Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 17, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1879 — Five Female Forms. [ARTICLE]

Five Female Forms.

Five young women in neatly fitting bathing suits stood timidly upou the float iu front of Raun’s swimming baths, at the foot of East Sixty-fltth street, yesterday ‘ afternoon. They were the Misses Carrie Ryan, Emma Renner, Clara Friend. Mary Steinberg, and Julia Hezmau, anxiously awaiting the boat that was to take them out into the middle of thest ream, where thev were to swim a race of 4<H) yards. When the craft came, however, one and ail refused to go, fearing the gaze of the multitudes that, lined the shores, and those who were paddling about in row boats. Holtz, their teacher, for whose benefit this and other races bad been arranged, argued with them for a long time, aiid finally with some success. “I’ll go if you will, Mary,” said Miss Clara Friend to a tall dark complexioned young woman in a pretty blue costume. The latter hesitated a moment, looked intently at the mass of spectators, and then exclaimed as she sprang from her seat: “Very well, I’ll go. Come girls let’s all go!” The enthusiasm of the last speaker had a magic effect upon the faltering, frightened girls. One after another they sprang into the boat aud were rowed out into the stream.

“Are you ready?” said Mr. Holtz, when they had reached a point miJway between the t *ro shores. “Yes,” they answered. All sprang upon the thwarts and seats of the boats. “Then go!” said Holtz. At the .word, five symmetrical female forms sprang into the a’r, turned half a somersault, and pierced the smooth waters like as many arrows. The tide was on the first of the ebb, and the current was running fully six knots an hour. In some places the whirling eddies indicated tne meeting of counter currents. These were carefully avoided by the swimmers. Miss Ryan had a touch of cramp wheu nearing the first quarter. She at once turned over on her back and floated. Her action and the expression of pain upon her face was signal enough lor Mr. Holtz, who rowed alongside and took her aboard Miss Ryan is said to be a very plucky swimmer, and had it not been for this accident would have stood a good chance of winning the race. Her companions, with Miss Steinberg at their head, struok out sturdily for the stake boat. Miss Hezman tried the hand-over-hand stroke, and seemed at intervals to almost spring out of the water. Miss Emma Kenner, who was just ahead of her, was swimming with a graceful side action, having first one shoulder and then the other submerged. Toward the goal. Miss Friend, and exceedingly grreeful swimmer, made a fine effort to overtake Miss Steinberg, who was leading her by about three lengths. Near the stake boat the pair, throwing water from their mouths and spouting like porpoises, were almost abreast. Then Miss Steinberg, who had not been doing her best, made a dash for the goal, and touched it about one lenghth ahead. Time, 1:40 j. A gold medal was given her.—(.New York Sun.