Preface.

This Pamphlet is mainly intended for the guidance of the pupils of the Dunedin Swimming School, containing as it does directions for the course through which they will be expected to pass; the com piler has, however, been induced to publish it in the hope of increasing the interest of the reader in the subject, as well as to add to his safety when in the water.

Swimming.

Swimming may be defined as the art of propelling and sustaining the body in the water, using the legs (assisted by the exertion of the body) as the propeller, and the arms as a support to the head. The hands are placed flat on the water between the chin and the breast, fingers and thumbs closed, the latter touching, the body is inclined gently forward, the legs drawn up with the knee turned out and toe turned up towards the shins (in order to strike the water as wide as possible with the soles of the feet); as the feet are kicked to the rear the hands are sent forward to the full extent of the arms, keeping them there until the heels meet after the kick, when they should be extended nearly square with the shoulders; and then dropping the elbows to the side, bring the hands over the breast to the first position. The beginner should remember that by a careful regulation of the limbs so that all movements tending to retard the motion of the body be made gently, and propelling movement with energy, much unnecessary exertion may be saved with page 4 more favorable results. The kick is to be made from the knees, the feet describing a curve until the heels meet, when the legs should be perfectly straight. Breath should be taken when the head is highest, that is when the arms are square with the shoulders. The arms should not be bent when being brought square with the shoulders.

The Side Stroke.

This stroke has the advantage of speed, and is also most useful when assisting others. It is important here to remember that the head is the helm, the slightest inclination of which will alter the course, and as on the side it is awkward to look ahead, the best way is to steer, if possible, by aligning two objects in the rear. The left side is the best for speed, being the heaviest, and the upper arm which has the most work, being the right, which is generally the strongest. Lie completely on the side (say the left) with the left arm extended, right hand resting on the thigh, legs closed. First motion—Draw the knees gently up until the thighs are nearly at right angles with the body, at the same time strike the left hand downwards, bringing it under the head by bending the elbow, and extend the right arm gently beyond the head as far as possible without lowering the right shoulder. Second motion—Extend the right leg in line with the thigh, straighten the left thigh and bend the leg backwards, and then quickly return the legs to their original position, at the same time hollow the right hand finger and thumb pressed together, then draw it smartly down close to the chest to its original position on the thigh, the left hand being extended to its first position; by making the forward motion of the right arm out of the water there will be a slight increase of speed, which, however, can be more easily gained by keeping the body as horizontal as possible.

Plunging.

Plunging is the art of entering the water head first. The principal plunges are known as the Flat, the Deep, and the Medium, their titles being suggestive. The flat plunge is most useful in page 5 shallow water; it consists in springing forward, with the arm extended, forefingers and palms of the hands touching each other, straightening the body, which must be kept rigid while moving along the surface, the feet and thighs being close together. Care must be taken to close the eyes at the moment of entering the water, opening them afterwards, as well as to prevent the heels rising; and also at all times to prevent the head being suddenly jerked back, which is most dangerous. The same rules will apply to the Medium plunge, which is generally used by the swimmer when plunging from a moderate height without wishing to go much below the surface of the water. The water is entered at an angle of about 45 deg. instead of 10 deg., which is the angle for the Flat plunge. It should be remembered that in plunging, as in swimming, the arms act as a protection to the head by breaking the water, and thus saving the concussion. When beneath the water the back is to be hollowed, and the chin gently raised, which will quickly bring you to the surface, keeping the arms extended. The steep plunge is used for descending a considerable depth into the water. If taken from a small height, stoop down until the head is lower than the knees, which should be opened as well as the feet, incline gradually forward, and when the balance is lost straighten the body from the fingers to the toes; if accurately taken, the body will enter the water noiselessly, hands first. Avoid throwing the heels up, and, if plunging from a moderate height, spring forward with the body, so as to prevent it striking the water perpendicularly.

Diving.

Diving differs from plunging, inasmuch as the progress is caused by the action of the limbs instead of resulting simply from the spring. Care must be taken to exhale all impure air from the lungs, which may be done by contracting the shoulders and exhaling several times, pressing the abdomen at the same time, and then inhaling fresh air. This not only allows the body to remain longer under the water, but adds to its buoyancy. The act of diving is the same as that of swimming, the head acting as a rudder. One page 6 hand should, however, always be in advance of the head. Should the bottom be reached, the ascent is easily and quickly effected by a spring upwards. Otherwise by ceasing the action of the legs, raisng the hands in front of the body, keeping them together with the palms down, then the body, assisted by the whole frame, will quickly rise to the surface.

Floating.

Floating is the art of lying motionless on the water, the secret of which is rightly to balance the body, the head acting as a rudder, by putting it gently in the opposite direction to which the body is inclining. The back should be hollowed, chest expanded and inflated as much as possible, to add to the buoyancy of the body, breathing as seldom and then as quickly as possible. The easiest float is with the arms stretched to their full extent beyond the head, which should be bent back until the water reaches the eyes, thighs open and extended, with the legs folded under them. Floating should next be practised with the arms in the same position, and the legs straight, with the body as straight as possible, and with legs and arms straight, with hands resting on the thighs.

Drowning.

This disagreeable subject I would gladly leave to more able pens than mine, were it not that any book for the guidance of swimmers would be worthless without it. The views here set forth do not profess altogether to be original, but they are in a measure verified by experience of which the writer, during a period of some years at sea, has had enough. It is of the greatest importance that the subject should be studied, as experience teaches the writer that persons of all ages will risk their lives for those in distress without a moment's thought for the consequences. To commence then it is too generally believed that a man must be a very expert swimmer before he ventures to rescue another, especially if the one in distress has his clothes on; but as to the latter, the reverse is the case, and as regards the former the writer ventures to assert that as many lives re saved by ordinary as by expert swimmers. Let me earnestly page 7 impress upon the would-be rescuer the utmost necessity of calmness and caution. If you have anything with you that the person in danger can hold, cautiously give him one end of it, telling him to be calm, and to throw himself on his back, and to take hold of it, with his arms extended beyond his head, and to keep his mouth shut. If necessary, however, to approach him, warn him before doing so to keep his hands well under water, which if he does, cautiously approach him, and if he has his clothes on, seize him firmly by the back of the arm, between the elbow and shoulder. When this grip is properly taken it is scarcely possible for the one held to touch the other; then swimming on the side to the nearest place of safety, or quietly rest if assistance is coming. If the one in distress is without his clothes, with the greatest caution approach him and place one hand under the arm-pits, and swimming on the side, push him obliquely upward and forward; persuade him to help you as much as possible. If he should attempt to seize you (as he very likely will), withdraw at once your support, and watch a more favourable opportunity to renew it. Never allow yourself under any circumstances to be taken hold of. A method commonly recommended if the man is struggling at the surface is to get behind him and seize him by the back of the hair, pushing him in the centre of the back with the foot and pulling him with the hand that grasps the hair, thus turning him on his back, and tow him in that position. For myself, however, I fail to see, his arms being free, what is to prevent his seizing you, which of all things you wish, most to avoid. If he is insensible, of course the case is altered; in the present case the man must be warned to keep his arms low. It is of course more difficult to rescue a man who has sunk than one who is struggling on the surface. As he has first to be found—and here it is necessary to know that his rising three times is not certain, as is generally supposed, although it may happen—it is however, as well to wait for his rising before diving for him, and when diving it is of the greatest importance to keep one hand continually before the head, to prevent the possibility of it being seized. page 8 Should this be the case it is almost impossible, I believe, to give any practical advice which would be likely to be followed at so critical a moment, beyond that the rescuer should endeavour to wait until, by exhaustion, the drowning man is compelled to withdraw his hold, when it might be possible to drag him by the hair to the surface. Should the rescuer be seized when both parties' heads are above water, he should at once order the other to let go his hold, which, if not instantly done, the swimmer should immediately force the other's head beneath the water, and keep it there until exhaustion compels the drowning man to relinquish his hold. To rescue a woman or child is of course comparatively an easy matter. In the former case her hair should be used as a tow rope. Two swimmers can, with comparative ease, render assistance to a drowning man by facing him one on each side, and supporting him under the armpits. After having got hold of your man it is well to exert yourself as little as possible, should assistance be forthcoming; and if at sea a life-buoy will probably have been dropped near you, when you must use your judgment whether first to get hold of it, and make with it to your man, or to bring him to it, waiting for the assistance which is sure to come if you can be found. The writer knows by experience how difficult it is to see a man from a boat in the open sea; therefore, make as much noise as possible.

Various Modes of Swimming.

There are a variety of ways of swimming, all more or less useful or amusing, which can, by practice, be done by those who have mastered the methods already detailed. I select a few of them, leaving any further curiosity on the subject to be gratified by perusal of a more extensive work.

Treading-water may most easily be done by simply representing the motion of running up stairs; most useful when caught amongst weeds, or for undressing in the water.

Swimming on the Back.—Lie on the water as when floating, kick from outside to inside, striking the water with the soles of the feet, turn the knees out as in the breast stroke. This can be varied page 9 in a number of ways, the most useful and fastest being the Canoe Stroke; bring the hands behind the head under water; when the arms are extended turn the palms of the hands outwards, and press the hands down to the side, striking the leg at the same moment. Another method is by using the arras as paddles, bringing them out of the water and entering them behind the head at the full extent of the arms.

North American Indian Stroke.—Throw the body alternately on the left and right side, raising the arm entirely above the water, and reach as far forward as possible to dip with your weight and force on the arm under you which is propelling you like a paddle; whilst this arm is making a half circle and is being raised out of the water behind you, the opposite arm should describe a similar one in the air over your head to be dipped as far as possible ahead of you, the head being bent inwards.

The Foot Paddle on the Chest.—Lie on the chest with the hands supporting the head, raise the feet backwards out of the water one after the other, putting a strain on the small of the back, and strike the water quickly.

The Perpendicular Float.—Cross the hands on the breast, throw the head back as far as possible, cross the legs, and keep perfectly still.

The Foot Paddle on the Back.—Lift the feet quickly out of the water in succession, and strike them downward.

The Oar Stroke.—Lie on the back, keep the body quite stiff, toes out of water, the arms close to the sides, work the hands from the wrists in continual quick strokes.

Diving, Feet First.—Keep the elbows close down by the side3, using the hands like skulls, by giving them a semi-rotatory motion from the wrists.

The Boomerang Plunge—'Enter the water as in the Flat Plunge, going rather deeper; turn on the side, and bend the body at the hips so as to give it a curve; this, without swimming a stroke, should bring the swimmer round to the starting point.