The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-02-06

The long distance races held encoar'
age the development OF endurance,
so necessary In case OF accident;
other sports make for better, water.
manship; and the rescue contests
featured at nearly every meet. oUeF
an incentive to acquire proficiency III
life saving and turn into recreation
what might otherwise prove tedious
and uninteresting drudgery.
These rescue races are practical
and value tests, TOO. as was apply
demonstrated in the league, CHAM
pionships few weeks ago. One Of
the contestants, Miss Josephine Bari.
lett. was seized with severe cramps
while carrying her putatlye victim 10
safety, but she had learned what to
do under the circumstances and she
held on gamely until the finish line
was reached. Then she tainted. Rest
assured that II that plucky girl had
been performing an actual rescue.
the same grit, the same knowledge
would have enabled her to land the
person in danger before collapsing.
Amazing Skill.
1t is revelation to attend one Of
the league water carnivals and note
the amazing skill of the contestants
Not a starter in the swimming races
but displays In enviable good form
the latest types VI stroke; not com.
petltor in the life saving events but
exhibits ability worthy OF a profes.
sional life guard. &ea
The Notwithstanding sight, though,
is water polo match between two
OF the several league teams.
Special aptitude Is required
properly to handle the big, slippery,
leather ball, for the rules ordain That
it shall only be touched with ono
hand at time, and endurance quite
beyond the average is needed to last
out the two long periods of practL
cally continuous sprinting. Indeed,
1t Is not unusual to see the strongest
men swimmers show signs Of eS
haustion before time is called in an
important game.
Yet these girls juggle the awk
ward ball with accuracy, play hard
and fast from start to finish, then
leave the water fresh and smiling,
always ready for more.
And this remarkable stamina and
workmanship developed by constant
participation in aquatic sports fl,
them splendidly for self-protectioa
and life saving. ~
Cool in Danger.
Nine of the league mermaids com
peted last September in a fve.mila
swim for women In which the fell
was started through an error against
a rushing four-mlle tide. For nearly
one and one-half hours the plucky
girls fought that current tooth AMI
nail before 1t was decided to call oil
the race and not one of them showed
a sign of fatigue when the referee
after much argument, persuaded
them to abandon the contest, No
fear that such powerful swimmers
would be unable to take care Of
themselves in case Of accident.
1t is the same when 1t comes 10
succoring those in danger. The girls
are so well trained for the work that
they consider the rescue Of a drown
ing person a mere incident in their
daily lives. hardly worthy OF men
ton.
One Of them expressed the attt
tude Of the majority last summer,
after helping ashore through very
rough water an exhausted swimmer,
The rescue was an unusually diff
cult and brave one; but when those
who witnessed it tried to make tho
young heroine apply for a life saving
medal she laughed at them.
Nonsense" she said, THE poo,
fellow hadn't enough strength LEFT
even to struggle; a child could have
brought him In And that settled It