THE WIMAN ISLAND SWIMMING BATHS - PUBLIC SWIMMING BATHS. The author takes this opportunity of referring to the above Strange though it may seem that in a go-a-head city like Toronto, with so vast a population and so much wealth, with her beautiful bay and magnificent lake at her feet, yet until the year 1882 there were no public baths erected. In that year Erastus Wiman, Esq., a former citizen, but long since residing elsewhere, removed this blot from our civic history by erecting the beautiful pavilion, known as above, entirely at his own expense. The ground was leased at a nominal rent, and, when everything was complete, Mr. Wiman conveyed the whole by trustees as a gift to the city of Toronto, with the condition that the profits should be expended on beautifying and improving the property and its surroundings. The building is most admirably situated, having the Toronto Bay on one side and the open waters of Lake Ontario on the other, thus affording abundant bathing facilities. The accommodation for ladies and gentlemen is complete, and alto gether the place is most enjoyable for visitors, whether bathers or non-batherS ; and every season the numbers who go there testify to its popularity.
There is one point of great importance that the management of places of this kind should ever carefully see to, and that is, every possible precaution should be taken to prevent accidents, and, in the event of danger, the resources to effect rescue from drowning should.
be, humanly speaking, perfect. The original trustees are : John- J. Withrow, President ; James B. Boustead, R. W. Elliott, W. B. Mc Murrich, and William Gooderham, Esq. ; Mr. Jas. B. Marshall is the present manager.
Extract from the Toronto Evening News, Oct. 12th, 1885 : In July, 1882, Captain Andrews was appointed instructor of swimming by the Wiman Bath Trust, which position he has occupied ever since. The Captain's-class-book contains the Autographs of 189 ladies and 99 gentlemen, whom he has taught this useful accomplishment. Captain Andrews' efforts have been rewarded by many testimonials from his pupils at the close of each season, among which is a hand some watch-chain presented by some of his scholars this year." In addition to the above, he received a testimonial from John J. Withrow, President of the Wiman Bath Trust, acknowledging his valuable services as a swimmer and life-saver.