SWIMMING IN OVERALLS. 77 



strongly, has been the chief cause of loss of life 

 in all cases where the sufferers were known to 

 have been previously able to swim. 



I soon found that the running string, or tape, 

 attached to the trowsers for the purpose of tighten- 

 ing them round the chest, was not sufficiently 

 close-fitting to exclude the water from forcing 

 an entrance in the event of total immersion. I 

 therefore tried a leather strap in addition, well 

 buckled up, but it became relaxed when saturated, 

 and after various experiments I found that a strong 

 hempen whip-cord was the very thing required, 

 as it contracted perceptibly when wet, and, with 

 the addition of a second round the waist, rendered 

 everything quite secure. I could then swim for ten 

 minutes at a time without the intrusion of more 

 than about a wineglassful of water, which gradu- 

 ally forced its way through the circumference of 

 the flannel jersey, however tightly compressed by 

 the cords. The well-nailed leather brogues, so 

 far from inconveniently impeding the floating 

 power, acted merely as a slight counterpoise to the 

 partially inflated and buoyant overalls, and the 

 satisfactory result was simply a greater facility in 

 keeping above water than I had often previously 

 experienced when practising swimming in a loose 

 flannel suit, or light tweed garments especially 

 selected for the occasion. 



