and sad example could have
taught mankind to stay away from 60
ing on the water without competent
guides, or until the needful lessons
were learned-if precept and example
could have conveyed any instruction or
warning, the scenes of anguish which
We are called upon to witness every
year would not happen. So long as
there are human beings on EARTH lust
so long will portion of -earth's inhab-'
itants take needless hazards on the
water, just SO long will intelligent per-
sons drink tainted water and die of
typhoid fever, just so long will many
OF us neglect vaccination and perish
from small pox, and just so long will
the mourners go about the streets.
1t would seem as if there were no
remedy for this of inviting risks,
which may be termed accidental SUI
icides. To say that all persons are in
times. while it is true, is to beg the
question. Risks enough are, indeed
common to all. Hence the reason for
avoiding dangers when such action is
possible. If our citizens will not learn
from the experience of the past, if they
persist in inviting death, the one rem
edy that we can employ is to compel
every child to learn how to swim. Let
there be swimming schools in every city
and town and let the parents and
guardians of children understand that
swimming is a more useful accomplish
ment than singing or calisthenics. Let
1t go out to the supervisors and to the
police that no healthy child can attend
school until he or she consents to re-
ceive instructions in swimming at least
once a week. 1t may seem cruel to
those who have natural antipathies to
water, but to the average child this
learning to swim is a pleasure, a posi-
tive delight. The exercise gained is
most healthful. while the bathing ana
resultant cleanliness of the body pro-
notes health and induce comfort. Our
children are learning many things in
school today that will be of less use to
them in after life than the art of SWIM
ming. We can well afford to surren-
der several of the ornamental studies
in order to make place for an art which
will no doubt be Of service at some
time to every individual.
In advocating the idea of making this
matter compulsory We are fully aware
of the fact that many persons who are
expert swimmers are drowned every
season. Meantime. the fact cannot be
disputed that the persons who know
how to swim has a much greater
chance of survival when hurled into
deep water, than has the person who
has never made stroke to hold his
head above water. If We cannot save
all the rash individuals who venture
upon the water, let us try to save all We
can-Bangor News.