Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-02

will be on a larger scale than anything
ever attempted at Piedmont park, the
swimming championships of the 1912
season will be determined this after
noon in series of events Of various
distances. arranged so that there will be
entries for the men, women and boys
who have spent their afternoons this
summer enjoying the water sports.
This season will be brought to a close
within two weeks and the lake at
Piedmont. which has been filled each
day with a happy throng of Atlantans
clad in bathing suits of every color and
hue. soon will be as deserted as an
abandoned summer resort.
The scores of pretty girls who have
found health and pleasure learning to
swim in the lake and who nave proved
an attraction for hundreds of visitors
to the park Will soon be dropping back
to the bridge tables and theaters.
Women to Race For Prize.
Men and boys wEo have found
healthful tan this summer and lost the
wan look of the city dwe,ler will be
once more back Mt the Office and shop
in the winter time rush and struggle
for livelihood. While the lake waits
for the coming OF another year.
1t was first planned to nod the
swimming contests on September 10,
the day on which ali bathing and swim
ming at the lake will be discontinued
for the season. but the idea was sug-
cested that the events be held today d
part Of the exercises in honor of La
Dor day.
There are many Atlanta women VINO
came to the lake this summer as eX-
pert swimmers and found themselves
able to compete creditably in diving
and swimming with the men. Other
women have developed into experts
through constant daily practice after
they learned the stroke. The winner
in the Women's frce-for-ail this after
noon, which is TO be for a distance of
% yards, will receive a handsome piece
of cut glass as a prize.
Various prizes were thought of as the
most appropriate for the women's event
ana finally Captain b. H Schlomberg.
under whose direction the events are
hold, put the matter to a vote when a
score Of fair bathers were discussing
whether they would enter the Women's
contest Some one made the sugges-
ton that any woman would swim for a
piece of cut glass. and one of Atlanta s
merchants offered to donate the prize.
Cup Prize in Mems Contest.
For the man or boy who can make
I1t Of in %
eiE contests for men a seventeen inch
silver loving cup is offered. The pres
tntation of this cup carries with it the
award Of the title of supreme champion
of tine lake for the entire season, and
there are moro than a score of men and
boys who believe they should hold it.
Nearly every man contesting will
have chance for an individual prize,
as the distances Of the various swim
ming events are arranged to give a
chance to those who are best on long
swims and to those whose speciality is
the short and speedy dash through the
water. The mems races will start with
a half-mile swim and will end with the
shortest route. % yards. Included in
these will be 100-yard swim and
50-yard swim.
For the younger Boys who want to
compete among themselves and feeI
that they have d chance to struggle
against their equal in muscles and
years swimming event of - yards
will be held.
Another event which possibly brings
more laughter than any other contest
~, la q nd Il -
ing of the boyish contestants, is the
fitting contest between two boys IN
boats Like knights of old in joust'
the lads are armed with long lances
and endeavor to unseat each other.
While just as exciting, and far more
ludicrous than the contests held III
medieval times when two knights clad
in heavy mail fought for love or honor
before their "ladyes faire,' these mod
ern 'jousts" are far less dangerous.
Duckinq For Loser.
The only mishap that can befall a
contestant is a dip into the waters OF
the lake and az the required suit is a
bathing costume, no damage is done
when one contestant falls. Great skill
has been acquired by many of the laos
IN the life-saYing corps in keeping a
footing on the bow of their boats and
their respective oarsmen have also de-
Veloped friendly spirit of rivalry in
maneuvering for the proper angle at
which the boats shall pass each other
The bathers at the lake have remem-
oered the two life savers under whose
"atchfuI eyes they have felt safe this
summer and two gold medals have been
purchased for them, They will be pre-
sented this afternoon, at the conclusion
NJ the events to c. r. MCDermott and
l.. A. Carraway in token of the appre
cation of the thousands of swimmers
who have been under their care this
summer. The medals will be suitably
Engraved with the names of the life
savers and with a suitable testimonial
10 their skill and fitness
Ine first contest will be started
promptly at $3.50 o'clock and members
ol the park board have been asked tc
sCt dS Judges in the events