The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-23
SWIMMING A FATAL SPORT?
DEATH VAN CLEAF AND BRAT
TON CAUSES DISCO SSION.
Harry Y. Beurmeycr, Who Has Had 40
Years Experience as swimmer. Gives
Interesting Facts-Prof. Holr0Sd says
St Louis Water Contained NO Germs.

10 the death OF George " Van Cleaf and
n n Bratton Of the New York A. c. and
Miss Ethel Goding OF Bath Beach. The
two men IL il said. contracted the germs
Of disease while taking part in the swim
ming meet at St Louis where the water
was asserted by some persons to be putrid
and entirely unfit for the purpose OF an
aquatic carnival On the other hand,
those who are always handy with empirical
theories and ready to decry athletics OF
every form aver that swimming and water
polo are detrimental 20 a sound physical
condition and sooner or later cause
trouble
10 strengthen this side Of the argument.
the case of Percy Dickey who died about
ten years ago. is pointed out. He passed
AWAY at an early age in the heyday Of
Nh, urowess. and while in the front rank OF
tho champions. To suit the moment his
-ad end ia now raked up. BetwiSt the
two waves Of criticism he swimmers and
water poloists and their sport have caused
q lot Of talk in sporting circles, yet only
tow take pains to diagnose tho real cause
of the trouble among this class OF athle;lc
performers
Dave Rratton as he was Familiarity
known. died Of typhoid fever rather sud-
denly at Chicago He was ~ years Of age,
and m his time had been roller skate cy-
cbst and since 1900 had taken To swimming
His first attempt in the aquatic line was
made as a member Of the cefunct knlcker-
hooker A c. He joined the New York
G. in 1902 and was one of the frequent
visitors to the clubs swimming tank. Only
q day OF two before he left for the West
he spent a day in the baths in company with
the swimming fraternity Of the winged
foot -
Van Cleaf- history is similar to Bratton's.
He was member Of the Knlckerbocker
G. swimming team and came over to
the New York A c, when the cherry
diamond organization disbanded. He also
VA, a constant visitor 20 the club tank.
Besides. he INDUCED in a lot Of outdoor
swimming at Bath Beach whore he lived.
When once the air was tempered with the
breath of spring Van Ceaf would begin his
daily dip and would continue until the ice
appeared Very often maybe three or
four times a week, he would engage in n
lot Of racing. which had an exhausting
effect on MS vitality.
Miss Goldng lived at Bath Beach, and
during the long summer months was to he
seen in the water at all hours. Along with
tina. she INDUCED in a series of long and
tresome swirrs. a. well as doing some racing
in events for girls. In order 10 ascertain
whether it was Che bad water at ST. Louis
or the excessive indulgence in the aquatic
sport that caused the death Of Bratton and
Van Cleaf a reporter of fHE SrN gathered
the views Of a few p cole competent to form
an opinion on such matters
The first to throw some light on the ques-
ton was Harry +, Beurmeyer Of the New
York A C.. ex-champion shot putter, boxer
and man who has been a swimmer for the
past forty years For at least a quarter OF
century he visited Bensonhurst, and, in
company with the late William b, Curtis,
swan more or less every day OF late he
lreouented the Marine and Field Club.
where he j. member but never forgot 10
take his daily swim Regarding the demise
Of Baton and Van Cleaf. Beurmeyer said:
Lots Of PEOPLE jump al conclusions
right away and when an athlete or swimmer
dies these exercises are instantly put down
a. causing his death. Now, as a matter Of
course. any branch Of physical sport when
tasou 20 excess. especially If the man * IN
poor condition. will cause a breakdown of
The system swimming is considerably
different from track and field sports, he
cafl,e continued immersion ~aps the siren 9Th
unknown TO the individual while at running,
Jumping or weight putting man stops
when he is tired. and there you are,
sieii the clubs tank two or three TIMES
week for the purpose Of swim ana rub
dowu ! have watched the swimmers
aud their habits closely and J must say
'Uc.r methods, from my way OF thinking. are
NOT tho best They hang ont there all day.
toy are in and out 10 the steam room. rest
q Nrllr. then 20 m the big tank and do some
racing. then rest and are back in the hot
room and 50 they rotate all day long until
they ieei Eged out when they dress. Then,
of course. they are hungry and go in for
big meal which is another mistake As
the system gets exhausted. 50 are the d.
Eestiye powers weakened, and 10 eat lot
Il food I'm that condition * rank foolish
mess Thus. in one day a man strength
aud digestive organs are orertaHed, which.
II continued. must IN the end lead TO some
physical disability Instead Of this hearty
meal what | would do j. cat "A Light supper
~ 10 bed early and next morning, when
rested aud recuperated, take asubstantial
breakfast
Vow. a. far az Van Ceaf's case is con-
oerned have known hlru for a number
~ years and have seen him do a vast amount
20 swimming, particularly around Bath
water and lolng around for all the time
he vas there he was either racing or moving
around pretty lively, and when the entire
DAYS work was tailed It could be found
hat Van Cleaf had done a little too much.
This can ~ pckoned in addition TO his
stunts in the clubs swimming tank.
Furthermore he paid extra attention
to the water this fall. trying TO master the
crawl stroke and when the whole thing
is summed mp 1t is easy 20 see that Van
overdid the whole thing and when sickness
came along his undermined vitality was
too weak 20 withstand n
Bratton was not as stockily built or as
strong "A man "a Van Cleaf. and be was at
m age. too. when men should be rather
careful Of the amount OF exhausting eX-
erc!se they perform He did not do quite
20 much swimming a. Van Cleaf, but prob
ably what he did do Was too much for him
As far a. Miss Goding's case goes my
opinion e that SO far a. | know she was IN
the habit q: staying too long in the water
A. a rule women are not possessed OF the
stamina Of men, and though Miss Golding
Iuas not nave felt any immediate effects
from her work still the long swims she
engaged in had no good effect on her health
Racing and long distance swims are only
suited for men though II Is splendid thlng
Tor woman's health 10 go IN the water
regularly during the summer months
II is now about ten years since Percy
Dlckpv Dassed awav and to bring up ms