The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
,OLYMPIANS RECREATIONS.
THE STORY or A UNIQUE CLUE


Among its members are mon who are vol
known IN different walks OF lfo In this city.
President Arthur was amombcr. Ex-Colloctor
Joel Is. Erhardt Ia. or was until recently. q
member. Bankers. lawyers. literary men.
merchants. and men OF leisure are members.
Tho solo object of the club is recreation. Fish
ing and boating figure prominently among
tho amuscments. but fun in any form is well
coined. The liking for "a good timc." which
characterized tho founders OF the club.
exists now. although only ono OF the
founders remains to toll the story OF
the clubs early days. Every member knows
1t by heart. but mono over tires OF hearing It
again. for Il is full OF "reminiscences. and It
presents q vivid picture OF certain phases Of
life In New York years ago. The club grew In
directly out OF tho peculiar ways Of the Nolun-
teer Fire Department. Each engine company
was jealous OF every other COMPANY. and rival
companies fought ut fires. Tho company that
reached the fire first usually lay in wait for
the next conner. and ut limos tho flromon
fought while tho flames in burning building
increased unchecked.
Near the corner OF Attorney and Delaney
streets. in tho thirties. stood tho house Of En-
gine Company No. Al. That section Of tho
city was known then es stagtown. It was a
district apart from tho rest Of the city. in tho
mluub VI us IHI1tpltautS, WHO lOOkcN uOWn
scornfully on those who lived outside its
limits. Engine Al was tho only ono worth
considering. according to the belief OF Stag
town. 1t was tho ambition OF every youngster
to become membcr OF tho company. and
every man. woman. and child in Stagtown up
held it's fair name. Among tho fro laddies
WAS one whose duty was to SEQ that tho conf
pany's reputation was never smirchcd. Ho
WAS called q runner. and his position
was coveted In tho littIo scrimmaGcs
that necessarily accompanied fro duty, he
was always tho leader. Although he was
young. HIS arm WINS brawny and his fist was
massive. and no had the skill and courage Of
the born fighter. 1t was said that an envious
rival challenged him to combat in the ring. nc
cording to the then prevailing rules. Tho
battle. it was alleged. was fought In tho on
gine house, In tho presence of few OF the
shining lights OF StaGtown. The ambitious
rival was knocked out In short order. and he
retired 10 disgrace. while the fame of tho vic.
tor spread
Ono day Engine Al met rival company that
also had great runner. The StaGtown cham
pion Ind to exert all his skill and strength.
1t was hot battle. but he conquered. His ad
vcrsary however had not succumbcd until he
had been beaten thoroughly. Ho lay insensi-
BILE in tho gutter. and when his friends at
tempted to revive him thoy found that he was
in serious condition. That night the mans
physicians abandoned hope. and the Corr
oner was sent for. Ho took tho anto-
Of on the stastown Cham pion. News of that
and he disappcarei lie Went to tho west oo Side
OF the city. which. IN those days. was ike going
Ha tIs Lnt r t
tive OF the society OF his fr lends. and kept him
from the scenes that wero dear TO him. strange
About that time. 1850. the Olympic Theatre
IN broadway. near Howard street. was opened.
Being the on r Of the houss
Entrance to seats in tho pit cost York shil:
ling Oh cent? en-. Tho ga, galleries; were divided
early in the evening. and from three to five
PLAYS were presented every night. They wero
dies, The pit became the resort OF the Gre
ladies. whe were called lititcs. They would
sit sdso In comranies' each having its spSGial
one Of tho latter had a benefit. tho company
that adored her would go to the, theatre CIR
always contained tho name Of the company in
Zig letters The tribute was sent up to the
thundcrs OF applause from her worshippcrs.
house, and tho faithful Are iaiIies were, in-
their appreciation Of. th9 hostess by drinking
NcI WING WIN t'hStS W tHeiI eHSlnc
Tho stagtown champion was at tie Olympic
on the openine night; He did not miss a sin
the ten that the heSre
ut liberty to 60 whero he pleased. but having
in the mean time secured employment, in u
The theatre was closed during the summer.
and while the champion was thinking Of where
cured 10 him which gave rise to the present
club. and he communicated it to some Of tho
r9 lGdd lies he had aslgantted
exile the Stagtown champion put itinto execu-
boats. as they were called. were rented ut tho
battery; Among the boat owners WAS man
be ,sfp m W sE ~
Ways anxious TO drive tricky bargain Tog"t
tn9 bsttef OF hin Tas pruisc%ortiy aecordng
latter went to Durr and hired \ boat for an
hour, paying for it in advance. Then he
where. the runner OF Engine II and
six litites were waiting for him. Each had
IaT i OF an mon nGS camping o4tiit; Ono hna
knives. and for $. and another an axe In nd.
some tSss Snrs aa Lds9
homo on tho simplest plan. that, IL. without
out into the stream, aud headed down tho lay.
;h they ,pEpn nS to DO gone for somo timo
an hoG he e s G. "Tn tyc
start ~ pursuit u them; At that timo bar
ron Island was II prr,ty spot. rarely Wis
tied by persons from the city. Tho iftit05
started for 1t. and after they had rowei
down tho bay u fow miles they rgG.d
up q sail which cuabcd them to make much
better progress. They reached tho islund BY
nightiall. and collected y spot for thcir camp.
the water. and covered 1t with tho branches Of
troos.. which they int"rlnccd with smaller
and willows until a fairly shbsten-
tinl roof had been made. Tho men craw!cd
into this rudo sheltor ana slopt there.
Not much could he done toward getting
tho first night. but on the next day
certain duties We're assigned to each mnnber
OF tho party. Two Went fishing. ono collected
for tho fro. another did tho cook
Ing and tho rest prospocted for such food MS
could lie secured from tho farmers who had
houses at some distnnco from the spot selected
for, a camp, The campers purchased butter
lookout for stray chickens. Ono Of tho party
said afterwards: I'VE married an Invisible limo
around the camp. IL limo that had marvellous
powers Of extension. W. wcre dead against
trospassers. aud it went pretty hard with any
duck. chicken. or other fuwl that passed
tho line" Fish formed the chief arti-
clio of food. however. There was only
ono drawback to the fan. Tho mosquitoes
and other novious insects, .rwarmad ahou; tho
were scnreu several tines by tho appearance
Of II boat that looScd like Burr's with II man
in 1t that appeared. e thoir gailty cycs. to BIO