Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-08
BATHING BEACH TESTS
Youngsters Make SWimmin'
Hole a Lively Place.
RACES AND DIVES GALORE
Weekly Event Inaugurated by
Supt. Hudson.
AUDIENCE GETS EXCITED.
One Man Has His First Swim Since
the Sixties, and Likes
It, Too.
RACES AND DIVES GALORE
" Event Inaugurated by
Supt. Hudson.
AUDIENCE GETS EXCITED


youngsters who patronize the bathing
beach were inaugurated at the municipal
bathing pools near the Washington
monument yesterday afternoon.
For couple of hours boys OF all
sizes raced up and down the large pool.
swimming on their backs, on their sides
or with the breast stroke: diving for
long distances and performing many
other water stunts. And at the end
OF the afternoon, losers patted the win
ners on the back and pledged themselves
to be winners in some of the contests
IN the weeks to come. The boys en-
Joyed themselves so much that there Is
apparently no question regarding the
success of the weekly water meets for
the remainder of the season.
Since the opening of the swimming
pools there have been repeated requests
from the boys for swimming contests,
all saying they wanted an opportunity
to show what they could do. After
carefully considering the matter from
every standpoint DR.. w. B. Hudson, the
superintendent. granted the requests, and
every, Saturday afternoon at 3 O'Clock,
for the remainder of the season. there
VIII De swimming tests of different kinds.
To Learn Better Swimming.
The object of the tests is to stimulate
the boys to learn the proper methods of
NSAAAO eAAS uiAACiCAS SlIOhcS Rather IMAM
to develop competition and promote
rivalry. Records will be kept of the
winners of the different events and at
the end of the season, if ARRANGEMENTS
can be made. championship swimming
contests will be held between the best
ones and medals awarded to the win
ners.
To make the meets a success. Super
intendent Hudson has appointed an as
sisting committee, which includes As
sistant Superintendent Zinkham, Assist
ant Physical Director Long of the Y. NJ.
{. A.. and Arthur Zinkham.
Inc events IN which the boys took
part yesterday were swimming two
lengths of the pool, any stroke being
used; swimming two lengths of the pool.
breast stroke; swimming one length of
the pool on the back. and dive for
distance. The boys were graded accord
ing to their size and age. Boys under
thirteen thdf s years of age and under five
under sixteen years Of age and under
five feet. six inches in height, were in
another. The same events were held for
both classes.
The Results.
-Four lengths of pool for boys under
sixteen years Of age-First, C. Mistrella;
second, c. Travis: third, Roy Tinker
Time, 12O1-5.
Two lengths Of pool for boys under
thirteen years of age, any stroke-First,
G. Wilson: second. T. Degnan; third, X.
Two lengths Of pool. swimming breast
stroke entire distance, for boys under
sixteen years Of age-First, j. Washing
ton: second. w. Ryan; third. Louis Ora
ham. Time, O.39 So.
One length OF pool. swimming breast
stroke entire distance. for boys under
thirteen years OF age-First, T. .Peyton:
second. K. Carrick; third, ]. Peron. Time.
OBJ As.
Two lengths of pool, swimming on the
back. for boys under sixteen years-First,
p. Seemed: second, J. Washington; third,
McReynolds. Time. O.46.
One length Of pool, swimming on back,
for boys under thirteen years-First, Yet
ter: second, Amaties; third, Peyton.
Time, OA 20.
Plunge under water for distance. with
out moving the feet or hands-A. Walsh
and J. Washington tied for first place
with distance of thirty feet; r. Eli
son was second with a distance Of TWEEN
ty-nine feet.
The meet was Of true sportsmanlike
character. Fully 500 boys were in the
water when the superintendent, at
o'clock. announced that the races would
take place. Quite a number Of the Older
boys were detailed to places along the
pool and these kept the spectators, who
were out in force. from encroaching upon
the walk set apart for the bathers.
First Swim Since War.
There were yells and cheers when the
victors crossed the line. and one elderly
gentleman was SO interested that he fell
headlong into the pool, carrying his
market basket and umbrella He was
fished out and provided with a suit. while
his clothes were hung up to dry. He
afterward confided to the clerk in the
office that he didn't mind falling in, be-
cause he hadn't been in swimming since
he came east and that was just after
the war.
This is only one of many innovations
made by Supt. Hudson this year which
have served TO make the bathing beach
more popular than ever before