Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29
PADDLE AND SAIL.
The Rapid Rise of the Washington
Canoe Club.

Canoe Club.
CANOEING ON THE PoToMAC-A SKETCH OF THE
CLUB-PLEAsURES on SHORE AND WATER
THE GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
In continuing the chronicles Of aquatic events
on the Potomac, THE STAR comes next In order
OF date to the advent of the canoe and new
era The annals Of canoeing sparkle with the
bright sayings and clever phrases of men high
up on Parnassus, who have deemed this noble
pastime not unworthy of the service Of their
pens The achievements of canoeists have been
celebrated by the most melodious Of modern
bards. The man in the canoe is becoming a
familiar figure wherever there is q waterway
or q pretty heavy fall of dew. Hardly more
than year has passed since he appeared on
the Potomac, and he has multiplied with amaz-
ing rapidity. The canoeiSt claims for his pas.
benefits OF rowing and yachting, and possesses
many others which y man who has to sit with
his face 10 the stern of his boat, or who submits
himself entirely to the tyranny of the tickle
winds never dreamed OF. He deems it nobler
pastimie for IT has never been degraded, and
by the tains of sordid professionalism. If not
the sport OF kings. it is the sport of the heir ap
pa-eat, for the Royal Canoe club OF England,
the parent ci::3 OF the world, had for its patron
and first cnumodore. his Royal Highness the
Princc IF WS.es. 1t has destinations for the
man who loves Il lazy attitude as well as the
mSn o! athletic prOwess. 1t is favored with
romance a:ld spiced with adventure. The
tsii1'h f-tS Ike ltcI WHO nave GlSJoQ pleasures
OF which the world around them knows MOTH
ing, have q strong feeling Of fraternity SO the
members of the Washington Canoe club, bound
together by this mystic tie of the paddle, form
a very compact and delightfully."- sOciable body
THE CANOE CLUB
was organized June 26th, 1884. The object of
the club was announced to be ITO promote
canoeing for purposes of pleasure, health, or
explorations, by means of meetings, camping,
padding, sailing, and racing and by Keeping
logs of voyages, records of water ways and
routes details drawings and dimensions of
boass and TIC OF maps charts and
a. :. Flint. Arthur BrentanO, F. n. Moore, j.
Il. Lake, G: f. Charming. Chas. II. Calvert,
Cole, y. Devine, f. W. Cady, l. B. Linton. Fl. II.
Dodge. and ]. b. Mcqueen. The first officers of
the club were commodore, Rev. T. s. Wynkoop;
and treasurer, n. II. Soule; and measurer, Mr..
Arthur Brentano. The club began an active
existence at once; Quarters which are still
occupied by the club were rented at the foot of
High street, West Washington. next to the
Columbia boat house. The club has nearly
suffering from any of the maladies supposed to
be incidental to that period of life, and now, If
still in its infancy, is in the most robust
The canoes of the members form very pleas
ant part of the passing show of pleasure boats
which may be witnessed any fine evening from
the AQueduct bridge.
The distinguishing club signal is a pointed
burgee, color red, the device being white disc,
euCIO>ing a TeU inscribed Wltn1n IL. Inc
private signal is a rectangular burgee fifteen
inches long and ten inches wide with any color
or device. The sailing club device is a red ''W'
in peak Of mainsail. The regular meetings of
the club are held on the second Monday of each
month.
CAMP FIRES.
Camp fires are held semi-monthly during the
winter at the homes of different members. At
these assemblies the art of canoeing Is dis
cussed, yarns OF adventure and hair-breadth es-
cane and DlanS laid the
summer. Some who derive the name of their
craft from the verb cdnO enliven these gather
camp fire al Jrcsco is held every Wednesday at
some point on the upper Potomac. These gath
erinss have proved very successful in promo
ting the social union of the club Ladies are
always present as guests of the club, and their
presence cheers the canOeistS, and seems to add
sweetness to the smiles of nature and rhythm
to the music of the waters. A real camp fire of
size is built, upon which the voyagers
prepare coffee and tea, which is served with
Chinese lanterns, making dancing shadows on
the river below. Then follows a season of song
and STORYTELLING. The wild. weird legends Of
In comprising in its membership two accom-
pushed banjoists who strum a melodiOuS ac-
to the ditties trolled by the vocal
lists, OF whom the club boasts several of no
mean order.
THE CANOES AND THE CANoEIsTs.
There are nineteen canoes in the club
at present. The number comprises nearly
every description of this craft. Among them
are Nautilus a Rice Lake a Peterboro. a Mo-
and Stephens Tandem. There is also one
large birch bark canoe, owned by Mr.. ID. Nee.
Russell, who Is considered the most practical
and experienced canOeist in the city. He is q
Canadian, and hence born canoeist. His son,
Mr.. Hague Russell, is, however, not far behind
his father in his skill with paddle and sail. Mr..
r. n. Moore Is rated as the best sailor in the
club. 1t is difficult, however, to discriminate
IN point of skilfulness among the members of
the club, many of whom became accustomed to
the paddle in early infancy.
THE ANNUAL REGATTA.
The club held its first annual regatta on the
18th of July last at Marshall Hall. As there
was dead calm that day the sailing race, after
an Intellectual start, was reluctantly abandoned
There were four contestants in the upset race
which was won by Mr.. Hague RUSSELL The up
set race is an institution peculiar to canoeing
The canoeist upSets his craft at the start, and
the contestants then struggle to right their
canoes in the water. regain their places, and
paddle over the course. To the spectator who
does not fancy ducking this race may seem
absurd, but ii has its uses, in training canOests
to handle their canoes and regain their places
q nder the greatest difficulties. The padding
Mcqueen in the Rob Roy.
The regatta committee was Messrs. ]. r. Lake,
Dodge. and +. NJ. Moore. The floor
at the pavilion, where dancing was
INDUCED in, consisted OF MesSrs. III. W. Spot
ford, John II. Morgan, and w. y. Cowles.
The tandem padding race did not occur owing
to darkness. 1t was padded early this month
above the Aqueduct bridge, distance one mile
The following were the entries: Messrs Flint
and Pickering Dodge, MesSrs H. Russell and
Mcqueen, and Messfs. WynkoOp and Lake.
The winners were Dodge and Flint, two silk
flags of exquisite workmanship being awarded
TO them as trophies.
THE PRESENT MEMBERSHIP.
The club now numbers thirty active and six
members. The active list includes
the charter members named above and the fol-
lowing more recent additions: Lieut. s. c..
LeInly, Messrs. ID. Nee. Russell, Hague Russell,
Ihos. nj. Gale. Geo III. IL. Hildreth, Pickering
Dodge. Ill. w. SpoffoTd, w. A. COwles John H
Morgan. IL. q. Dulaney, James X. Blackwell, C..
Alexander Mason, III. III. Law, Robert 8. Chew,
r. j. Monrote, III. ID. Cooke, jr., +. L. BOwles,
scarborough. The honorary members are Mrs.
D. Nice. Russell, Miss Jennie Russell, DIR. VIM.
Nicholson, MeSsrs. Arthur Brentano, H H.
Soulc and W. r. Wetnerbee. The present Of
ncers OF the club are: Commodore. Rev. T. S.
Nynkoop: vice commodore, Mr.. III. II. Dodge:
secretary and treasurer, SIR. Pickering Dodge;
measurer, Mr.. +. n. Moore
The mcaSurer is an officer peculiar to canoe
clubs. He keeps Il correct list Of all the canoes
Oh the club, measures all canoes as directed and
Keeps record of the dimensions &c of each
canoe. He Is required To- report at any time
wnen requested by the commodore or executive
committee. He has possession of the logs OF
voyages. records OF waterways and routes, de-
tails, drawings, collections of maps, charts and
books, and Is required to keep the IN so that they
shall be accessible to the members of the club
FLOATING BoAT-noUsE
IT Is the purpose of the club to erect a floating
boat-house next spring at the foot of New York
avenue, near Easby's wharf, if permission can