The Washington herald., 1915-07-28
CANOEISTS BAND
TO SAVEL|VES
Volunteer Patrol Corps for
- Potomac Organized at
Conference.
NAL. PULLMAN GIVES AID
Wilbert Lonsfellow. Of Red Cross. d.
reefs Work-Says Escorts Should
Be Able to Rescue Girl.

Initial steps toward organization OF a
volunteer life-saving corps for the pa
troll of the Potomac and protection OF
devotees OF aquatic sports from drown
ing were taken Yesterday afternoon al
a conference between Mai. Raymond w
Pullman, superintendent of police; VIII
bert f. Longfellow, field representative
Of the first aid department of the Red
Cross. and a score or more canoeists. The
meeting was held in the office of Maj.
Pullman, In the District Building.
With view to arousinC city-wide in
terest in the crusade to decrease the
number Of drownings in the Potomac,
stereopticon lectures, open to the public
will be held within a few DAYS. The
lectures will he given by Mr.. 1.ongfel-
low. and will be made generally inter
esting by the display OF large coiiec-
ton of lantern slides. The first lecture
will be held tomorrow night. probably
in the rooms Of the Chamber of Com
merce Another lecture will be held Sat
urday night at one OF the boat clubs
near Aqueduct Bridge.
LongfeIIow VIII Instruct.
Mr.. Iongfellow. who travels through
out the country organizing life-saving
corps, will remain here until Sunday
night devoting his time to the campaign
for the safeguarding of pleasureseekers
on the river. Each day he will give
special instructions in life saving at
the Municipal Bathing Beach. Saturday
afternoon he will visit boat clubs and
camps along the Potomac above Aque-
duct Bridge.
He will devote Sunday to a tour OF
the camps and boat clubs, giving prac-
teal demonstrations. He will start Sun
day morning about 10 o'clock at Chain
Bridge and will continue his inspection
tour down the river to Aqueduct Bridge.
About o'clock in the afternoon he will
reach the Washington Canoe Club,
where a special reception will be given
him.
Mr.. Longfellow hopes to get expert
canoeists and swimmers to volunteer
their services as guards and to join
the proposed corps. When the organiza-
ton has been formed, the river will be
apportioned among the members. each
being given a certain section to look after
during specified hours. arranged 10 suit
the convenience of the individual.
Representatives OF the Washington
Canoe Club announced that their mem
bership included about fifteen of the
best swimmers in the city. who they
thought would be glad to join the
corps.
Maj. Pullman stated that during the
past year thirty-four drownings have
occurred in the Potomac in and near
Washington. He said he hoped to re-
duce the number materially. He an
nounced that on Saturday afternoons
and on Sundays he will station the two
police boats on the Upper Potomac
near the Aqueduct Bridge. where most
of the pleasure seekers gather.
Mr.. Longfellow suggested that canoe
lists might lessen the probability OF
serious accidents by using life-saving
pillows in their canoes and by string
ing life lines around the gunwales of
the banks. He expressed the opinion
that a young man should not take a
girl canoeing unless he is capable of
rescuing another person from the
water.
Object to Speed Boats.
Some of the canoeists present COM
planned that the upper river was made
dangerous by speedy motor boats which
make between fifteen and twenty-five
miles an hour. They recommend that a
speed limit be fixed. but the majority
of those present did not favor this sug-
gestion.
p. T. Moran. president of the Cham
Der Of Commerce. who started the agi-
tation for better protection on the
river. spoke. Lieut.. Russell A. Dean.
of Harbor precinct. and Capt. w. F.
Fowler and Private F. S. Strawser. of
the Seventh precinct. all of whom are
in charge of the patrolling of the Po-
tomac. attended the conference.
Others present were: Eugene H. Aus