PRACTICAL JOKE IN A SWIMMING BATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8360, 13 September 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

PRACTICAL JOKE IN A SWIMMING BATH.

AMERICANS, especially in the Western cities, have (says the New York correspondent of the Manchester Examiner), queer ideas as to the extent to which it. is permissible to go in the matter of practical jokes, as the following incident, which look place recently at St. Louis, will show. The largest and most frequented bath of that important city is situated at the corner of Pino and Nineteenth Streets. On the day in question, at about two o'clock, just at the moment when these two important, thoroughfares were most densely crowded with people, screams and pistol shots were hoard to proceed from tho baths, and a moment afterwards the doors flew open and a body of several hundred men with terrorstricken faces, and in a state of absolute nudity, dashed wildly into the streets and sought refuge in the various shops and doorways. On investigation it appeared that two well-known citizens, celebrated for their love of practical joking, had, while in the act of undressing at the bath, commenced what seemed to the spectators to bo a desperate and bitter quarrel, which was apparently degenerating into a regular hand-to fight, when suddenly one of their grooms, whom they had disguised as a policeman, rushed in and attempted to separate them. Of course the two combatants resented his interference, and, joining hands, tossed him over the railing into the water among the throng of bathers who had been open-mouthed spectators of the struggle. Rising to the surface, spluttering and swearing, the pseudo policeman at once drew his revolver and began firing with the wildest haste and recklessness. The panic which ensued may be more easily imagined than described. There was a general suave qui pent not only from the water but also from the bath-houses. In the melee the jokers escaped and have left the city Mr a season. Much time elapsed beforo the bath attendants were able to assort the clothing and to deliver it to the mortified fugitives who were in hiding at various points in tho neighbourhood of the baths.