New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-08-28
BOARD FOR LIFE GUARDS
Coney Island Association Trying
to Get Bill Passed.
A THOROUGH TEST THE AIM
Many Picturesque Types Among
Members of Organization
Festival To- night.

IC5OkN0A AO-A4S Ab
The Coney Island Life Guards Associa-
ton is making an effort TO get a bill
through the Legislature requiring that ali
ruolic beaches employ only professional
ufs guards AS II Is, there Is only one
beach where professional guards are not
srnployed. but the men in the association
feel that men who have qualified IN life
saving are best competent 20 handle the
situations that develop.
The idea is TO have a board which will
sxanaine life guards ana put them through
swimming and diving tests. make them
show how 20 bring a man ashore. how 70
handle boat and give evidence that they
know something about first aid 10 the tn
.,,red. Few people are aware that the life
guards. in addition 10 reviving half drowned
persons, also do great deal OF work IN
the way Of bandaging bruises and cuts.
Their knowledge Of the effect Of water on
wound helps them IN deciding when 20
bandage and when 10 stitch. They always
send for a doctor however. when Il is real
~ necessary.
A Hardy and Picturesque Lot.
The men in the association are a hardy
and picturesque LOT. There is a good deal
~ the adventurous in the makeup OF the
thirty or so men who are There When
Needed" as their motto runs. In the win
Ter they go back 20 their several vocatons'
hut when the spring comes the surf calls
and they hurry out Of overalls. street
clothes. sailors dungarees. and so on, and
into bathing suits
Frank West. Of the Manhattan Beach
Baths, the oldest guard on the coast but
one. is q typical example West has yanked
snnumerable people out Of the water IN
one week he made nine rescues and was
recommended 70 the Carnegie commission.
with a petition OF 800 names, but could not
get the medal because he was a profes-
sional life saver
West explained how ne did his work
When I'm in the boat" ne said. II keep
nv eyes open. and when I see oather
showing the hrst signs Of distress I row
over by him. and that gives him a feeling
OF security Lots Of them get their cour-
age back right away II have TO go in
Tor a man try 70 do II fast and without
attracting attention
West has an unusual first aid method.
The prescribed resuscitation is all right.
ne saws. but good scheme is 70 throw
EN- over your shoulder. stomach down, and
run with en-. The running gets the water
out all right
In the winter months West has been a
strong man in vaudeville. and photograph
of him in the life guards shelter shows him
carving ESQ pounds, with 175 more sus-
pended from his teeth. He is always
prominent figure IN the swims TO Sandy
Hook from the Battery.
The life guard who has seen more service
than West is NJ J. McDonOugh. He has
been a life saver for seventeen years He
was formerly at Sea Gate but after going
20 Palm Beach every winter as a life guard
ne finally forsook New York altogether and
built a bathing house Of his own at the
Florida resort Gus" Jordahn, also well
known on the Coney Island coast is his
partner IN the enterprise.
How Guards Spend Their Winters.
Jack Reynolds. the president Of the
association. was az Peterson's for years,
but this year is devoting his time to the
association Frank o. Hoyt, the vice-pres-
ident. is a guard at Wards. Tom Conk-
lin, the secretary. works in the Brooklyn
navy yard in the winter. but always comes
back 10 the water in the summer. John r.
Cronin. the assistant sergeant-at arms. Is
AZ Petersons He has been a waterman
for years Herbert Nichols. who was once
a guard AT Manhattan Beach. works Tor a
life insurance company. but comes back 10
The beach 10 help out on Saturday after
Moons and Sundays Jack" Prior. who is
az Econopouly's pavilion. goes out every
dav for a long swim with Senator "Christy'
sullivan. In the winter time he is rapid
FIRE sign painter. These are only few Of
the men.
The association wishes 70 establish cen
tral headquarters where the men can spend
their spare time and sleep il they live too
Ear away 20 60 home as most Of them 90.
AS one man said About the only time !
see my baby awake is when my wife brings
him down 70 the beach. 7 am teaching him
not 20 ne afraid Of the water and then m
going 70 teach him 10 swim. He IS only
eighteen months old now. and / 20 easy
with him I take him into the water and
let his feet get Wet but If he is afraid /
let him 70 back and get his confidence.
Too many children have al everlasting fear
~ the water by being thrown I'm by people
VINO believe they can teach kids to swim
IN this fashion It is cruel and a mistake.
The association is going 10 have lts
twelfth summer night festival at the
Bavside Hotel Sheepshead Bay, tonight
and expects Jam Of people, whose shekels
vii help 70 build up the organization anu
keep - in good trim.