JACK WILLIAMS, the Canadian natator, August 12, swam down the Mississippi River from Alton, Ill., to St. Louis—twenty-five miles—with his hands strapped to his sides and his legs bound together. The current was running at the rate of three miles an hour, and he accomplished the journey in a little over eight hours, propelling himself by working his legs, and swimming the entire distance on his back.
THE first swimming tournament of the Young Men’s Christian Association took place on the Harlem River, September 1. Captain Connell, of the Dauntless Boat Club, acted as referee.
The first was the half-mile race for members, and brought out the following: W. Kennell, N. Johnson, C. Curtiss and F. C. Schwartz. Kennell won easily in 14m. 41s.; Johnson second.
For the mile race only three competitors put in an appearance: Chas. Holdeman, a one-legged man; C. Bell, Pastime Athletic Club, and R. Ruhl. The race was virtually a walk-over for Bell, who made the mile in 27m. 14s.; Holdeman second in 28m. 21s.
Nine men competed in the 100-yard swimming race. At the word “Go” all dived simultaneously. Al Cammacho cut out the work, with W. C. Johnson second, and the rest strung out in a straggling line. Cammacho won, after a hard struggle with Johnson, in 1m. 17 2-5s.
TRAP.
THE New York Suburban Shooting Grounds Association is a corporation recently organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey. At a recent meeting it elected the following officers: Charles Richards, president; August Schmitt, vice-president; Charles M. Hathaway, treasurer; O. E. Morton, secretary. Board of directors: Charles Richards, August Schmitt, Charles M. Hathaway, O. E. Morton, Charles Tatham, Hugh O’Neill, Charles B. Reynolds, J. P. Dannefelser and David Ellis. The grounds of the club are located at Claremont, N. J., on the Central Railroad of N. J., close by the depot. It takes but eighteen minutes to reach them from the foot of Liberty Street.
This association is not a club in the ordinary sense of the word, but a business enterprise, which the originators believe is certain of success from the start, as it is a well-known fact that there are thousands of gun owners in this city alone who have no convenient place to shoot, and who for many reasons do not care to join an ordinary gun club, where, in most cases, a few ruling spirits monopolize all the prizes, and make their expenses in shooting sweepstakes at the cost of the majority who are less proficient. It is believed that these grounds offer special inducements to the beginner and to those who wish to improve themselves in marksmanship. It is the object of this association to elevate the standard of this sport, and make trap-shooting one of the popular amusements of the day.
YACHTING.
THE Larchmont Yacht Club gave its annual oyster-boat regatta August 18. It came off with its usual success. The following is the official summary: