Free Bathing—Accidents
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FREE BATHING—ACCIDENTS.
EDITORS TIMES: A few days ago, you had an article encouraging the “free bathing” of boys and men along the shores of Brooklyn, and against their being arrested for the same, under the ordinance. But yesterday you had an article in which you very sorrowfully depict the consequences of just such a course, viz: the “accidental deaths” of unfortunate lads, who go in the water “not sufficiently versed in swimming, or who venture in bad parts of the river, where there are under currents.”
Pray what do you mean by blowing hot and cold on this manner?
Our opinion is, that if it were as common a custom for all classes of the growing youths of Brooklyn to go in the water, and learn to swim, as it is for them to learn to talk, or to read and write, there would be fewer of these deplorable accidents.
Not but, under all circumstances, there will be danger of death. But the true course is to have men prepared to meet it, by discipline, by use, by strength, by their capacity to struggle and resist. That is the way to meet the danger. If you run away from the water, what then? Is there not just as much danger upon land?
We are ready to continue our testimony for “free bathing” on the foregoing and other grounds. As to the arrests of boys, by the policemen, this hot weather, we object to it altogether. We are not sure but the fear of such arrests often drives boys, and men too, into those places of the river where they are drowned. Were they undisturbed and secure, they would be more likely to congregate together in the safest and best places.
Policemen should be directed by the Mayor, Deputy Superintendent, Captains, or whoever it is that they receive directions from in such matters, to the following effect: Wherever there might be persons bathing in markedly public spots, as near the ferries, the patrolmen should notify them to desist—but in general, and where there is no special reason to interfere, the officers should be ordered to abstain from these nonsensical arrests. Think, for a moment, of taking any one off to the Station House, and locking him up, simply for the act, (always commendable in man, woman, or child,) of laving the whole body with the cool waters of the river or sea?