Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-07
BOATING ON THE POTOMAC.
A Form of Sport That Has About Died
Out

Golf. and bicycling seem to have sup
planted to a large extent the once favorite
pastime of the young people of Washing
ton remarked old citizen, with a sigh
of regret. 81 refer to the days when rowing
and boating on the Potomac were in vogue,
when national regattas were held on the
river and the social life of the boat clubs
was in full swing
1.-The boat clubs still are in existence, oc-
casionally there Is a half hearted regatta
but it is nothing like the old days 1 tell
you, those were good times as thousands of
people in Washington, who will let their
memory bark back a few years over the
trail, will admit with pleasure.
Athletics and social pleasures were de-
lightfully combined In the old life on the
water. think the young men Of that day
were all the better for the exercise and out
ing that they obtained. 1t requires leisure
to go a-golfng; we did our boating after
business hours. Young men who cannot af-
ford membership in golf club could afford
to join the boat clubs. Bicycling is a soil
tary pleasure and sends the young folks off
in couples. Boating brought people to-
gether, extended acquaintance and created
good Fellowship. So, taken all together.
contend that the partial decadence Of the
old pastime is a distinct loss to the young
people Of the community.
You remember the three boat clubs which
maintained establishments on the river
tan and the Potomac. The houses were
handsomely fitted up for the comfort of the
members and entertainment of guests Each
club had full complement of boats most
of the members had their Individual outrig-
gers and there was large barge, manned
by dozen oars, to carry picnic parties
The clubs had landing places on the pictur-
esque shores of the river above Georgetown
where we would go In THE evenings and
stop for rest and refreshment, and where
we would hold picnics during the summer.
All during the summer the river would
be thronged with pleasure craft, from @
O'Clock until late at night, and on moonlight
evenings there would be general turnout
of the members Of the clubs and their
friends. AS I said. most Of the members
owned their outriggers. and each would
The boys were proud Of their muscle in
those days, and the girls felt confidence in
intrusting their safety to the bronzed
broad sted horny-handed young fellows.
days of social position whose palm wasn't
full of calloused bumps or blisters. the re-
suit Of handling the oars
The dances given at the boat houses
were the events Of the season among the
young folks. They were delightful affairs
and served to bring together the Young men
and women Of the city in pleasant acuuaint-
ance during the summer season, which
in the winter
1--WE had national regattas on the Poto
mac in those days 1 remember the great
Hanlon-C Courtney contest, which brought
people from far and wide. There were
spirited regattas between the local cIuhs
and several times during the season boat
crews from other cities would visit Wash
ington to contest for prizes. 1 Remember
that The Evening Star gave $500 cup as a
prize on one occasion, which still il being
contested for somewhere about the countrv
The Washington crews used to go to other
cities to row, and always a party of wash
ington men would go along to hearten the
boys. Wv
Il remember some of the good oarsmen of
those times. the Wheatley boys Charlie
kintner. Frank Mute, Phil Dodge. Frank
Miller. Platter Green. Bobbie Elder. W
Roberts, Andrew Bradley, Dick Pairo
Charley Brown, Doctor Frank Jones
Claude Zappone. John Doyle w C. McKen,
ny, Rush Marshall. Sam Stinemefz ana
Frank Gassaway. These were only few
whose names come to my mind at the mo,
ment. There were many Others whose
prowess added to the fame of their respect
i've clubs.
THE more 1 think of 1t the more am
convinced that it is a pity the good old
sport should be permitted to decay. II 10
manly sport and cultivates courage
nerve, discipline and the spirit of fair play'
! wish the boys could get together and
nave a grand revival Of II ~