The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-07-06

It was so late in the season that many Of the boys. who had been swimming anu boating. thought 1t was about time tne club had a pier and float, since the ciup house was right on the waters cage. AZ cord,nglv if was voted to build them as soon as possible, and the nouse eoHO secured the necessary materials.
 The float was built on a framework or beovv lors. the flooring being of one-inch nlanks with heavy molding around the edoe Iron rings were let Into the moldlng, for tying boats The float was to De Kepi In place by anchors, as there was no tue in the river. sloped gradually from the shore to depth of feet 1b feet from shore. In building the nier the boys drove two parallel rows or oA4 beams in the sand, resting firmly m tne clay beneath. These beams supported walk which extended from the clnDnouse norch 20 feet out into the water The noat was anchored off the pier, from which It was reached by gangplank hinged on m axle At the top, and sliding on roller al the bottom. The boys nailed rungs 10 the gangpank, to afford sure footing. Iney now had very good facilities for poating and swimming.
 Treasurer Charley Olmsted learned that the club could purchase light eight-oared barge for $25 from a rowing club down the river. which had lately disbanded ana wished to turn its material assets into cash. The club authorized the purchase of the barge, and several of the boys rowed It up to Rlverview. It was too large to be ac- commodated properly in the clupnouse. so the boys built long shed for 1t at the side of the house, with ways running to the water.
 George Graham was elected captain of the crew, and he finally selected the following as the makeup of the eight: Frank Carson, bow; Roy Rogers, No. ?; Jack Higgins, No g. Fritz Baumbach, No. 4; Amos Johnson, No. 5; William Stratford, No. 6; Alfred Davidson, No. [; George Graham (captain), stroke, and Joseph Stein, coxswain.
 The boys decided to hold carnival of sports on the water. It was to be their last appearance for some time to come, as they had decided to go camping In the mountains during August. Consequently, It would be the last opportunity for the people of River view to witness their athletic contests till the football season, many months away and so the forthcoming events aroused much interest It was arranged to have swim ming races, a tub race and an eight-oared barge race. The last event was hard to arrange at first, for there were no crews young enough to be on equal terms with the Perseverance eight. However the sec ond crew of the Star Athletic Club ayerag ing seventeen years, was matched to row against the home crew, which averaged hardly fifteen years.
 The Perseverance crew practiced and trained faithfully. The boys had difficulty in getting the proper stroke at first, but with coaching they developed speed and endurance. The race was to be one mile, stralghtaway, finishing at the club house. Finally the day of the carnival arrived. The crowd extended along the river bank In n long line on both sides of the club house. At eleven o'clock the first event rha wi funminp There were four Perseverance boys entered, and three from Riverview. At the report of the pistol the boys left the float and struck out briskly. They were closely punched for twenty yards, then Rex Tick nor forged to the front, with Charley Olm- sted closely following. On the last ten yards Charley spurted, but could not pass Rex, who finished yard to the good. The time was rather fast for such young boys Al 2-5 seconds.
 Next came the duck chase. A domestic duck was let loose in the water, and the ten contestants diyed off the float after 1t. It looked easy at first, but the duck eluded it's would-be captors with surprising ease. Just as 1t was about to be caught, 1t would turn quickly and paddle out Of reach. The futile efforts of the boys became laughable, and the crowd shouted all sorts of sarcastic comments at them. It was evident that the duck had many friends on shore, for each failure of its pursuers was greeted with fresh shouts of laughter. However, five of the boys closed in upon 1t from different sides, and escape was impossible. Jack Henderson seized it by the throat and bore it gently to shore, amid the boisterous ap- plause of the crowd.
 The attention of the crowd was now di rected to q catboat race between Walter Gladwins Dolphin and Dick Ives Mermaid. The boats crossed the line together, and started for the stake buoy, one mile down the river. The wind being from the south, necessitated their beating to windward on the first leg. Walter rounded the buoy first, but Dicks boat, being faster before the wind, gradually overhauled her. In q close finish the Dolphin barely managed to get the decision.
 game of water polo between the Daunt- less team and team chosen from the Perse- verance Club was won by the visitors-7 goals to 5. The next event on the varied program was the tub race, which proved te be even more amusing than the duck