The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-12
CITY INTELLIGEN
AQUATIC.

This afernoona at halfpast four O'Clock, the annual
river at Paramount. From the ''Turte Rock"the
bathing point OF years ago-a smooth-faced, slippery
stone rising few feet from the northern bank OF tne
river Just at the FIRST curve above the dam-the boats
will start away, and thence stretch over course 0
the racing barges turn will be anchored close Dy Ine
Columbia bridge. The following boats are are entered
for the contest to-day, the first OF the rega''"'-
FIRST CLASS.
bachelor six oars Bachelor CluD
Nautilus four oars, quaker City Club.
THIRD CLASS. -
Ninnehaha, six oars, Malta Club.
Falcon six oars, Pennsylvania Club.
Stranger four oars, PennsyNanla Ciuo'
lone six oars, Crescent Club.
DOUBLE SOULS.
Lurline OF Malta Club.
Syph, OF Crescent Club.
THAT they win all, with one exception, participate
and thus insure exciting and interesting race, or
rather series OF races, the pubic may leel Gerla1'
The exception referred TO IL the Bachelor the sud
den indspOstOn OF two OF her crew compelling her
withdrawal from to-days contest at least This un-
fortunate circumstance will interfere with the "hrst-
class" race. The men composing the crews OF the
several boats have been in training for some time,
furrowng the bright, clear waters OF the river from
the Crock" to the "Fas,' and are in most excellent
condition, sun-browned and hardened, with the
muscles Of and back Injured to that severe eXer-
else which rowing gives. IL would be dhcult to
predict the result of the race. None OF the crews
Weld aught to Others all confident of winning,
and in such friendly encounter pity It's that all
In the month Of October 1858. the Schuylkn Navy
of Phadep phia association Of its Kind unrtvalled
in this country, was organized by the various boat
The boats of the navy are classified as follows:-
First class skeleton outrggcrs second class, out
rigger barges third class, barges.
The first regatta took place in june 1889; the
second in June, 1860; the distance rowed over in
each being one and a half miles and return.
During the war but little boating was done by the
navy, and it not until the 2lst OF October 1865,
that the custom OF holding annual re2attas was re
yived. Since that time they have been celebrated
uniformly in the spring and fall, the various clubs,
the numbers and efficiency Of which have gathered
strength in the meantime, making them almost
holiday for the city.
The clubs composing the navy are as folows-
Bachelors, University, Undine, Quaker City, Penn
sylvania Malta Philadelphia, Washington, Crescent,
Atlantic besides several independent organizations.
The navy headquarters on the banks of the river
between the creek separating new and old Fair
mount Park and Turtle Rock. The boats are of the
best materials style, and constructlon-lnodels IN
every respect The Schuylkil river course, the one
to be pulled this afternoon, is unsurpassed for
rowing, and is withal rendered attractive by the
beautiful and picturesque scenery that surrounds it,
its cOnguity to our large and growing Park and the
lake-like camness and transparency of its waters.
MANY of the club houses are prettily fashioned and
add to rather than detract from the beauty OF the
So far as the clubs comprising the navy are con-
Cerned, the following will serve the purposes OF
rief history of their Organization and progress -
The Bachelor Barge Club was organized on the
Fourth of July, 1853. 1t has a membership of Sc,
most of whom are active. They are the owners OF
three bargcS:-
Linda, six-oars, smooth gunwale.
Lotus, fOur-oars, outrigger.
Bachelor, siX-Oars, shell.
Also the Gazelle, double Shells and two single
Shells , -
Its house occupies conspicuous place IN tne Gark.
1t is built of sandstone, and cost s25OO 1t Is two
stories high and is OF the Gothic style of architecture
The Linda is the oldest barge on the Schuylkli,
to New York on the 10th Of May, 1859 The distance
one hundred and forty miles, 10y river and canal, was
made in twenty y-eight hours rowing time, including
detentiOns at canal locks amounting to four hours.
The University Barge Club was founded in 1854 by
the Freshmen Glass Of that year OF the University OF
Pennsylvania. 1t is the owner of the
Lucifer, sX-oared outrigger,
Old Hesperus, four-oared shell,
HpsOpruS. fOur-OareQ SHELL
The club musters As members. 1t has first-cass
boat-house Uhe Philadelphia Skating Club house,,
Handsomely fitted up, and ornament to the Park.
Their first boat the Hesperus, was lost in an effort
to rescue the crew OF sail-boat driven on the uanl
at FarmOunt by high water. Her place was nlled
by the Lucifer rated as of the fastest boats in
the navy, The Lucifer carried the champion nag OF
the navy for several years. -
The Itndne Barge Club was founded in May, 1856.
The members originally were nearly all OF thirty
In 1861 they removed to their present quarters the
Philadelphia Skating Club House. The boats be-
longing TO the club are the Od AIalanta aLu neM g
oars smooth gunwale Fawn double sculli Crao,
single scull; and Spider, skeleton; The club has
20 active, honorary, and % contributing members.
The Quaker City Barge Club was instituted Octo-
ber 90 1858, growing out OF the Camilla Boat CLUB.
The barge owned by the latter organization was
purchased by the Quaker City, and the name was
changed to the Cygnet,
The Quaker CITY originally occupied one-story
brick boat-house, and when tnat building was or.
dered to be taken down by the city, they purchased
half of the Pacific Club house, one OF those pretty
Park.
The barges now owned by the club are the
Cygnet. four-oaled Outrigger.
Nettle, four-oaTed smooth gunWale.
Nautilus, four cared shell.
Bertha, double scull.
And single shell.
They have tWentyseven members.
The Pennsylvania Barge Club was organized IN
1861 and has now sixteen members, and ls the owner
of the
Fa;con, six-oared gunwale.
Stranger, four-Oared gunwale.
Gem, double scull she'll
And four single shells. ,
The first boat owned by the club was the Star, six
cared At that time the Pennsylvania was called the
Atlantic Barge Club The Star was ffty-one feet In
length, the largest barge ever upon the SchuylEill
The club is now engaged in erecting handsome
bOat-house q short distance below the one occupied
by them. An addition was made Few days ago tC
the men bership by the merging OF the Atahtlc cup
The Malta Barge Club was organized IN January
1860, by some members Of the Mnnehaha Lodge Ol
the Sons OF Malta. They have membership OF nine
teen, and are the owners of the
Minnehaha siX-oaTed gunwae,
Hiawatha, siX-oared outrigger.
Lurline, dOube-scull.
Their first boat, the Minnehaha, was launched IN
June, 1860
The club met with several accidents which had 9
demoralZing tendency In 1868 new lie was INFUSED
into the club, and their nOating boat-house, WncG
street wharf, was removed TO the Schuylklll nea
the Paramount dam. In February they secured
new house and purchased the Intrepid. In lS6
they disposed OF the Intrepid and secured the Hia
The PHILADELPHIA Barge Club was organized ii