The Washington times., 1906-06-28
NUDE MEN SHOCK
BOATING PARTIES
ON THE POTOMAC
Numerous Complaints OF
Public Nuisance Above
Aqueduct Bridge.

Incessant complaint is made now 20
all the boating clubs along the Potomac
that on Saturday afternoons and Sun
DAYS it is practically impossible for la
dies to use the river for boating pur-
poses, owing 20 the fact that many
half-grown boys and young men go in
bathing above the Aqueduct Bridge with
out bathing suits.
To all these complaints the boating
organizations answer that they have no
way 20 put q stop to the nuisance and
that II Is up TO the police 70 make the
arrests and to infllct the punishment
necessary to put a stop TO the practice.
The police. however, hold that they
have no authority 10 make arrests on
the Virginia shore, and the Corporation
Counsel has rendered a decision up
holding the position Of the police and
advising that -he sheriff OF Alexandria
county be communicated with and asked
to stop the habit coknplained Of The
local police sent such communication
TO the Alexandra county authorities,
they say. but the nuisance has not been
in the least abated.
Where Police Are Supreme
There Is. however. one place where
the authority Of the Washington police
is supreme. This is on the District
shore Immediately below the Aqueduct
Bridge, and here. II is claimed, many
young men and boys go in swimming
without bathing suits. using the shore,
without shelter. as their dressing room.
When this happens. say the complaints.
the bridge police would have little trou-
BILE in wooping down on the offenders
and arrestfpg them.
All those who decry the custom of
these young bathers going into the wa
te- and standing on the shore and rocks
without bathing suits on. claim that 1t
IS high time to break up the practice.
While the nuisance is especially bad
on Saturdays and Sundays. on other
DAYS the ladies can pass numerous
places on the Virginia shore only by
keeping their eyes fastened with f1cti-
tious interest on the District side. for
after passing the Aqueduct bridge the
trouble is confined exclusively to the
Virginia shore.
Shout Ribald Remarks.
1T is a practice which ought to b.
Immediately broken up. said Guy Stand
| ing. the actor, today. The people o
| Washington have in the Potomac plac,
for exercise and pleasure and a bit O.
| scenery that could hardly be surprised
! The habit of these boys and men o
I goirg into the river without bathing
suits dertcast to a marked degree from
the pleasure of being on the river. No
cniy do they stand and sit on the shor
in t-is undressed condition. but IL is no
an unusual thing to see parties of then
in b1ats. and il has often occurred, an
told, that ribald remarks have bee
shouted by them 10 boats containing la
dies and gentlemen on their way up an
down this beautiful stream.
Even If the authority of the local 20
lice does not extend to the Virgini
shore. they can surely arrest these boat
leads of undressed people who make tn
middle OF the stream their playground
forcing ladies in boats to creep u
stream close TO shore in order to escap
sights which are calculated 10 shoe
them. I should think the people @
! Washington ard especially the boatin
population would make IL their bushes
TO see TO II that something is done
Natives of Washington. who hav
! been accustomed 10 the river, forge
) how beautiful 1t is and what a godsen