The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-24

mas LaSReu anu 1t daS Been
Hard Task to Keep 1t Alive-ouar-
ters That 1t Occupied.
While the Scranton Rowing associ-
alton is about to go out of existence,
many q moon will come and go before
the organization ceases to be a recol-
lection. 1t has had a wild and varied
career, but, numbering as 1t has
among it's members young and old
men, jolly and sad men, social and
political men, straight and crooked
men, its final gasp for existence will
not witness the end of memory of it.
1t is about to sell it's furniture and die
the least violent death possible, but
in years to come those who have been
upon its roster and many who have
not will continue to recall the Incl
dents of the long pulls and strong
pulls" which have sent 1t forward and
backward during the twenty-four years
of it's life.
Its title was not originally q mis-
nomer for when ii was organized away
back in 1874 the members really did
some rowing The association began
with boat house and gigs, shells and
other boating paraphernalia on the
Providence dam. A few years later
however, the mines became nnkind
and distributed their culm and other
refuse into the narrow channel of the
Lackawanna river, the current gradu-
ally washing the stuff into the dam,
making it too shallow and otherwise
untenable for rowing purposes.
Water races and other acquatic
events were abandoned on the river,
though some of the more enthusiastic
members continued to have sporadic
attacks of boating fever and gave vent
to their tastes on the waters of Lake
Ariel. The organization then acquired
a social tone and the clubs rooms
were established in the old board of
trade building on Lackawanna avenue.
There it occupied three rooms on the
second floor, a billiard parlor in the
rear and two front rooms.
LEADING SOCIAL CLUB.
There was no Bachelor organization
then and the Rowing association be-
came the recognized swell social club
of the town. Its members included
some of the best known young and
middle aged men. They gave suppers
and dances and were recognized as
| quite the proper thing. 1t was while
| quartered in the Lackawanna avenue
building that the association gave a
| two-night minstrel show which turned
the city upside down and gave some of
! the members regulations as burnt
| cork artists which they will not out
| grow until death claims them. In MAX
! ing that statement, sarcasm is not
intended. 1t is true that few if any
| professionals have given better min
strel shows in this city.
The show was given two nights In
| the Academy of Music. Seats in the
| peanut gallery were reserved at 75
cents each and there was not vacant
seat in the house either night. Major
| T. F. Penman, the present revenue
| collector, was interlocutor. George
Mitchell, ex-president Of the board OF
control, and TOM Moore, the wei
known insurance man, were the
bones" The "tamboes" were Dolpf
Atherton, secretary of the board o
trade, and Will Rockwell.
Marion S. Cam was manager of the
show. For over four months he drill
ed the performers. The rehearsali
were faithfully and vigorously con,
Quoted and in private, with the re
suit, that scores who expected TO Sc,
a display of ridiculous buffoonery anC
burlesque were agreeably disappoint
ed Bauer's orchestra in black fac
and sparkling uniforms furnished tn
music. About thirty association mem
bers appeared in the company olio.
1t fell to the honor of Interlocuto
Penman, the amateur, to spring tn
electric diamond shirt stud which i
to this day used by variety and min
strel men. He secured the desired eff
feet by using a pocket battery whicl
furnished the sparkle to the incandes
cent diamond.
IN THE COMPANY.
In the august company of performer
We're Jerry" Chittenden. N"Billy
Welsh, ANDY" Bedford, "Walt" Dick
son, Henry w. Hngsbury, Everett
Warren Bob" Scranton, Charley
Sanderson, Bob" Penman, and other
equally as well known. The persont
accounts for the fashionable audiences
Dolph Atherton sang an originf
comic song which was written by Ley
Dockstader, the famous professions
minstrel. Mr.. Atherton made a tri
of asking Dockstader to write it. II
consented and when he visited Scrar
ton with his own minstrel show tn
following year the Rowing associatio
marched into the theater in a bod,
giving their money and their presenC
as acknowledgment of Dockstader'
service to them.
A german" was the concluding fea
ture of the two nights of the associa
tion mnstrels. The 'ladies" wore the
sisters full dress gowns. Many
, these sisters regretted their generos
e ity later when the said gown were re
( turned to them begrimed and almo:
4 unrecognizable. Several of these ell,
e CANT costumes were ruined during I'll
= celebration in the early hours of IL
= morning on which the active spirits
= the company wound up their suC
e cess.
r The next season saw the "Pirates
n Penzance" produced by the associs
tion for the benefit of the Lackawann
= hospital. Mr.. Cam was again mar
n ager. The opera was sung two nigh
( and $1,000 net profit was made fl
= charity.
= From Lackawanna avenue the al
S sociation moved its home to the dwell
d ing house at the corner of Wyomin
avenue and Mulberry street. Near
e while interest in its affairs had lagge
7. and it was on the verge of collap!
n several times. In each instance Il
more loyal members shook the organ
cation into temporary shape.
LAST QUARTERS.