Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-06-08
AQUATIC HEROES.
THE POTOMAC BOAT CLUB.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION.
Members Who Have Brought the
Club Colors to the Front.


branches of physical endeavor to a greater or
less extent, but these fluctuations are less num-
erous and less easily seen in the aquatic branch
than in any other. Boating always has been,
and always will be. one of the favorite forms
of plsasurable pastime, and in this respect it
differs materially from those other national
amusements which relieve the overtaxed mind,
bring the rudy glow Of health to the afore-
time pallid cheek, and harden the hitherto
haccid muscle. Occasionally there will arise
new methods Of physical culture to which
novelty and fashion will attach hosts of tenn
porary followers, but boating still retains its
grip upon both sexes. No form Of amusement
that can possibly be invented will ever supersede
that combination of grace, skill, and beauty-a
boat, a young oarsman and a girl and when
the three are together on the upper Potomac
on q clear moonlt night. then the art of row.
ing, or Of not rowing, the case may be,
comes very near to being all that bliss-seeking
man could possibly require it to be. But it Is
not all Of boating to row fair damsels up where
the shadows OF the Virginia hills shut out
Lunas silvery beams; there are other things
to be attended to-in daylight, at least-and it
was TO make homogeneous whole of business
and pleasure that the Potomac boat club was
organized.
Everybody hereabouts has heard of the
Potomac boat club, and everybody in Wash
ington who is at all interested in rowing has
been an admiring witnesses of what the club
has, on several great occasions, done to dis
tnsuish itself. For nearly twenty years the
organization has existed, and in this time it
mas grown to such an extent as to be almost
unacceptable when compared with the
original enrolment.
THE oReASIzATIoS OF THE CLUE.
1t was in the latter part of 1868, or early in
1863, that the idea suggested itself to few
gentlemen Of Georgetown to organize a boat
club. The proposition was discussed pretty
thoroughly and the conclusion was speedily ar
rived at that boat club was the one thing
needful to complete their happiness. A meet
ing was held in February, 1869, and commit
details consequent upon the formation of the
desired organization The result was another
meeting on July 6, 1859, and then and there
the club became a fact, with the same name that
II bears to-day. Its growth was steady and a
number Of Its members soon were heard from
In the contests Of those DAYS. The headquar-
tiers Of the club were established on the site of
the present handsome structure, but the build
Ing was unpretentious and small. Many
jolly company gathered there and
every evening found the moving spirits
assembled In their coy resort, enjoying the
pleasure OF each others company. Increasing
membership soon commenced to call for more
commodious quarters-the members were
had been talked over in q couple of meetings
1t was decided to go ahead and build structure
which should be a credit to the club and large
enough to accommodate any probable increase
Tor years to come. The necessary funds were
secured on favorable terms and as soon as the
architect Chas II. Reid, jr, had completed his
plans, the work Of building was at once COM
meneed- The result can be seen at any time
and the claim of the Potomacs-that there is
no inner ooat-house in Americas not without
foundation
THE CLUBHOUSE.
The buildings dimensions are IS by 81 feet,
more than third larger than any other boat
house IN the city. In appearance the building
u decidedly attractive. The two stories are
surmounted by q high French roof, on the river
end Of which is a graceful tower 50 feet high.
capped with an S-foot final. The roof is other
wise broken with gables and peaks. and is in
conjunction with the rest Of the building a
very happy piece Of architecture.
THE INTERIOR AND IT'S CONTENTS.
The interior arrangements could hardly be
improved upon. Everything has been done to
contribute to the comfort Of members and their
guests by making all the appointments first
class. The entire lower floor is given I'D to the
storage Of boats. Of which the club and its
members have a valuable assortment. Besides
possessing q magnificent ten-oared barge it
also has two eight-oared shells six tours. three
sI-oared gigs, three pleasure boats and two
singles. The individual members own some of
the finest speciment Of the pleasure boat ever
made by any builder or owned by any oarsman
Two large sliding doors open out on the float
which, on fine evenings, IL always well popu-
lated Alongside the float is a canal 81 feet
long, In which the barge and shells can be
launched in safety.
THE SECOND FLOOR
IL devoted to the members. On the north
side there are $50 lockers and the ac-
companying apartments The principal rooms
are the beautifully decorated ballroom and
ladies' reception room. The former is 81 feet
long and "a feet wide. 1t faces the balcony
and can be connected with il by opening the
large French windows. The approach 10 the
ball and reception rooms is by an Eastlake
stairway of beautiful finish. Both of these rooms
are used very considerably, especially during
the summer and autumn, when the club gives
semi-monthly dancing receptions, which are
very enjoyable.
CREDrTABLE RACING RECORD.
As racing organization the club has COW
cred itself all over with glory. It's first great
contest was on Saratoga lake in 1874. when its
four-oared shell met the shells of the famous
Beavervicks, Of Albany; Atlantas Of New York.
Nassaus, and . number of other prominent
northern crews. The Potomac's crew was made
up OF Truax, Carpenter, Randall and McBlair.
Notnln8 out the Beayerwlcks' fouling them
prevented them from taking the first prize
much 70 the surprise of their antagonists who
had regarded the Potomacs as inferior mate
rial In spite of the foul they finished a good
third In 1881 Cropley, Morgan. Bailey, and
Mckinney tried conclusions at Richmond with
the Cndines and L Hirondelles, of Baltimore.
and the Analostans and Columbias Of this CITY.
During the race the Potomacs succeeded in
fouling every buoy on the course, and vet
won by several lengths in fast time. In the
season OF l5s2 there was but little good rowing
material available, and the only race won was
by lightweight crew in the Potomac regatta.
In 1883 they opened by defeating the famous
Elizabeths, Of Portsmouth. and the eouaIIy
good crew Of the Columbias, of this CITY, at
Lynchburg. In the August regatta they had
three entries for singles, and two Of them
kearney and Fisher-won. In the second Po-
tomsc regatta the red shirts" showed up in
great style, as out Of four entries in the crew
races they captured three-the senior, Junior
and lightweight fours-leaving the eight TO the
Columbus. In the senior four-oared race the
crew defeated the champions Of the United
States-the Eurekas, of Newark-and the Cres-
cents, Of Philadelphia. The struggle was an
extremely exciting one, and the Poto-
macs succeeded in almost spelling their
chances by running afoul OF a tug
when near the finish. They won, though. by a
good half length. In 1884 there was less activity
but the Potomacs won the senior four race in
the Potomac regatta, again defeating the Eliza
beths. Of Portsmouth, and the Columbus. There