The Washington times., 1906-07-05
SpectacleS Along Poto-
macs Virginia Shore
Arouse Wrath.
CRITICISING THE SHERIFF
Ribald Remarks Almost Pre-
Clude Presence of Ladies
Among Boating Parties,

IN spite OF the fact that the attention
of the District and Virginia authorities
has been called 10 the practice OF many
young men and boys going in swimming
in the upper Potomac without bathing
suits. no arrests Of the offenders have
been made.
There has been much complaint in the
last few days that the nude swimmers
are exceedingly Objectionable on the
Virginia side Of the river above the
Aqueduct bridge. These cOmpiainants
say the Offenses are confined almost
exclusively 10 the Virginia shore al
though some instances Of undressed boys
in District territory have been reported
10 the various boating houses along the
river.
Sheriff Palmer, Of Alexandria county.
Va. who has power TO arrest these mis-
ereants on the Virginia side, was asked
today why he had made no arrests in
this connection.
Sheriff Looking for Them.
Il am looking for these nude bathers
constantly" he said. Il have been up
the river three separate times. but have
not succeeded IN finding a single naked
person in the water or on the bank I
called 10 the matter by The Times has
had a salutary effect on the bathers. and
they are acting with more prudence.
Il intend 70 go up there many more
times. and l have warned those who
frequent the place that they viii be ar
rested il found IN bathing without some
covering. AS I said. though. ] have been
absolutely unable to find any offending
boys or men"
II a young man stands on the bank
without clothes on, in the full view Of
boatloads OF people on the river, would
he be liable TO arrest2" the sheriff was
asked.
Most certainly" replied Mr.. Palmer.
If he goes into the water undressed,
is he liable TO arTest?"
Most certainly
Could if He Would.
The boating fraternity on. the Potomac
however. insists that If he would look
more closely for the Offenders he could
find them. Boating people say the evil
has somewhat decreased. but there are
still many Objectionable exhibitions on
the banks Of the river.
One man. who is prominent IN boating
circles here, said today:
Undoubtedly, there are some people
engaged in this practice who should be
arrested. 1t is the only way TO make
them stop annoying the ladies and gen
tlemen who take 10 the river as a pleas
ant diversion after the warm day IN the
city
Guy Standing. who was instrumental IN
starting the public outcry against the
nuisance, said:
While there has been some improve
meut i'm the situation since the article
was published in The Times last week
calling attention to il, there is stil room
for Improvement. and I do not think
the matter viii be satisfactorily settled
until some arrests have been made and
an object lesson given TO the offenders.
1T is still next to impossible to take
afternoons. because these boys and
young men use the shore as their dress
ing room. and go into the water without
bathing suits. l. do not see why some
OF them can't be arrested on almost any
afternoon
Boating Parties Shocked.
The. lighthouses and boat clubs on the
river have complaints registered with
them every afternoon by parties who
have gone up the river for pleasure spins
and who come back 20 tell their tales
OF woe about the unrestrained custom
of these boys and men going into the
river without bathing suits. They are
unanimous in declaring that IL would be
the easiest thing in the world for the
sheriff 10 catch the offenders while on
the shore or in the water without clothes
o. bathing suits on,
Some assert that the nude bathers are
stll further offensive by shouting ribald
remarks 10 bGatlOdds of people passing
ND and down the river. 1t was said to-
day that IL IS impossible for ladies 10
go out in a boat by themselves IN the
afternoons unless they keep close all
the time tO the District side of the river
which Is sunny and not Pheasant for
rowing OF canoeing
Altogether everybody concerned In the
marter-eXcept the bathers-is eager to
have the sheriff repeat his visits to that
section above the AQucduct Bridge. L is
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