CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1905-03-16

the courage and GOODNESS of one of
the girls now in the women's crew
would have turned into tragedy to
dampen the happiness and gayety OF
the resort for the season. Edward Gil
Lis. a boy who, with his parents, wes
visiting the beach, confident in his abi-
ity as swimmer. swan carelessly out
beyond the reach of all life lines. A;
soon as he entered the heavy sea out
side he lost control of himself and was
buffeted about helplessly by the waves
People on shore who heard his frantic
shouts for help ran hurriedly around
looking for a boat. but II the boy had
been forced to wait for them to bring
him succor he would have drowned.
Miss Agnes L. Kersey, nineteen
years Of age, was on the beach when
the boy realized his predicament and
called for help. without moments
hesitation she plunged into the water.
swan out and brought the exhausted
lad back to shore.
This narrow escape from tragedy
awoke the residents Of Dorchester to
the necessity of maintaining life
guard at the beach. An effort was
made 10 organize one. but there were
few men at the resort who were in
clined or qualified to act as life savers
at an ocean beach. Then the six girls
who now comprise the women's life
saving crew decided to try to form
guard at the beach. All were expert
swimmers, and all, at least during the
summer months, practically lived in
the water. All have saved persons
from drowning at some time In their
careers as swimmers. When the idea
was suggested to Captain Elmer II.
Crooker OF the United States volunteer
life saving corps 1t was enthuslastlcal
ly accepted. and upon the young wom-
en- agreeing to become amenable to the
rules and regulations, drill and re-
quirements Of the corps they were en-
rolled as members, the first women to
join the organization.
The six young women who took this
step were Miss Agnes l.. Kersey, cap
tain of the crew, and Miss Mary ID.
Kersey, Miss Annie Grieve. Miss Geor-
gina Milne. Miss Margaret Mills and
Miss Eunice Slane. All are resi-
dents of Dorchester or nearby towns
and have learned to swim at Savin Hill
beach. The citizens of Dorchester re-
ceived the organization of the new life
guard with enthusiasm and Immediate
ly pledged themselves to support 1t in
every way possible. Expert instructors
of the United States volunteer life
saving corps have been assigned to
train and perfect the young women in
the drill, boat work and methods that
professional life savers pursue. Each
day during the season the girls were
seen at the beach learning to handle
the big lifeboats, to resuscitate the ap-
parently drowned and to become 9TH
erwise proficient in the duties they
may be called upon to perform.
Each of these brave girls il q good
example Of the athletic American girl
of today. They are all good looking
and well developed, and, while they
are all well trained athletes and adopts
at more sports than swimming, there In
none of the masculinity or coarseness
apparent in them that is generally de-
clared to be the fault of the too strenu-
| GUS athletic maid. They are all of
more than average intelligence and
| graduates Of high schools. They do not
consider their duty in the nature of n
giriish frolic, but are fully aware of its
importance. They know that lives may
some time be solely dependent upon
their courage and strength and are
fully awake to tho dangers and hard
ships thsy may e1ssuntsr IN the pur-
~ & duV.