Evening star., 1936-05-03
BY John Clagen Proctor.


By John Clagen Proctor.
THE weather is now getting fine
for outdoor sports and, soon,
even those interested in row.
ing and canoeing and In boat
ing generally will be spending all the
time they can spare along the water
front and on all parts of the pic
turesque Potomac River-the same old
historic stream that has afforded
pleasure for the people of the District
OF Columbia ever since 1t was decided
to place here the Nations Capital.
OF course, during the pioneer days
of the city, the inhabitants were too
busy. working hard and eking out
living, to devote much time to sports
of any kind. Indeed, it has not al
ways been that people worked eight
hours a day with a half day on Sat-
urday, for many can still recall when
from sunup to sundown constituted
days labor, and, for many years, 10
hours day was required of all trades
men here and elsewhere, and the COM
mon laborer was given even greater
task.
Gradually, however, as the popula-
ton increased, and money became
more plentiful, and people had more
time to devote to pleasure. an increas-
ing interest in all kinds Of sports was
taken, and today a larger percentage
~f hn ry{u IF
of each "a to recreation and enjoy
ment, and much of this time is de-
voted to rowing-one of the most man
ly and strenuous Of all the sports.
WASHINGTON still has its active
wv boat clubs and throughout the
Summer loonths we find their activi-
ties chronicled in the press. Their
names, and many of the members OF
the present organizations, are familiar
to us, but there are few people who
have any recollection of the old Fall
con Club, the pioneer boat club OF
Washington, which was organized
September 2. 1874, nearly century
founder of The Star, as president.
Matthew Henry Stevens was its first
treasurer and John F. Coyle, for a
decade or more one of the proprietors
of the National Intelligencer, the Sec
retary. The other original members
included w. H. Topping, George Med.
Burke. Curtis B. Graham, George Pat
ten, Charles King. John Waters, James
Charles, Charles T. Smith, William
E. Marcoe, A. S. Newton, James F.
Halliday, Josiah r. Bayley. Thaddeus
A. Provost, Whitman c. Bestor, Rufus
Elliott, william Kendall. Walter Len
OK and William M. Laughlin. Malcom
Seaton, Orson Bestor and Hudson
Taylor were younger members of the
club.
Their boat was purchased from a
club in Philadelphia and, according
to an early account, was an eight.
Dared lap-streak barge and was con-
sidered a model craft. It would bear
very favorable comparison, even after
the lapse of years, with many of the
boats Of today, although it was entirely
and unnecessarily too heavy. How
ever, its owners-like a child with
new toy-handled it very delicately
and got in and out of it with the
utmost care. always wearing slippers
or pumps.
Its arrival in Washington was
great day for this early boat club
and its launching took place at Sixth
street and Constitution avenue, near
where the Baltimore and Potomac
Railroad depot stood for many years
and where President Garfield was
shot on July 2, 1881. However, this
was before the days Of the railroad
station and at a time when the old
canal sluggishly flowed through
downtown Washington.
A rough shed was built for the boat
near where it was launched, and for
awhile this served as its boat house.
Later" 1t is said, "the boat house was
at the present entrance to the Smith
sonian grounds, adjoining the Tenth
street bridge, over the canal.
In the evenings, the Falconers would
lower their boat into the canal and
run out upon the river. In the earlier
years of the clubs existence no trouble
was experienced in reaching the river
channel, but the fats began to I'LL
very rapidly, and later the oarsmen
were compelled to take advantage of
high tide to get out successfully"
TIP TO this time residents of WASH
ington seldom went on long ex-
curSons down the river, and confined
themselves generally to places nearby,
and particularly attractive was Airing
ton Spring. also called Curtis Spring,
In honor Of the proprietor of Arling-
ton. The once-famous picnic ground,
arranged for the benefit of the public
by George Washington Parke Gusts,
adopted son of George Washington,
resided there for more than half q
century and who lies buried nearby,
lay in the lowlands, in the eastern
part Of the once famous estate, large
part Of which is now known as Ar
lington National Cemetery.
Mr. Gusts was an honorary member
OF the Falcons, and Is said always to
have called them his boys and gave
them the run OF the estate. He built
q wharf for them and erected a pavil-
ion, that they might indulge in their
favorite amusement Of dancing. As q
result the club gave many large par
ties ut the picnic grounds, and, accord
ing to an early account, when the pro-
prietor of Arlington saw party arrive
he would bring his fiddle and play for
them as long as they would dance, and
though he knew few tunes, yet he
would play these over and over "as