Treading Water

TREADING WATER.

Treading water is accomplished by allowing the feet to fall from a floating or swimming position, and performing with the legs the same motion that is made in going up a flight of stairs. 'his method has the advantage of sustaining the body at a uniform height.. The feat is more easily achieved when the arms are employed to assist the legs, by pressing the water with a downward motion, (as shown in Fig. 25.) Expert swimmers, however, prefer to depend entirely on the legs for support, and either fold the arms across the breast, hold them high above the head, or extend them horizontally along the surface of the water, with some article in each hand.

Williams, the celebrated swimmer from the Island of Malta,eat the annual tournament held by the Montreal Swimming Club some years ago, performed the clever feat of holding two small flags in each hand extended at arms length, and balancing a bottle of champagne on his head while treading water ; he also dined in the water. This I have endeavored-to duplicate (see Figs. 26, 27).

Treading water is specially useful in the event of a person who, while heavily clothed, falls accidentally into the water, as it is the very best position that can be assumed in the water to enable the person to remove impeding garments; and if a person, being unable to swim, should fall overboard, or from a wharf or pier, or otherwise accidentally find himself so exposed to danger, by preserving coolness, and in this way having recourse to treading water—placing his arms horizontally slightly below the surface, and keeping them moving gently, the motion will keep him safe till help arrives.

By extending one foot before the other, and allowing the head to fall back till the water is level with the ears, he can float securely for a considerable length of time, as already shown (Fig. 24).