The Portland daily press., 1894-04-10
THE ATHLETIC CLUB.
Its First Exhibition Undoubtedly the
Best Ever Given in the City-New and
Taking Ideas-Firstrclass Training.

Rest Ever Given in the City-New and
Taking Ideas-Firstclass Training.
The athletic event of the season took
place last night at City Hall. For weeks
Professor Lee and his athletes of the
Athletic Club have been at work and the
result was the best amateur athletic ex-
hibition ever given in the city. Not only
was it more extensive and varied, but
most of the feats were really better.
There was good house, but the enter
tainment deserved better The hall
was very tastefully decorated with flags
and streamers. The stage had been
built out into the hall, and the curtain
was an immense red portiere, that part
ed and disclosed very beautiful as well
as intensely interesting spectacle.
The banners, flags and drapery were
most effectively arranged at the back OF
the stage.
The horizontal bar class appeared first.
led by G.. W. Wright. The others were
as follows: Messrs. J. R. Wiley, ia.
Dickson, D. H. Fuller, W. L. Melcher, F.
W. Hopkins, r. Secondhand, G. W. Small,
T. s. Smith, Professor Lee.
The audience applauded, and waited
eagerly for the next feature.
The second event was by the club
swinging class, under the leadership OF
Professor Lee. The twelve members
c.J1 Morri1I T A
Dickson, II. Fl. King, J. B. Wiley, D. H.
Fuller, Harry Fowler, j. Anderson, +.
S. Smith, O. C. Curtis, W. L. Melcher, g.
W. Grover, G. B. Wooster.
The hall was darkened just before they
came OH. They marched in and took
their places with soldierly precision
that augured we'll for what was to come.
The polished clubs and white costumes
cleaned in yellow light, then in blue,
and then a white, and back again. The
effect was beautiful. The movement
was so uniform as to be suggestive of
colony OF human windmills under the
impulse of the same strong, steady
breeze. The list of different movements
was long one, and many very difficult
back swings and wrist turns were exc
cuted as evenly as the simple movements.
They responded to the storm of ap-
plause by rushing on the stage in a long
row, clasping hands. The audience
thought for moment that they we're
going to perform the old "snap the
whip of schoolboy days, and got ready
to dodge the flying end man. But they
bowed harmlessly and withdrew.
The parallel bars class was as follows,
led by w. J. Miller: Fl. H. King, G. B.
Wooster o. G. Curtis, H. K.Waterhouse,
W. j. Merrill, G.. w. Grover and r.
Secondhand Mr.. Miller was the leader in
every way. Some of his feats were new
to audiences in City Hall. He made a
muscular Journey around the bars, hand
over hand, horizontally so to speak, that
was an exhibition of splendid muscular
endurance.
The programme on the flying rings
was one of the longest and best. Mr..
John T. Pagan, the leader, opened by
holding himself at arms length between
the swaying rings and excelled in other
feats of strength. as did also Mr.. W. j.
Miller, who hung by the hands, with his
body horizontal, and supported J. A.
Dickson, hanging from his neck in a
similar position. Mr.. Dickson was the
star, as usual, and performed some won
derful tricks of skill and muscle. The
others were E. w. Fox, S. W. Wright, D.
Fl. Fuller, W. L. Merrill and Ralph Mer-
rill.
The pole vauiting trio were J. A. Dick
son, Ralph Merrill and D. Ell. Fuller. Mr..
Fuller had no difficulty in carrying off
the Lonors. He scared over the hand
kerchief with graceful poise, several
inches higher than the others. 1t fact,
Mr.. Dickson retired from the contest
early. He was no match in this one
branch of athletics for his taller and slen-
derer contestants. The highest vault
was eight feet.
Prof. Lees club swinging was one of
the most beautiful as well as skilful ex-
hibitions. The twirling, glittering clubs
seemed to enclose him as in net of sum
beams. He was so loudly encored that
he responded, much to the satisfaction
of the audience.
The class in bar bells showed the same
splendid precision as did the club swing
ers. and under the colored lights they
we're even more beautiful. The success
sion of changing evolutions was long and
varied and difficult, and there were no
mistakes.
The fencing class was unique feature.
In gorgeous old-fashioned dress suits, the
twelve gentlemen of honor, with rapiefs
I al about II, y