Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-18

was noted. he had covered three miles
afoot and several moro miles by trolley
car.
lie came back 1T 8 o'clock. and was
at breakfast when the rest Of the party
entered tho dining-room. with great
susto he explained his walk. adding:
And not single person knew me.
or at least identified me. until l got
| BACK here to the hotel, when two news
boys stopped me and asked me to buy
a newspaper telling all about myself.
AS l knew all about 1t, didn't buy
| one"
But the big event OF the day, or the
first OF two big events of n precisely
| similar character. was his dip in the
surf
Following breakfast he chatted in
his room with members of his party
| until shaved. incidentally knicking his
i right cheek near the ear and then Jared
| for the boardwalk. Photographers
| identified him TO the crowd of strollers.
and shortly afterward n long process
| sion was following in his wake.
Near the foot Of Kentucky Avenue
an aged woman, out for an airing in n
| wheel chair, had herself pushed up in
front of him, and insisted on shaking
his hand.
MY boy" she said. II am glad to
see you. and to know that you are free
at last"
Il thank YOU" he answered, remoy-
| ing his hat. Half a dozen others
crowded about TO shake his hand. but
he lodged. Il have a sore finger" he
| explained. ana can't stand much of
| that"
Al bathhouse he strolled in the
| crowd following, and rented II black
two-piece bathing suit Fifteen
| minutes later he was out on the sand.
the crowd pressing about him on all
! sides.
Despite his nine years of almost con-
slant confinement. Thaw is still n we'll
preserved man. His shoulders showed
up broad and his arms firm and we'll
rounded beneath the bathing suit. His
| hesh was ruddy. and as he chased out
into the dashing breakers there was
light In his eyes that one seldom sees
down here among the jadcd denizcns
of the place.
For several minutes Thaw gazcd out
TO sea, apparently oblivious to the
crowd about him. It is probably given
10 rev TO enjoy the sensations he en-
joyed at that moment For nine years
he had struggled for his freedom,
whether he was justly entitled TO II or
not. Then suddenly, h darted for
! ward. and was in the surf like flash.
He is a strong swimmer. and with
vigorous overland strokes he made his
way out beyond the crowd Of bathers.
across the line of breakers. and on out
TO where the life guards were circling
about IN their boat.
CROWD or HUNDREDS
WATCHES EVERY MOVEMENT
out there he swan about taking the
occasional seas hcad-on. and emerging
an instant later shaking his head vigor-
. ous!y and bounding about in sheer JOY
OF his new-found life. on the beach a
crowd of several hundred bathers
watched his every movement. while on
tho walk many hundred more gathered
and shouted him encouragement.
After fifteen minutes he returned to
the beach and for five minutes took a
sun bath, while the crowd admired
I Then he had his final dip for the morn
ing, returning finally and forcing his
way through the crowd on the run TO
his bathhousc. The same thing was
repeated this afternoon about 1 o'clock.
Meanwhile he had his joke, palmine
off q cores Dondent as himself. He had
a hearty lunch. went shopping and was
introduced TO the soft collar By one o!
the correspondents. Following the
afternoon bath. Thaw returned to the
hotel. and tonight he is passing his
time quietly. strolling among the
crowds on the boardwalk. He is easily
the most conspicuous OF the guests here
at Americas grea, popular summer re-