Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1914-07-17
CANOEING ON THE
POTOMAC RIVER
Forrest Stuart Writes of a Delightful Evening
Spent with Party Of Friends Canoeing
on the Placid Waters Of that Stream.

Our party consisting of six half /
and half" AS per arrangements
previously made, we met at o'clock
on the evening of June 9th and !
boarded a Georgetown car. Ten
minutes ride westward along Penn
sylvania avenue brought US to the
bridge spanning the narrow ravine
that separates Washington from
Georgetown. After another ten
minutes travel thru the untidy
streets of the last named place, we
arrived at Aqueduct bridge. This
bridge crosses the Potomac river at
a point where the stream is 800
yards wide. A great amount of
traffic and many electric cars pass
daily over it from the District of
Columbia into Virginia and vice
versa. 1t lis amusing to watch the
change that takes place as cars start
from fne District to the other side.
Usually among the passengers is a
certain class of beings, known as
"colored folks" in the Capital of
our country, who, tho they never
fail to push ahead Of everyone else
and nab the best seats IN the scar
while within the limits Of the afore-
said city, lose no time in getting
back to the rear of the interurban
coaches rs they move toward
state which appreciates the reason
ableness and necessity of rigid en-
forcement of a certain set of laws
enacted by one Jim Crow" Over
there they are known as "niggers"
and they act accordingly; whereas
in certain parts of Washington they
do not hesitate to push white per-
son off the sidewalk.
Situated directly beneath and
slightly to the east of the north end
of Auueduct bridge is the Potomac
Canoe Club, which has a member
ship of about 200, including three
swift rowing crews. There is
neat dancing floor in the building
which il crowded with "fish-walk
ers'' most every night. Fifty yard
farther west is Dempsey's Cano'
Club, the largest on the river. Owe
500 canoes are kept at his place
The majority of them are owned b
members of the club; the others ar
the property of the proprietor an
may be rented at reasonable ratei
Washington Canoe Club, located 5
yards west of Dempsey's, is simila
to the Potomac" 1t has approx
imate1y 200 members. There al
a few other canoe clubs at otht
points on the river. but the thrc
named are the principal ones.
Looking westward from the tt
of Adueduct bridge one is confron
ed with view of enchanting beaut
Nesting on the bosom Of the cal
waters rs feet below may be se'
hundreds of launches, motor boat
house boats, skiffs, shells, skulls al
canoes. A mile away in the cent
of the stream are three small roc
islands, known as The TIN
Sisters Beyond is the green v
oinia shore, rising in stately graz
eur to varying heights of from !
to 500 feet, so thickly covered W
foliage that from a distance it
sembles range of rolling wooC
hills.
We descended the steps leading
= Dempsey's, entered our respect
dr. ressing rooms and arrayed o
selves in our outing clothes.
helped Lyon launch 'Snookums,
17-foot "Oldtown," in which l
third interest. We bought
Sd econd hand and are in no way
:, 1,onsible for the name that adj
ii. next assisted Halter IN lau
inc "IvanhOe, his 1S-fOot Nor
At 6 o'clock lunch was put on DO
the cushions were arranged and
edies were placed in comfort
positions. Lyon and his par
elected ''Snookums"; the other
Kirls, Halter and l chose
hoe" Paddles in hand, Halter
cupied the stern and ! the
Lyen padded his own G
..Ready?" he asked. Yes.
we. AN right, we're of.