New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-06
THE WILLIAMSBURG Clue.
THE PRIDE OF BROOKLYN-ITS SUCCESS
ELL CAREER

THE PRIDE OF BROOKLYN-IrS SUCCESS
FIrL CAREER.
In January. 1870 some young men belonging to q
Sundav-schoo in Brooklyn, l.. d. held meeting III
the basement of their church after having discussed
the matter for many weeks, and formed themselves
into an association under the name of the Williams
burg Athletic Club. Though the club was only moor
porntcd in November of that year, and the original
members have one by dropped from the ranks and
disappeared the williamsburg are today in the fore
most ranks of the athletic clubs Of the country From
the start however. they active and energetic
body and during the first year of their existence hired
a good ground i'll Bcdford-ave., Brooklyn. and gave
some excellent games in the fall Of that year The ar
rngementS primitive enough, the dresSingroomS
being separated by screen from the rest of the largo
tent which served a temporary clubhouse but the
NIGHT spirit there and the games were success
The Ii.t of member hin was rapdv enlarged, and the
next wear the club felt justified III leasing some large
grounds at Nythe-ave and Penn-st An excellent
track of eight laps to the mile cOnStuctcd OF orig
nal design, on which some fast time has been made
Later they built large gymnasium 80 ny % leet
which was well supplied with complete gymnaStlc tll
nture. In the wc-lnowH Jack McMaNterN the club
secured an excellent trainer and the club records show
the result Of his skill and the members perseverance
For the last three years the Williamsburg Club has
three four games every season. and 80 success
fU have these been and 50 much public interest has
been taken in them that the club has been looked up to
as the leading club of Long Island. and has lattery
caused the older clubs Manhattan Island 10 look to
their laurcis Tho contest AT the last championship
games between the williamsburg and the ManhattnS
was keen and the former claim that had it not been for
Myers they would have been sporting the champion
ship colors ia place of the Manhattan Club As it is
thor nine the baseball championship IN the Anna
er Association games and proudly bore of the eabo
rate cOors But il only few weeks ago that the
club took a step which will probably place it before
long in the forefront of the athletic army On March
it obtained favorable terms ten years lease OF
block of ground in the centre Of Brooklyn Though
retaining the original title of the Williamsburg Club 1t
has for long time been looked upon an organization
belonging to BROOKLYN proper ana FOR that reason he
inacco-sbility Of the old grounds serious I'M
pcdiment to the Gibbs development This + now done
away with, for the new grounds AT De Kalb-aye and
Grahamst arc reached from almost any point OF the
city In less than half an hour Ground has been
broken already, and by May IL Is hoped that the
place will be ready for work TO begin. and on May 80
the spring games will be held and form the practical
house warming" The club hopes 10 have IA good
track as can be found Ia America with five laps to the
mile There will lie room for baseball, cricket, la
crosse lawn tennis and football while fine clubhouse
30 by 40 feet in size and three stories high with
cupola and mortgage, will keep the members busy
during the winter months. Not only will the gvmna-
sium be fitted up perfectly as possible, but the
upper story, which will he clear from end to end VIII
afford an excellent hall for private boxing exhibitions
the four posts in the centre which support the cupoa
forming the angles of the stage Besides the gynna-
stun there will be six bOwlmgalieys The membership
of the club ia now over 400 and applications are
coming in at such rate that before the now grounds
me opened they expect to count up fully 1000.
The club has already turned out many good men and
several champions among them being FRANK Murray,
the walker who goes to England il June with Myers
J. T. Tvey, the hurde-racer; Thomas Delaney, the
runner; A. Robertson, the long-distanco run
ner: and Walter Smith, the halfmilc runner. The
cub is strong in walkers, for besides those mentioned
thew have g. Rogers f. G. Trunhett and W. Perry, all
we'll known ms sturdy pedestrians There are also g.
r. Smith II. III. Toyey and W. Il. Hogcman, sprnters
Among the amateur spaers John Connolly the heavy
Weight champion and Joseph ieiser, the lightweight
The club is affiliated TO the National Amateur Athletic
Association and has for its president Gilbert ii.
Badeau The other off GERS Frank NJ. Price, vice
president w. G.. HCgeman. secretary ). g. Lddle
treasurer G. II. Smith, captain and l.. Brown and b
Sweczy first and second eutenants.