Omaha daily bee., 1906-08-26
ROD AND LUN CLUB SUCCESS
Birth and Growth Of an Immensely
Popular ORGANIZATION.
REAL SUCCESS ATTENDS ITS EFFORTS
Home on the Banks OF Cut-On Lake
IL One of the Most Inviting
- of Omaha's Outdoor
b. % Clubs.

IL One of the Most Inviting
of Omaha's Outdoor
Il a.. Clubs. 4..
The disciples of Isaac Walton In Omaha
appear at last to have achieved in the
Omaha Rod and Gun club long-cherished
ambition, in that they have succeeded in
| establishing a club which has such a large
and enthusiastic membership, that only an
extraordinary succession of misfortune can
demolish the foundation upon which 1t now
rests.
| In the past, attempts have been made by
| various followers of the rod and reel In
| Omaha to promote an organization which
| would have for It's main purpose the pro-
lection of the fishing waters in the vicinity
of Omaha and more particularly the waters
! Of c 3ff lake. which is said by w. ].
O'Br.sA. the superintendent of the State
Fish hatcheries, to be the only body OF
water of any considerable size in the Mis-
sour river valley country in which the
conditions necessary for the propagation of
| black bass are so nearly perfect. For
various reasons these attempts have all
resulted in failure, the principal reason
| being that experience has demonstrated
| that 1t is a physical impossibility to hold
| together an organization which does Lot
guarantee to its members some material
return for the money and effort which
they put into 1t. and which in an organiza-
| ton of this character would mean club
house on the shore of a convenient body
of water. we'll protected from the poachers
who usually infest the lakes and rivers
near the cities, and where members could
| be provided with the various and neces-
| sary paraphernalia requisite to a proper
enjoyment of this species Of recreation.
| Birth of the Club.
Early in the winter of 1896, Deputy Game
| Warden Henry d. Pierson OF Omaha, who
had been q moving spirit in the previous
attempts to organize the fish and game pro-
| tective associations. decided to make one
moro effort in that direction and to that
end called a meeting of those interested in
the sport at the Merchants hotel. quarters
having been proffered Sby Herman Peters,
| the proprietor. Contrary to expectations
the attendance at this meeting was some-
what discouraging, but disregarding that,
those who did answer the call proceeded
to perfect an organization and at the con-
clusion OF their deliberations there was
launched on the tempestuous waters OF the
sporting world the Omaha Rod and Gun
club. with that grand old navigator Of
business seas, DR.. George L. Miller, In COM
mand and a crew containing within its
numbers the flower OF OmahRs fishing COLI
tingent. Fortunately for the voyagers. the
waters on which they Journeyed remained
calm until they were far from shore and
when the long anticipated storm at last
broke upon them, the good ship was far
from the reefs and shoals on which SO many
of it's predecessors had been wrecked and
under the master hand of its able conf
mander and valiant crew safely weathered
the first blow and continued on Its course.
1t was early realized by DR.. Miller and
his associates that II success was to be the
reward of their efforts 1t would be neces-
sary to plan organization which could
offer to prospective members resort where
they could gather when their business du-
ties would permit and spend a pleasant
hour in the pursuit OF their favorite pas
time. To that end plans and conditions
were earnestly and carefully considered
and the conclusion reached that the club
must be provided with a suitable club
house on the shores OF Cut-On lake. 1t
was at this time that James A. Griffith,
manager OF CORTLAND Beach, proposed that
the club house be erected within the beach
grounds. he agreeing to provide suitable
grounds and to admit to the grounds free
each member and one of his family. There
being nothing in view which offered 80
: many advantages as this proposal. the
board of directors accepted Mr.. Griffith's
} proposition and plans were drawn by Mr..
Henry Voss. the architect for a club house.
It was Just at this period that the f1rst
blow fell, in the shape OF an unprecedented
Overlooking OF Cut-Of lake. occasioned by
the late rise In the waters OF the river.
When the waters finally subsidized the sea-
! son was 20 far advanced IL was considered
unwise to proceed with the building that
year but rather to wait until the spring
OF 1906 and erect a larger and better build
ing than at first planned. Then began the
winter of discomfort and only by the per-
sonal efforts OF those who had been en-
trusted with the clubs management was
the organization held intact.
O'Brien Succeeds miller.
At the annual meeting for election OF
officers for the year 1906, President Miller
declined to be a candidate for reelection.
| but urged the selection OF a younger mem
Der for that position. and after a. careful
consideration of the situation the board OF
, directors placed in nomination David j.
O'Brien, and his selection was unanimously
approved by the large number of members
present at this meeting. The selection OF
Mr.. o'Brien has proved one OF wisdom,
seldom displayed In such an organization,
and under his genial direction substantial
progress has been achieved As assistants
to the president the members selected are
Jen w. Bedford. vice president; y. M
Mathews. secretary. and H. C. Townsend
| treasurer, and as a board Of directors n