The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-03-21
walls were presented by Messrs. Payson

The guests included many of our most
prominent middle aged and elderly peo-
pie, among them Judges Webb and Has
kell and WoodburyS. Dana, Esq.
The reception committee consisted OF
Franklin G. PaysogA Henry B. Cleaves,
William R. Wood, William H. Clifford,
John E. Dewitt, Fl. H. Kurdish, Clarence
Hale, Charles F. Libby, William II.
Moulton, Fred E. Boothby, Henry G.
Peabody. John c. Small, James A.
Spaulding, Geo. S. Hunt, DR.. S. Il.
Weeks. and Henry P. Cox. These names
alone indicate the class of citizens who
have the interests and success of this
enterprise at heart.
The Evening Reception.
Although there were probably over
1000 visitors in the afternoon it was in
the evening that the real interest of our
citizens in the club house was abundant
" manifest. 1t was the intention of the
committee to start the guests on tour
of inspection, SO that constant stream
would be kept in motion with some kind
of regularity. But before o'clock the
sidewalks were blocked with people and
the front entrance was so packed that 7
resembled a gigantic rush for theatre
tickets. Once in line it was necessary to
go with the current which was most I'M
satisfactorily slow. The people began
to overflow the sidewalk, and soon as
dense throng was striving to gain en-
trance at the rear door. By half-past
eight the entire building, from the
swimming tank to the billiard room on
the top floor, was swarming with people,
like bees in a hive. To get from one
room to another was long journey as
far as time was concerned. The crush was
entirely beyond the expectations of the
committee. About 5000 tickets of adj
mission were distributed by the mem
bers. These tickets adn6tted ladies
with the gentlemen, and counting
two people to each ticket there would
be about 5000 people. Doubtless nearly
as many people as that inspected the Ath-
letic Club house last night. The most
conservative estimates were from 5000 to
1000.
The density of the crowd in the build
ingis illustrated by the fact that some
score of people who entered with the
tkrong at the rear door in the original
stable and moved with the current down
into and across the gymnasium were de-
fected in their efforts to pass UP the
stairs to the main building and actually
forced out of side door into the garden
on the other side of the building, from
which they passed round to the front
door again, where the throng was still
SO great that it required some 10 min
utes to cutter the building again. The
reception committee and house commit
tee were interchangeable in their efforts to
clear the passages and direct the flow OF
people. 81
Among cur prominent citizens who were
seen struggling in the crowd were ex May
ors Melcher and Chapman, Maj. Sidney
w. Thaxter, DIR. Seth c. Gordon, Capt.
J. S. Winslow, Hon. Chas. f. Libby, Capt.
Thos. P. Beals, John E. Dewitt, Clerk
of Courts Stone, J. N. Winslow. Esq. of
Deering, Henry Deering, ESQ.,, Herman
Kotschmar and many Others.
Among guests from out of town were
Prof. Whittier and Col. Thompson of
Brunswick, and Mr.. E. B. Pillsbury, a
prominent member of the Boston Athlet-
ic Club. Mr. Pillsbury said that he was
surprised at the extent of the accomoda-
ton of the Portland Athletic Club and
the completeness of the gymnastic appa-
ratus. He said that he did not believe
that there was another club in the
country, whose annual dues were COM
paratively so low. He waa surprised to
learn that the dues were only $15 1t
is $40 at the Boston club and is soon to
be raised to $50. Proportionally the
members of the Portland club receive a
grea deal more for their money.
The original stable has been utilized
for the bath rooms, store house for
bicycles and the lockers for the gymna-
SUM suits. There are 1852 of these
lockers and since there were more
than that number of applicants for them,
it was necessary to cast lots. About 30
more lockers will soon be added.
Although there has been large at
tendance at the club house in the after
moons and evenings heretofore, now that
the gymnasium is ready, this attendance
of members will be more than doubled.
The gymnasium proper, the running
track around the gallery above and the
running track and bowling alleys below
will prove exceedingly attractive, since
nothing has been stinted in the way OF
plumbing appliances and all conveniences
necessary to the best enjoyment and
benefit of gymnastic exerci Sc.
The whole cost has been about $35, 900
and the 10000 worth Of bonds and init
alton fees when the membership shall
reach the limit of 500 lit is over $50
now will nearly equal this amount. The
receipts from the billiard and pool tables,
etc.. and the semi-annual dues of $3.50
are proving quite sufficient for the run
ming expenses.
A letter of regret was received from
Hon. Eugene Hale.
An italian War Vessel to Visit Portland.
The Royal italian transport Erradno''
will arrive at this port about the 29th OF
| this month with full cargo of Italian
ovh;hits for the Worlds Fair These ex-