Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-15
SPORTING PRESIDENTS
CHIEF MAGISTRATES WHO WERE
HANDY WITH ROD AND GUN.
George Washington Hunted Along the
Shores Of Potomac and Chesapeake
Say-No Did Harrison the Second.
From the New York Times.

SA"h tne ANeW IoTh Ilines.
Persons interested in the big camel hunt
ing trips and the daily athletic exercises Of
President Roosevelt need only to examine
the recorcs of former Presidents to learn
that he is Gy no means the first chief execu-
tive to spend his vacations and leisure
hours in the pursuance of sports. On the
contrary. from President Cleveland back to
our first President. the resident of the
White House who has not practiced some
sort OF outdoor diversion is rather an ex-
ception than otherwise
No more arduous fisherman and duck
shooter could be imagined than President
Cleveland. At his home near Buzzard's
bay he spent every moment of his leisure
time in his favorte pastime with the rod
and reel. 1t was a common thing to see
Mr.. Cleveland out to catch the proper tide
even before dawn, and his skill is said to
have been equal to that of any of the old
shellbackS in the neighborhood when IT
came to playing a bass
Even while in Washington Mr. Cleveland
frequently sought relaxation from the try
ing duties of his office by taking to his ,,n
ana hunting along the shores of the Poto-
mac and Chesapeake bay for duck
Cleveland Not the First.
Nor was President Cleveland the first to
-o''-N' I'm" 6iouiio, WHICH is pODui9rlX call
ed the presidential hunting preserves"
PRESIDENT Harrison went duck shooting
along the shores of these WATERWAYS and
hunted every foot of them clear to the sea.
All sorts of wild duck abound in this dis
trfct, among them canvas backs and be-
sides these quail. pheasant, snipe and wild
turkey are to be found President Harrison
was fairly good shot with a gun, but his
first venture proved slightly disappointing
Tor he mistook black pig belonging to n
negro for raccoon. He offered at once to
setts for the pig. but the patriotic owner
uecnned, on the ground that he had been
nlghly honored by President of the limited
STATES shooting his pig, and that the proud
oisunction would be handed down from one
generation to another I'm his family prost
Gent Harrison never took much to horse
pack riding nor to field sports but with
snooting ne feil more and more in love as
sneakbox, an achievement of which anv
duck hunter may well be proud
Before George Washington became Cen
Washington he hunted all over this same
GROUND. AFTER he became a general he had
little time for hunting and shooting hrt ~
was passionately fond of horsebac ok riding
ana was considered an excellent borsen,an
Even curing the days when numbering stage
ooaGHes We're responsible for much riding
IN the saddle and when horsemen Uera n1an
t .ilui. once In the presidential mansion
however, President Washington 49,
foula opportunity to indulge himself in bis
aaEoIlte pastime, but when he did he rode
as near as time allowed to the scene ,, toue
as young man the crack of his pnn baJ
front. -o'' VI tlie wafer
A Swimming President
furious TO say, fond as Presidents Cleve-
anu ana harrison were of the water from,
ie4'Hef OF them ever found pleasure IN
swimming. President John Quincy Adams
was by all odds the swimmer President q,
the White House. Next to Ren;a,oi,,
t niamhhn, ne was the best swimmer of anv
fannc man in Washington President
ADAMS also was remarkable walker -
frequently he combined his two bohhias
olten ne arose long before dawn UaIlse6
as Iar as Georgetown, where he hi n
. &c 1e nook, and, stripping plunged into
the Potomac Then, after a long rofrssb
ing swim he would dress and walk bacx to
ms nome, where he arrived by break Of
cay, ready for whatever came
sta es n Roosevelt's trip into Yellow
stone Park recalls similar vacation which
president Arthur spent in the same -
accompanied by Gen. Phil Sheridan Presi'
cent Arthur was especially fond of canning
caslon was a hundred miles from where he
might nave been reached by telegram
WIRE Bass and trout were Mr. Arfburs
Iavorltes. He is said to have been remark
SNPSie a. casting the lily, and once
When on visit south. the Fishing Club of
Louisville presented him with an exquisite
roo. suitably engraved, and of this he
president ever felt especially proud.
Garfield as a Hunter.
President Garfield was another of our
Presidents given to the pursuit of sports.
He did not care for fishing, however.
Hunting was his pet diversion. But aside
from this he took lively interest in all
sorts of field sports, especially in the ma
tonal game, base ball. Billiards was an
other favorite diversion with President
Garfield. During his administration a new
billiard table was placed in the basement
or the White House, and here he played
almost regularly every afternoon Presi-
cent Garfield also was fond Of ho-seba cIe
riding. Taking him all in all he was prob
ably the most all-round sporting President.
for no matter what the sport he felt AT
least mild interest in It,
AS might be expected, among the early
Presidents horseback riding was the chief
diversion. In their day sports had not been
developed to tho fine point of excellenoe
which they were destined to achieve. Rut
tho horse remained. and no more enthusias.
tic horseman could be found than Presi-
cents Jefferson and Monroe.
President Roosevelt. therefore, Is NOT
cutting a new swath" in the habits and
customs Of the Presidents of the United
States. If anything, he is following in the
steps OF thoroughly beaten and weIl-de-
fined path.