The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-02

unQtTSiBntQs anu OH July Svs lotVs tur
meeting was held. II was grand suc-
cess, the club having lent all assist
anee In it's power. and with 60 starters
in the 100 yards and equally good fields
in the other races there was no lack OF
sport
Up to this period OF its existence
the New York Athletic club had no
town house. the winter arrangement
being made with John Wood TO permit
members TO practice In his gymna-
sium and, later. on floor in Roster &
Bial's Twenty third street building.
Something like a blight now struck the
club, which fell behind so much that IL
was a question whether II could sur
vve. Just prior to the election OF
March. 1882, the membership had run
down TO 123, and there was not money
enough to even pay the track rent. One
member advanced the cash for that, and
another guaranteed a note for other
necessary expenses. A. III. Curtis was
asked TO run for the presidency, but de-
layed his answer and meanwhile came
to the conclusion that William II. Trav-
ers was the man. but as he was only up
for membership he could not be nomi-
mated. However. Mr.. Curtis persuaded
the late ID. Henry Knowlton to stand
till Mr.. Travers might be named.
Knowlton was elected by a large ma
jority, and Mr.. Travers was admitted
to the club Mr.. Herman Oelrichs was
next called upon by Mr.. Curtis to get
Mr.. Travers' consent to be president.
1t took him a whole evening to get the
desired consent but he got It, and at
the next club meeting Mr.. Knowlton's
resignation was accepted and Mr. Trav-
IL taI II Il
had been made vice president.
Then came the boom. Mr.. Oelrichs
alone put on nearly 100 members,
among them being A. v. de Goicouria
OF the Stock Exchange. and it was
through him that so many Of the Wall
street men Joined the club. The rush
for membership was similar to the re-
cent one Of the Democratic club of New
York. Then came the demand for
clubhouse suitable to membership OF
], 500. and the clubhouse at Sixth ave-
nue. and Fifty-fifth street was the re-
suit Mr.. Oelrichs was chairman OF the
house committee and gave at the oper-
ing on Feb. 5, 1856, a banquet which
cost him $1,000. Men of today little
know that the thought OF making Mr..
Travers president was the turn OF the
tide In the New York Athletic club, and
to A. III. Curtis belongs the credit OF
turnin~ the tide.
With plenty OF money flowing into
the treasury the members wanted
better athletic ground than the sandy
Mott Haven track, and in 1883 the
property now known as Travers island
was purchased and fitted up for ath-
letic and rowing purposes. in addition
to being a country house for many
me.SDers In the summer Here are
the best equipped athletic track to be
found anywhere and the best athletes
in the country. for every man is anx-
ious to get on the N. Y. A. G. team IL
he can show ability good enough to be
accepted as an athletic member and
take part in the good times at the is
land during the summer.
The greatest thing that the club has
done wns the winning Of the match
against the London Athletic club In
1895. This resolved itself into an inter-
national match, Saoh club agreeing to
permit of elections TO membership after
the challenge was accepted The pick
Of England. with but one exception, ran
at New York that fall. and against
them the N. Y. A. c. had the best this
country could supply. The result was
a complete series of wins in every event
on the programme. The credit of this
achievement is due to b. c. Williams.
who originated the idea and as chair
man OF the athletic committee carried
Il out to a successful issue.
The ever increasing membership Of the