Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-28
GUN CLUB LOSES HOME
BUILDING DESTROYED By FIRE
SATURDAY AFTERNOON.
Portion of Contents Saved Through En-
forts Of Members-House and
Furniture insured.

Woodmonts hospitable old club house.
near Hancock, Md, which has entertained
many men distinguished In the nation and
hundreds of men prominent In the District
of Columbia. was destroyed last Saturday.
The walls. which in the past twenty-three
years. have echoed to many a rollicking
huntsmans chorus-and, If walls have ears,
have listened to some pretty stiff tales of
prowess with rod and gun-are crumbled
into ashes. Nothing remains of the once
commodious club house and It's extensions
but solitary brick chimney.
The fire occurred about 1890 o'clock Sat
urday afternoon. 1t evidently was caused
by defect in the kitchen fiue, for when
discovered the space between the ceiling
and roof was in flames and the fire was
eating down through the ceiling. Every eff
fort with the meager resources at hand was
made to save the building, but without
avail.
The members and guests present together
with the superintendent of the club, Alex
ander Reid, fought the fire by forming a
bucket brigade, but could not check it. A
dozen laborers on the Wabash railway ex-
tension. below the club house, were sum-
moned and saved the property of the
superintendent family. as well as large
portion of the clubs furniture.
Fishing Tackle Rescued.
The members lockers were broken open
and the rods. fishing tackle and clothing
were saved. A bundle Of rods were brought
back to Washington and turned over to
Mr.. James Green, the secretary, for iden-
LITIGATION. The members and guests who
were present, Gen. George B. Williams, Mr..
w. Scott Towers. Mr.. c. C. Randolph and
Mr.. N. o. Messenger, returned to Washing
ton Saturday night.
The Woodmont Rod and Gun Club was
organized in 1881 by number of prominent
WashingtonianS, on an estate of 5000 acres
OF heavily tfmbered mountain land in Mary
land. about twelve miles west of Hancock.
A section of the property fronted on the
Potomac river, which. at this point, Is d
wide and deep stream, formed by the back
water from dam No. 8 of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal. A club house was built
accommodating about thirty guests. Re-
Gently another building was constructed
which was used as a pool room. Water
works and other conveniences made the
place very comfortable.
The land was posted and abounded in
deer, wild turkey, pheasant and other game.
There Is excellent black bass fishing in the
river, and the small-mouth black bass,
which rises to the fly in these cold noun
tain waters, Is esteemed as very game
and delicious fish.
Entertained Distinguished Men.
The hospitality of woodmont was we'll
known to sportsmen, and a great many dis
tinguished people have been entertained
there. The old register, which was saved,
bears such names as Chester A. Arthur,
Grover Cleveland William c. Whitney, L.
Q. C. Lamar, Daniel Manning, David B.
Joseph g. Cannon and senators
and representatives in Congress without
end. together with jurists and prominent
business men.
Mr.. Henry Clay Stewart Is the president
Of the club, and Mr.. James NJ. Green, Sec
rotary. Its membership includes many men
prominent in business and social circles Of
Washington. 1t is the intention to rebuild
at once, and to construct a more modern
and commodious club house than the one
which was destroyed. The house was in
sured for $4,000, and the furniture for
81 geo.