The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-02-04
PRESIDENT ROBERTSON SPEAKS
OF THEIR SUCCESS.
Was Organized Fifteen Years Ago To-
morrow-The Occasion Will be Cele-
brated With Smoker.

Tomorrow is the fifteenth anniver-
sary of the Myrtle Boat club. 1t had
been planned to celebrate the event in
the form of genuine old smoker at
the boat house in the evening, but the
special committee engaged upon the
program concluded that it would be
best to give way for the races at Cy-
clomere and set the entertainment for
one week later.
Alex. G.. NJ. Robertson, charter
member and president of the club
found time to run over the life of the
club this morning.
THE club was organized just fif-
teen years ago tomorrow" said he.
THE charter members included Judge
a. w. Carter Marshal \. NJ. Brown, w.
c. Parke, William F. Love, James L.
Torbert, DR.. w. +. Monsarrat and my
self. During the first year we expert
enced many vicissitudes. We came in
to possession of four cared boat.
THE Red, White and Blue" which we
kept in the old warehouse of Dilling-
ham d Co. When we wanted to take
spin we had to pack the boat down
to the water and carry it back when
we had finished, no matter how tired
we were.
This thing kept up for several
months, when we found it necessary
TO build a boat house. The location
maulla of the Pacific Mail wharf. and
back of the coal piles, was selected.
and upon this site we erected rough
| 1920 house. built of rough boards.
and after plans by our amateur archi-
! tect, James Torbert. Each of us aid
ed in the construction of the crude
home.
"A year later our membership had
increased to such proportions that it
was necessary for us to build our pres
ent two story home. And then year
4 later the boat house was still further
enlarged by adding front and side ve-
randas. About this time we were be-
ginning to get in our new boats. \
four cared boat belonging to John \.
Cummins, and the only rival to the
Red. White and Blae, was purchased
TO use in the Islands. King Kalallaua
owned the first of these boats. and the
Myrtles came into possession of per.
feet beauty not long afterward. In
the regatta of that same year there
were six crews competing. but the
Myrtles took their usual position-in
the lead.
"In 1885 the 'Honolulus' celebrated
their first anniversary. They offered
three cups in the regatta events OF
that year. The Kings crew was very
| active but the Myrt1es walked off with
two of the cups. The Eclipse Boat
club was started in 1885, but after a
short and brilliant career was swal-
lowed by the Myrtle club. The ne,
mans or Kapiolani Boat club. was re.
organized about this time. The oars
men from this club We're big raw.
boned Irishmen. but with all this
were obliged to take n position in the
rear of the Myrtles in the regatta o
1884. This club was short lived. Ther
the 'Knickerbockers, composed o
young Portuguese, put in an appear
ance, but, they too. met defeat and die
not last long. Up to the time the He
ilanis' were organized, the 'Honolulus
and the Kings crews were our onl,
opponents.
"The Myrtles now have total mem
bership of about 150 A large percent
age of these are active. OF the race
which have taken place since the in
ception of the club, the Myrtles hav
, won twenty-five. Our club has al
ways shown the proper spirit and is
constant and firm advocate of cleal
manly sport"