Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-21
BOATING ON SUNDAY.
BEST DAY IN THE SEVEN FOR THOSE WHO
RENT SKIFFS.

Some of Yesterdays Scenes on the Allegheny
Ladies' Who Row ms Well as Expert
Oar.mcn-Something of Steam and Naph-
tha Launches.
People like to try their muscle, and the
coolest way of doing it in this hot weather
is in boating. Yesterday hundreds were
rowing on the Allegheny. Skifs, clinkers,
shells and rowbosts OF every description
glided up and down the river. Boatmen
young and old, slim and fat, looking fresh
as daisies and brown as berries, with shirt
sleeves rolled up, skinned across the water
the quick and steady stroke of the expert
embodying the very poetry of motion, and
the awkward rowing of the novice
raising tie risibles of the
spectators on the bridges. 1t was an attrac-
tive scene Here and there drifted n clinker
with some fair one in the stern, with cheeks
like peaches and lips like cherries, and
rose in her waving hair, looking pretty as
flower. The cool, white dresses of the ladies
and the refreshing, light-colored blazers worn
by their male companions, the oarsmen,
were charming to behold.
THE DAY FOR ROWING.
Sunday is the popular day for rowing. On
ing boat rides, but the day of rest offers the
most inviting time for row on the river.
Thousands stop on the bridges and along the
shore to gaze on the pretty sight of the NOV
ing water sprites.
The pleasure parties made the Allegheny
merry last evening with gay laughter as
the sportive skitfs cut through the water.
Old citizens paused on the Sixth street
bridge to take in the scene, contrasting the
happy spectacle of the fancy craft below
them with the clumsy ferry boats that
foated across the stream. when the twin
cities were little more than misty meadows,
in the days long since past
Strolling down the shore of the Allie
gheny, a DISPATCH reporter encountered
John Dougherty, who owns a number of
boats that rock on the river. Sunday is
big day for u.s." he replied in answer to a
query. "There is brisk demand for boats,
and rowing parties keep us busy all day.
Row-boats have the call. Sailing craft are
mot in it, They are used only one day in
the week sometimes.
THE PRESENT FAvoRITE.
Popular taste picks on the clinker at
present. Flat bottoms are out of style.
People want the boats with sharp-pointed
keels. A man going out by himself generally
selects skiff 1t is the lightest and easiest
to handle. Some people fall all over them
selves in getting in boat It's easy as
pie. There is no trick in stepping safely
into any rowboat All you want to do is to
put your foot out with all the confidence in
the world, place it firmly on the center
board in the bottom of the boat and step in.
If the boat rocks, rock with it.
Talk about rowing-there are some lady
customers of mine who can walk right away
from any man. A Detroit lady comes down
here in the evening, goes out alone in a
skiff, and can beat anything on the river" "
Mr.. Comfort, who runs boathouse on the
Allegheny side, said: "This is the busiest
time of the year for us. The hot weather
draws the people to the river, and they 60
out for row to cool of"
PLEASURE LAUNCHES.
Admiration and wonder have kindled the
heart of many who observed the $1,000
steam and naphtha launches that throw the
spray in showers as they ply the waters Of
the Allegheny. Ohio and other streams.
They are the private property of wealthy
Pittsburgers, remarked E. Jordan, the
well-known boatman yesterday, land this is
the season when we have frequent runs. A
party of about ten couples usually take
trip. We take a days ride, and sometimes
stay out week. The yachts are floating
palaces, and it is the acme of pleasure to
take q trip in them"
The sport on the river continued far into
the evening. In the cleaning and the hush
of the Sabbath eve the oarsmen still pulled
away, their hearts tlngling with the breeze.