A really valuable work, entitled a Manual of Swimming,' written by Charles Steedman, was published in Melbourne in 1867, and afterwards in London. It deals very fully with the art, and the illustrations mark a distinct advance in the method of delineating the correct movements. Steed man was for many years the Champion of England, and also distinguished himself in Victoria. He brushed away many of the old fal lacies, and as a writer on the sport he stands in the front rank with Wynman, Digby, Thevenot, and Wil son.
Of the later writers, Mr.
William Wilson, of Glasgow, stands pre-eminent. He is perhaps the oldest living authority on the art, and has done more than any man in Scotland to raise the tone of the sport. For many years he has lectured on its principles, and has from time to time contributed valuable works to its literature, the best known being The Swimming Instructor,' a treatise on the arts of swimming and diving.
So little interest was taken in the subject at this period that a Bibliographical List of Works on Swimming, by Mr. Ralph Thomas, which mint have been compiled at the expense of much time and labour, only gained a limited circulation. It was issued in 1868 and gave very complete, albeit concise, information on the subject. Mr. Thomas, to whose book we were considerably indebted, has very kindly supplied us with a list of the principal works published since the last edition of `Swimming' was issued, and this is added to the Bibliography which appears in the Appendix.
During the last forty years swimming has been gradually regaining its lost ground in public favour, and within the short period of ten years has advanced by rapid strides. After the Swimming Association of Great Britain was formed its cham pionship races soon brought forward many good men, whose names were added to a brief list of masters. Amongst these Beckwith, H. Gurr, and J. B. John son were most prominent. First came T. Morris and H. Parker, then D. Ains worth of the Serpentine Club, and after them Horace Davenport, who holds an honoured record as an amateur. Mr. Daven port not only gained con siderable renown as a long distance swimmer, but also aided the Association con siderably in its work ; and it is to his able representation of it as the amateur champion of England that much of its success is due. The champion ship records prove of what sterling ability as a swimmer he was possessed. In the race for the mile championship of 1877 —the blue riband of the amateur swimming world—MI. Daven port swam a mile in still water at the Welsh Harp in 29 mins.. 25i secs., and it was not until 1892 that this record was ever beaten by an amateur. One of Mr. Davenport's feats was that of swimming from Southsea to Ryde and back. This was accomplished in the year 1884. The time occupied was 5 hours 25 mins., the water being very choppy.
Although the older swimmers are not credited with formances that approach those of their successors, it must not be forgotten that the conditions under which they raced, and the opportunities afforded to them for displaying their ability, have nothing in common with the great advantages possessed by the swimmers of to-day ; and it is all the more creditable to men like Beckwith, Gurr, and son that they should have risen above the common herd of bathers. It is not
much more than a quarter of a century ago that the boys at a great London school like Christ's pital had to depend upon an open-air bath, termed the Peerless Pool, in the City Road, for their chance of practice, and the earlier swimmers were placed in similar predicaments. Even when they had baths in which to practise, they were more fit for ratting expeditions than for swimming, were ill-lighted, badly ventilated, and not often supplied with clean water. In comparison with the accommodation provided twenty years ago, the bathers of the present day have palaces erected for them, and their thanks are due to those public-spirited gentlemen who piloted through Parliament such an important Bill for the well-being and health of the nation as the Baths and Wash-houses Act. In the future swimming seems destined to take a high place among the national exercises. Those who participate in the pastime are increasing in num ber every day, and it seems more than likely that the exist ing records will soon cease to cause surprise, or be con sidered difficult to beat.
The improvement in the times recorded for champion ship distances is very notice able, but the varying condi tions under which these races are swum prevent the draw ing up of an accurate compari son of reputed records. Mr. J. Nuttall, when an amateur, swam zoo yards in r min. 61 secs. That time was later beaten by Mr. J. H. Tyers, and in 1898 Mr. J. H. Derbyshire, at Nottingham, swam the distance in 60, secs.; while since then Mr. R. Cavill, of Australia, has been credited with a record of 583- secs. made from scratch in a handicap at the Hornsey Road Baths, Lon don, and Mr. F. C. V. Lane, also of Australia, with one of 593 secs. made at Liver pool in October, 1902. Mr. Nuttall, who left the ama teur ranks in 1888, has not since had many opportuni ties of displaying his skill, but ip 1893 he demonstrated his superiority by defeating the American champion McCusker in a mile race at Hollingworth Lake in the fast time of 26 min. 8 secs. After that Mr. Tyers accomplished some marvellous performances, but these were all eclipsed by Mr. J. A. Jarvis of Leicester, whose records were far in advance of those considered wonderful by the older race of swimmers. His most astonishing feat was that of swimming a mile in the cord time of 25 min. 131 secs. at Abbey Park, Leicester, in 1899. Yet Mr. D. Billington, of Bacup, has this year (19o3),lowered the record to 24 min.
563 secs., while Mr. R. Cavill, when in England in 1902, swam half a mile in 11 min. 54 secs., another world's record.
It is not in Great Britain alone that this progress in swimming is noticeable, for in Germany, Sweden, France, Italy, New Zealand, Canada, the United States, and Australia, every effort is being made by enthu siasts to push forward the art they love. The Associa tions in New South Wales and other of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand are rapidly making head way, and now carry out a series of inter-colonial matches at both swimming and water-polo.