Evening star., 1897-05-17
ATTRACTIVE CLUB HOUSE
A Pretty Retreat Owned by Patuxent Rod
and Gun Club.
House ana Grounds Have Been Inn.
proved on Modern Lines-A Naphtha
Launch Provided.
Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Nd. May Is, 1897
On the Patuxent river, about a mile and
half from the old town of Upper Marlbo-
ro, and a mile distant from the head Of
steamboat navigation, Is situated one Of
the prettiest club houses outside Of Wash
ington city. The owners and patrons of
this retreat, chartered as the "Patuxent
Rod and Gun Club" are all Washington
city people. with one or two exceptions. but
1esidents OF this prince George'S county.
The club was organized several years
ago by Mr.. Richard s. Smith of Washing
ton, who had been shooting and fishing on
the Patuxent, and now has about twenty
members Mr.. Smith recognized the many
advantages to be found on the river for
sportsmen who were only able to get away
from their business fer day or two at
time, and also discovered the quantity and
quality of the game to be found in that
section. Acting on this idea, he got his
Washington friends interested, and they
bought the present club house, which was
at the time cottage, and fitted it up as
shooting box.
The sport and pleasure they continued to
have every year caused them to manifest
great interest in the place and they have
improved the house and grounds in many
ways, both as to comfort and appearance
AS soon as the weather opened this spriny
Workmen We're put to work tearing down
the managers house, which, was rather
Gns1ghtly, and the construction of a new
ore. In the rear of the club house was be-
gun. The fence surrounding the lawn was
moved back as to increase the length
OF that part leading to the river
ihe most noticeable improvements were
made in the club horse. This was remod-
eled, the porches were made larger ard
summer house built, large enough to ac-
commodate dozen hammocks and in
ciosed with wire netting, to keep the mos
auitos and flies from interfering with a
fellows midday snooze. The interior has
been repapered. the paper on the walls in
the nails being especially attractive. 1t
was secured at great cost by one Of the
cup members, and Is said to be over
hundred years old. The design on the pa
per represents an English stag hunt and
gives good view of the stag, hounds and
ntntsmen. To the many visitors to the
cinb house this is one OF the attractions
When it is too cool to sit out of doors; the
mont room Is used as sitting room around
the walls of which are hung weapons of
every conceivable make, from those of the
natlVe indians and of the first patents of
firearms. down to the most improved and
costly hammerless breechloaders of the
present day. These latter only are used.
The former are for ornaments, and each
has bit Of history, which the president of
the cluo VIII give only on rainy evening.
when he cannot be on the river with a rod
or IN the field with his gun.
Other ornaments that cause many in
qu5ries are the different species of the
game tribe. which have peen stuffed and
ornamentally placed about the building.
each having been the victim of some mem
Der Of the club. If anything unusual is
killed by an outsider and sent to the club
!; Is stuffed and place found for 1t among
the other trophies. 80
This season. whan there is nothing to
shoot until the Fourth of July, the opening
OF the season for woodcock and summer
ouck, the members of the GLIB, when as
sembled at the house. get into their naph-
tina launch. go a few miles down the river
and fish. From the Fourth of July until
the close of the snfpe shooting about the
ISL or May, there can always be found
something at which TO fire gun.
When members of the club visit the place
Tor shooting or fish.rg, they telegraph the
manager. and he notifies the cook, who is
employed all the year. and thew find every
thing rrovided to their ;sste. Each member
orders everything. individually, and can
invite any one he likes to enjoy the trip.
Two of the most active members are the
president and secretary, Mr.. smith and Mr..
w: w. Boarman of Washington. A week
seldom passes that one or the other of
these gentlemen does not visit the club
with company and have days outing on
the river. The members of the club have
leased several farms for shooting priyi-
leges. and have turned loose a number of
imported partridges. the birds having been
scarce here for the past two or three years
owing to the blizzard that swept over the
country several winters ago. Their efforts
IN tnis olrectlon have met with success, as
there is every indication of a large increase
In the number of birds on the clubs
grounds They have not only improved the
game IN this respect. but have urged upon
the local authorities the necessity of keep
ing q sharp lookout for the depredations
committed by the pot hunters" who kill
game at all seasons and have been a prin-
cipal agent in diminishing the supply