The Anaconda standard., 1896-01-13

The Olympic Athletic club, which was
| the headquarters of the Butte football
ers during their stay i'm San Francisco,
Is undoubtedly THE finest institution of
Its KIND i'm America, and it's officers and
members are as fine a lot of fellows as
were ever got together in one organi-
zabfon anywhere I'm THE world The
club ds devoted purely to athletics, and
has no accommodations for loungers
1t has neither a smoking room nor a
bar, and no liqFoT is allowed in the
building. The clubhouse is 1873 feet
square and five stories high and. with
dts elaborate furnishings, 1t cost more
| than S5OO,000. The gymnasium, which
is the most famous feature of the
building, is 60xl3S feet and three sto-
ries In height and contains every piece
or apparatus that can be used in any
way for the deveropment of the sys-
ITEM. The gymnasium was copied after
the one at Harvard, but Is larger and
more elabora'tely fitted up. 1t is the
finest in America, and ranks as one of
the Sights of SAN Francisco. Next to
the gymnasium SIS the swimming tank,
which is 35xS0 feet and ds filed with
salt water that is pumped in from the
ocean every day. The building also
contains a bowling alley. fencing room,
shooting gallery. two hand ball courts,
rooms for the gun, boating, wheelmen
and cycliSt clubs, two shuttle boards,
reading room and directors room. and
an electric hight plant. All of these
rooms are elegantly furnished. There
is also a large locker. room, which con-
tains 2,100 lockers. There are also a
large number OF dressing rooms and
bath rooms. The club has instructors
in swimming, fencing, wrestling and
general gymnastics. and two boxing
instructors. The club has am active
membership of 1850.
The Montanans were noyally enter
tanned by the club. and expense did not
seem TO cut the slightest figure I'm oheir
entertainment. They were taken
through Chinatown. to the theaters and
driven around the city and 20 the Pre-
sidho and Cliff house, and shown i1nu-
rne-able other kindnesses.
The lavish entertainment OF the
Buttes. however, was principally due to
DIR. +. N. Short, the leader of the club.
who 1s a prince of royal blood. 1t was
he who arranged the entertainment
course for the visitors. and was untir-
ing I'M his efforts to make things pleas
ant for them. This year DR. Short had
charge of all OF the outdoor amuse-
ments Of the club. Next year he will
very likely have charge of the outdoor
sports. and the Butte boys sincerely
hope that such will be the case, as il
will insure his coming 10 Butte next
season with the Olympic Football team.
IT une ButteS nzA1 uf1eaT way Ut. snort
would be president OF the olympic club
for life at an annual salary of SIS, 900.
They are anxi ious % show him that his
kindness 10 them is appreciated. and
they will assuredly make things pleas
ant for hsgn when ne comes TO Butte.
Charles w. Acheson Of the secretary's 8
office Is another gentleman whose ia
vors the Buttes are deSirous OF recip-
rooating with interest. Colonel Sey-
mour. one of the clubs millionaire
members, was also exceedingly kind 20
the visitors, and spent his money with
them like a prince The Olympic club
Is as popular in Butte as Il Is in SAN
Francisco. and more than that could
not be said