The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-07-01
AQUATIC CLUB OPENING
FESTIVITIES AT BROAD RIPPLE LAST
NIGHT ENJOYED BY MANY.
The Boathouse Brilliantly Illuminated
and Decorated for the Occasion
Refreshments and Dancing.

Neptune. Calliope and Terpsichore, the
great trio of deities who preside over water,
music and the dance. lent their best efforts
last night to make the opening of the sea-
son of 1900 of the Indianapolis Aquatic Club
suspicious and enjoyable. The crispness of
the air served to increase rather than
diminish the attendance. Nearly three hum
dred people, a large part OF whom were
young and the remainder of an age beht-
ting chaperons. awaited themselves of the
invitations issued by the club and boarded
Broad Ripple cars early in the evening so
as to miss none of the festivities. Many
of the electric cars running into Broad
Ripple Park were ornamented in honor Of
the occasion with electric lights of green
and white, the club colors, and one car bore
a beautiful shield of red. white and blue
incandescent lights. At the top Of the land
ing. along the stairway leading down to
the boathouse of the Aquatic Club and on
the b~oathouse itself were enough lights to
illuminate the river for a quarter of a mile
In either direction and attract the atten-
ton of passengers on the electric cars long
before the park was reached.
The boathouse looks almost new as a re-
suit of many improvements which have
been made upon it since last summer
Down stairs there is a larger space for
storing canoes, while on the upper floor,
or deck the cabin and locker room be-
tray evident signs of changes for the bet
ter. A large reception committee was APP
pointed to look after the comfort and en-
joyment of guests last night. A part Of the
committee stationed itself in various por-
tons of the boathouse, while the remainder
were to be found in the spacious dancing
pavilion. The large cabin on the deck Of
the boathouse was deliberately ornamented
with hangings of natural green in the shape
OF trailing vines, while cut flowers on all
sides assailed the eye with their beauty
and the nose with their delicious fragrance.
On the "fo'c's'le' a dusky attendant clad
in white dispensed ice-cofd lemonade to the
few who cared for such a beverage on a
chilly night. After enjoying the charms
of the boathouse most of the guests wended
their way to the dancing pavilion. A few
young people. however. found the darkness
and the pi-cturesqueness of the. upper deck
on the water side more to their liking and
fingered to a late hour talking and idly
watching the small craft darting up and
down the placid river. AT the dancing
pavilion all was light and gayety. The
dancers entered into their favorite pastime
with added zest furnished by the bracing
air, while the chaperones found pleasure in
sitting along the sides of the open pavilion
watching the young folks enjoy themselves.
The pavilion was hung on three sides with
streamers of white and green, and Chinese
lanterns strung in attractive form supplied
a variety of color as well as helping out the
illumination. Music for dancing was fur
nished by Smiths orchestra.
The reception committee was composed of
H. T, Hearsey. president of the Aquatic
Club; Harry Hammond. vice president;
Allen Hendricks. chairman of the house
committee; z. A. Hines. treasurer: Miles
member of the house committee; Pearl
Havelick; Thomas j. Carter, chairman of
the entertainment committee; Bruce Max
well, Charley Maxwell, Russ Eckman and
Captain Robson, skipper" of the house
boat. The club is in a very fiourishing con-
dition, according to a statement made by
President Hearsey, who said the full limit
of membership, which is $50. has now been
reached.
Mr.. Hearsey. wearing correct nautical
costume, led off the first dance, a lively
and during the interim talked Interestingly
of the clubs future. A long list of aquatic
entertainments is under preparation, he
said. The season will not actually begin
until about the last OF July, when the first
regatta will be given. A stag" smoker
will take place on the boathouse about the
middle of July The present directorate Of
the club is made up Of Gavin L. Payne,
who was president of the club last year,
Hedian, VIII lockwood and the officers
named nreviousIv