New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01

ROBINS ISLAND CLUBHOUSE.
since it was organized twenty-five years ago.
Or Speir had always given unsparingly Of his
time to the interests II the club and had con-
tributed more than any other person - us wei
fare The following minute and resolution
adopted at the meeting Thursday evening
give formal expression TO the feelings % the CLUB;
Or. $. Feet spc'r was ono Of the founders ana
orig nal ncorpOrators OF this club
His memory VIII ong be reycr"i FOR MS know vi.
fertility OF resource ana his courage IN rm'tg~ayi
Many survive him who, but for his professional
ability, would have long stree preceded MN - me
To HIS grateful patients and TO HIS professional
brethren may be safely committed the task ~
adequately dealing with the work OF his NE.
The associations with him Of the members OF me
ton not with those OF his labors. tn" latte de,
maniei an exhibition o. the s'"rner Giahues OF
his nature while not denying ful play 10 ms genuer
but 70 us only the social sid" o' MS
character presented
HIS charming personality. hls conslierate cour'esy
his largc-m!nlcl unsc.hsnness were naturally ana
prominently reveael = Va IN tho unrestralnei m
the club indebted than TO him Tor It's rank ana
prominence His interest in producing hign strain
OF settlers and I'm the noted field trials Of the club
distinctly contributed TO brink II into notice ana 20
render It's membership attractive HIS four-tootei
rec,procatcl II. His dumb friends knew he loved
them and gave him ihsr w9 I ,o0,, hin, many
sorrows. but the same unninching courage an! IN
whom he snccorcd. sustained him amid his trials
During his last vist to the club. where he
manei Tor some days and until a short time before
his death although II was noticeable that his
strength hal abated. he maintained the same IN
terest In others the same appreciation Of their sue:
eesses and sympathy Tor Their failures which had
made him beloved by every inher OF the cIub
over which he had presided for twenty-five years
There is a sense OF personal loss to each OF ~ at
his taking away. lie ~ associated IN our minis
with some OF the happ!cst hours and VIII ever i've
In our rccollcct tons IA "a genial. sympathetic con-
sderate friend. .
The Robins Island club desires 10 express i,s
sense Of rs great loss in the death OF ts late pres
dent. Or. ). Fee, Spcir. ana to cypress us deep
sympathy FOR tho members OF his family 49,
Resolved That the foregoing minute. ana this
resolution bc spread at .argc upon the minutes %
INV eygr"ssc cer,ide by the secretary and
ty him to the family OF our deceased president
In the election Of officers for the present year
the Rev Dr f. A. Hoffman. dean OF the Union
Theological Seminary. was chosen as DIT speirs
successor The other officers chosen were:
Vice President. julien T. Davies secretary and
treasurer william II. Force, Board OF Di-
rec,ors. the Rcvspr. Hoffman. Julien T. Davies
William II. Ford g. Rowland Leavitt. Chaun-
cey Marshall. George Walton Green and +. W.
McClave The secrctarys report by Mr. Force
showed that the club is now better equipped
than ever before. Robbins Island In Peconc
Bay comprising thousand acres Is
owned by the club and on II is a commodious
and well-appolnted clubhouse. Within the last
year the house has been refitted In order u
accommodate more satisfactorily the "o"e"
/ friends Of the members VINO often go 'he'e
for brief outings at all seasons. fheasah'''S
have been built for the raising OF English
phcasants. and several new barns ana OUT
houses have also beer erected.
The club has never enjoyed better shooting
than In the last year, and several members
have reported that when on hunting eHpe"'-
t,ons IN the celebrated game countries In the
ha,. fni1 IN
profitable sport than that offered by their own
island The island has been heavily stocked
and II is not probable that within eighty miles
NJ New-York there is another spot which mas
co many attractions for sportsmen. During the
pre.ent season about 1900 quail and 300 pheas-
ants have been shot there. Snipc and "oou-
cock were also taken In great numbers III ''e
fall force Of halfdozen or more men -
employcd on the island throughout the year
caring for the property Of the club. ana raising
grain and crops on which the birds FEED. Inc
Kennels where may be seen some OF the pes'
settlers In the country. also require much at
tention.
Few improvements are now needed on the
island to make the happiness OF the mfmoers
complete. The only additional eAps"1 1nr a
suggested at the annual meeting was io'
steam launch to be used between Robin ISL,
and and the shores of the bay. A lauhch VIII oo'
be purchased and sent to the Island III yeals
nasi the house has occasionally been cIoseu ioi
abort periods In the winter. but IL IL no" pr
nosed to keep 1t open from January TO JAIN JAM
spw Everything is now arranged to provide
| for the comfort OF the members. even III the
severest months OF the year -, ,,,., .,
| Membership in tn" club is strictly liHi'eu W
tuenty-nye and owing to the great expense ~ ~
| Cured I'm Keeping the grounds well stocSed WIN
the hest game birds the necessity OF caTihb III
/ cessantly for the house and pack or setters' anu
the scores of additional expenses. the taxes ieNIru
unon the members are by no means light. ENe'y
member however. considers that he Is making
nrontable investment. and 1t H. probable thai tne
marbership would soon double II one OF the cup
striciest rules did not make such th'hS i"i-
possible -. po,h,ns
William r. Force, the secretary OF the Robpih
Island Club Is we'll known In Long Island AZ Il
/ lover az out os-doOr sports lie has the rePu'a-
! lion Of being one OF the best drivers ana cross.
! country riders in the Riding and Driving Clup OF
/ Erookiyn and owns one OF the handsomest equi-
pages in the city He is vice president and mana
ger OF the Royal Horse Association n company
whose members are New-York. Brooklyn ana
| piitsburg capitalists. The company owns land
! buildings and stock near Cheyenne. wyoming:
worth 81 800 900. and has a breeding ranch OF
100 600 acres. Ii also has stables In brooklyn:
! Mr. Force is the senior partner in the nrf OF
William H. Force & Co His wife Ia a daughter
OF T. V. p Talmage and granddaughter OF eX-
Mayor Talmage and he has two daughters. IN
addition to the Robbins Island and Riding ana