The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1905-07-14
SWIMMING IN SALT LAKE.
The Water Has q Highly Stimulatins
Effect.

The Water Has a Highly Stimulating
Effect.
Think of diving into water, blue or
green as the sun strikes and changes
its color, and finding yourself coming
to the surface with the buoyancy of
rubber ball! says Salt Lake City
correspondent of the Milwaukee Sen
tinel. Then you splash and splash
| w hat is this strange sensation? Why
cannot you dive below the surface of
the inland sea? What hidden force
is there that sends you to the surface,
no matter your determination to keep
your head below the rolling blue line ?
To one who experiences b 8 first dip
in the refreshing waters Of Great Salt
Lake there is room for Imagination
that an unforeseen force is disporting
below the surface of the water and to
your discontinue. 1t all seems 80
strange.
For a full ten minutes one cannot
understand what subtle charm these
waters hold. Even those who have
been told that the water contains II
per cent of salt, and that this keeps
the body afloat and will not permit
it to sink, find it hard to realize tn,
extent of the magic waters
Two Of the world-famed summer re-
sorts now lie on the shores Of this
mysterious sea. To these points travel
people from every country Of the
globe. No tourist is attrac ted to Salt
Lake City without inquiring for and
seeking entertainment upon the shores
Of the lake.
The waters have been receding from
the original shore line for many years.
Indeed, it is regarded as a fact of sci
entific interest that the future will see
the absorption by the sun Of the whole
Of Salt Lake.
Since the building of the Union Pa
cific Railroad the waters have receded
in marvellous manner Twenty years
ago they were within few rods CT
the track. To-day there is an I'm.
broken, level, white, salty plain to a
long point on the horizon, where tour
lists from the train note the water of
Salt Lake. Year by year the shore
line has been growing more distant.
This has little to do with the exhilara-
ton Of swimming in this body OF
water, but Salt Lake contains so many
mysteries that the telling Of the Incl
dent will serve the tale.
The erection Of immense pavilions
and the establishment of hotels attest
the belief that there is something more
than pastime to be got from the wa.
ters of the lake. It is now claimed
that the health-giving properties of
this water prove cure for many Ills.
The brine has wonderfully stimulat-
ing effect upon the skin. An hour in
the water will give the bather a ire
mendous appetite.
The density Of the water sustains
the bather upon the surface with no
effort whatever. Indeed, there is no
end to the amusement the bathers de-
rive from their additions. Standing up
right in the water, one finds that lie
will sink just to about the height of
his shoulders. He may jump about
and force himself below the surface,
but to little effect, as the water will
not permit him to remain submerged.
One would think that it would be the
simplest matter in the world to swim
here, yet only those who have spent
some time in these waters can navi.
gate them.
When you are swimming in the wa
tiers Of Salt Lake it is one Of the hard
est matters in the world to locate the
center of gravity. For instance, the
bather will find himself stretched upon
the surface. He will instinetively kick
out with his legs. One or two strokes
and his legs are out Of the water and
his head and shoulders under.
The head and shoulders being heav-
fer, they remain submerged, while the
like dog until he has righted HIM
self. The next experience will be
swimming on his back. He will find
the legs sinking just a little, and he
thinks he can get purchase" on the
water. Then he kicks out. Within a
second the legs are out Of the water
and he is struggling to right himself
once more.
A "greenhorn" is always the butt Of
choice comment. Every one knows
what is going to happen and prepares
for hearty laugh.