Evening star. [volume], March 30, 1889, Page 7, Image 7

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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THE COLUMBIA ATHLETIC CLUB.
MUSCLE, SKILL AND PLUCK.
A PALATIAL NEW CU B HOUSE.
Prominent Washington Athletes and
What I hey Can l)o.
A conn.etc rmoiptios or rnr proposed new
EUILI'IMV?AKSANHFHESTS FOB COXFOKT AND
COST*NIENCE? now THE < LCK IS MANAGED ASD
WHO COMPOSE II?A CEEDITABLE ORGANIZATION.
In those primitive times when men were
teally individuals?previous to the formation
o; communities?physical strength commanded
? greater i>monnt "f esteem than it docs to
day. Strange as such a remark may seem in
these times of at hi- te worship and just at the
opening of the baseball season. it is neverthe
K m true. In those jroo*l o!d d*js crerr mon
had to be his own polict man. nnd quite fre
quently was also somebody else's executioner;
therefore, to prevent the tables being turned
to sie h an t xtent that he b^coinc the executed
while some one else performed the execution
er's office, he had to put himself in first-rate
physical condition. The ancient Greek was
the best athlete the world hits over seen, and
kt did not have such a dreary time when he
was training as some more modern athletes
h:.ve had und do have. He was always in
training, commencing when a boy of ten or
twelve, and continuing until some more skilful
or j owerful antagonist enme and took away
H"t only his honors bnt his life also. Religion
then was nothing but the worship of external
nature, and adoration was paid to physical
h? aitv und> r the i lines of Venus and Apollo,
and physical strength as emLodied in the myth
of Hercules.
The (.r-ek athletes differed very materially
from the'r 1 itt. r-<! ?y followers in the end sought
to be nebi< v? d by training, and none of the
ancient writer* make more plain the difference i
than did lialen. the physician. He said: j
? Athlett s devott them-. Ives to increasing the
t>u!k of tin lr fi -h and the quantity of their
tt irk and viscions blood?not to the work of
rim| !y rt nd.-ring the l>odv more robust, but
more nia?ivr. and therefore more likely to
rru?h an adversary l>v mere weight. This sort
?>t train.;.;; i- dwntm of no use in the acqtii
Hliai of tl.at vigor which maybe attained by
ordinary means, and is. besides, very danger
?US."
? ? den's professional opinion did not seem to
have much weight. for the race of athletes in
creased and multiplied and strove?and for
what.' The reward of the victor in those days
w?f simple and inexpensive; a wreath "of
parsley, wild olive, pine, oak or laurel leaves.
S<> heavy purse nor skilfully graven golden cup;
i;o!d <t silver meuals. artistically designed
slid ju.li. iously displayed in the prominent
window of Mime jew.-lcr on the Avenue. And
jet :iie wreath brought in its ir.nu more glory
and greater privileges than nnv of the more
r? < nt and more expensive trophies. It gained
for its i? ?ess >r the applause of the people
throughout the whole ot Greece. When he re
t .rie il iionii he made his solemn entrance into
the ?? ?? :i in a four-horse chariot, pr* ceded by
t n-h-beart rs and: >ilowi d by a long proce -sion.
II did not enter by the common gate of the
town, bnt by a breach made in the walls ex
pressly to do him honor; by this ceremonal it
v * intended to indicate that a city that
r<>uld count among its sons a numbi r
ot valiant athletes had no need cf walls
to protect it against the besieger. Af
ter the parade was over there were still
several honors and privileges left. He had the
right to a free pa- to all public games, aud as
.thtre w< re games i.bout twice a day. including
. lildav-. the privilege Was a valuable one to a
man whose mind had an economical turn. His
name was grav* 11 on a marble tablet and prop
erly displayed, and he was freed from the per
form;. n. e of all civic duties. He was exempted
li' in liability to pay taxes, and was maintained
kt th national expense, while to crown all his
native tow n set up a statue of him. in bronze,
representing him in the attitude in which he
was when he gained the victory.
THK PRESENT.
How things have changed! The winner rides
home on his bicycle or takes a street-car. There
no parade, no marble tablet, no immunity
from taxation, and no statue. The ceremony
of presenting the prizes is as simple as possible,
and it often winds up with nothing more than
a k- nt ral invitation from everybody to evcrv
1 -dv else to go out and "have something." A
f. w linen in the newspapers, with the athlete's
t tme misspelled, is about allelic fame that fol
lows a vi. tor*.
The sporting reporter of to-day differs mate
rially from his ancient predecessor in that while
he may chronicle some marvelous things he
lot begin to approach him in the forma
tion oi creatures of the imagination. The his
t -riaii. suy that Miio of t'rotou ran a mile with
i f.-ur-year-old ox on his shoulders, then killed
th animal wuh a single blow of his ti-t. and
finally ate every inch of his carcass in the same
day. The reporter was very remiss in failing
to state whether or not he chewed
the hide also. The same veracious young
?nan also made public a s?at. ine'nt to
t!:. . ff. t that Milo ate twenty pounds of meat,
t-.v. nty pounds of home-made' bread and drank
ti le, n pints of wine at every meal. Polydarnas.
ol Thessslis. was another man who had friends
r;i the | re-*, for it is recorded of linn tli.it he
s. ized a hull by one of its hind feet, and the
in mal only made its ese-ape by leaving the
1 ??? i!i the Theasalian's hand, tsuch reporters
eo i ?!-. cure tirst-; l i.so positions in New York
t j-iIkv.
1. very thing is changed now. The profes
?i mal athlete has saweu so many boats and sold
so manv . <.ntest- tliut he is m the background.
1 h? amateur athlete, who trains and runs or
r >w- i,r do.--, anything ??!-.?- b. it* r than most of
his fellows, is at the front, respected and be
loved. a good citl/en and a man whom his
?? uiitrymen. in a reasonable, rational way. de
ligLt to honor. Of such is the Columbia' Ath
M tic club made up.
The city of Washington never had an ath
let. organization worthv of the name, except
1 - "! ?? the old volunteer tire eom
l-ain - until a ft w of the more vigorous niem
!?? r-of th- old Columbia boat club decided to
ext. nd their sphere >f usefulness. That was
in I'e. ember. ?; he nitn who made the
1r"! '*iti ?n were enthusiasts, and they soon
La., larg- number of support- rs. especially
?Hi- t. e v.,miger memb* rs of the boat-club.
A ii. -tins 1 that ? rganiaation was called earlv
1.. i-- and at that meeting, after much discus*
s ,n it wa> decided to merge the boat club into an |
?:LI. lit c.ub. wher? l-oating would be oulv one i
of the many ftttures. On April C there was i
another meeting, and there the deed was done. I
sixty-eight p. r?ons signing the constitution and
I. coming membtrs of the Columbia athletic
eiub by purchasing a second mortgage bond,
the proceeds of which w. re to be used for the
advantenu nt of the club's mat< riai prosperity.
1 he change ,n the character of the organization
hroi ght w.th it numerous chai.g-^g in the per
sonnel of the membership. Forty-one men
Who had be I* ng. .1 to the boat c.u!? declined to
r> main on the rolls when It enlarged its sphere
of us fulness, hilt their places were tilled a little
more rapidly, if that was possible, than they
?i.ri miptird. forty-flve new members coming
in while the forty-one were going out. In
January. ls>s. t)lt. elub had 204 active meni
Wrs and "6 i.on-resident?a remarkable in
crease hut nothing like so remarkable as the
gam up to January, lss!?. when the athletic
tr -ad riimb.-rtd olS active and 112 non-rtsi
tlent. Cilice then the active list has climbed up
to O.V-. and a steady stream of applications is
|>. uring ill.
VrAKTCBS.
When the Athletic club was organized its
Ii-adquarters consisted practically of but one
rxmi. on New York avenue, near loth street.
1 ut a month late r it was found necessary to
move to the building occupied at present?*0'J
14th street. The numerous rooms were appro
iriately furnished and the membership w is.
f r a time, happy. The second-mortgage bon is
? id rapidly, and with the pr?**e? ds the club
| ur ha.-L-J a lot at the junction of t)hio aveliue
sud 1 jth and 1> stre-ts. Here the athletes pro
| .1 to erect a suitable club-house during this
summer, but tin ir plans were upset by an offer
which tauie from Mr. John 11. McLean, who
cwuetj the lot on <i street. Bear l*th. He
agrt.d to s. II th< property for e-kl.tlUO on
twenty years' t.rue. wuii interest at the rate of
l> per cent. He also volunteered to loan the
S'imi of $2.>.ISS) toward the erection of a suitable
i-uil.iiug on the property, the monev to be
availai.i* w hen the club had expended a like
? um on the house. The offers were at once
accepted: the first mortgage was given Mr.
JI. L' an to secure the lot and the loan, and the
club is now eng tged 111 raising its share by
B.ons of second-mortgage bonds, which bear 6
percent interest, and are geuirally regarded
?s a good inv estmcut. Members are subscribing
Liberally and success is assured.
The new buuding >oon to be erected on the
?outh side of G street, near the corner of
Eighteenth, will be a veritable palace of physical
culture, designed by experienced intellects to
meet all the proper demands for modern mus
cular development. The architect is J. West
Vaguer. The arrangement* are now complete,
anil unless the weather seriously interferes the
n w Htructure will commence to grow within
tlie next three weeks. The lot on which the
clubhouse will be erected is historic ground.for
oil a portion of it stood the ol 1 State department
MHh It immediate ly adjofas *L- Hopkins
property, which occupies the Eighteenth street
corner. Its front measurement is 1?0 feet and
back to a 30-foot alley it extt nds 118 feet. The
building will occupvh.3 feet front on the center
of the lot. while a large tower 20 feet square is
to add to the massive character of the structure
and decorat? the northwest corner. The house
will l>e open on all stde?. The material in its
w.;l!s will be stlected ha'id-made brick, laid in
red mortar, with trimmings of Seneca stone,
pressed brick and terra cotta.
The main Entrance will be on the ground
floor, aj proacbed between two mrsssive blocks
of carved stone set on either side of the great
arched doorway. I"? ndent from the arch will
boa huge antique lantern of very elaborate
design. The doors will open into a spacious
vestibule, lil by 28 feet. On one side of this
room. the flooring of which will be tile and the
' woodwork oak. is the office of the clerk of the
; club. From his window he will be able to sec
e<j"h person who enters or leaves the building
and thus be eniblcd to pr vent the entrance or
; delay the departure of suspicious characters or
persons who hare no business within the walls.
I In this vestibule the visitors' register will be
kept?a choice collection of athletic chirogra
phy.
! he principal illumination lier?* will proceed
from a bronze electric torch which will stand
on the nev.-el post of the stairway. Alongside
of the torch f;nd a part of the same design will
be the figure of a modern "sprinter" with ui>
I lifted hand and every nerve and muscle ready
to respond instantly to the signal which will
scud him down the'track.
TO T1IF BOWI.INO AIXF.YS.
Trom this introductory point?this vestibule?
the bowling alleys will be reached through n
hallway. The plans contemplate the fitting up
of four alleys of the full regulation size, with
| all the latest improvements. They will occupy
] the eas era portion of the building from front to i
swimming pool, HO feet. Alongside these maple- i
i floored corridors, where the heavy spheres will j
; rumble thumb ringly. is a hallway, six feet wide, j
having on its west side n small lodging room for !
j the accommodation of a watchman, aud next j
] to this is the boiler room, from whence the en
| tire building will derive its heat during cold
! weather. .
TURKISH BATHS.
South of the boiler-room will be one of the
best features of the club-home?a completely
appointed series of Turkish bath-rooms. Here
thi architect has indulged in Oriental decora
tive art so carefully that comfort has not been
made subservient to effect, nor yet has the rich
harmonious whole been spoiled by any incon
gruous-appearing ?id to cleanliness. '1 lie wait
ing-room. which is the vestibule to the bath
proper, will be ftirni-hed with luxurious divans
and lounges, while the floor will be a poem of
rugs. The tirbt. second and third "hot-rooms"
i.nd the shampoo-room are to be large and
thoroughly well-arranged, and when the mas
sage operator has concluded his work the
bather may roll off his slab, trot throuch a
fhort passageway, and tak>' a plunge in aswini
ming-pool. the like of which cannot be found
i in the city.
Returning from the plunge, entrance is
I easy to the bather's paradise?a prettily de
signed circular apartment, through tne jew
eled glass of whose domed roof will gleam the
fiery horseshoes of a number of incandescent
: lights. Here the languid and thoroughly
cleansed man may rest himself, and for a rea
sonable period may ri ad. drink coffee, or be
lulled to sleep by tlie gentle splashing of the
rosewater as it falls in the lirirl lc basin of the
btautiful fountain which will adorn the center
of the apartment, while the odor of its spray
gratifies tne "Bcenter'' of all witLin smelling
distance.
swiiimiso Pool
The great feature of this floor, and, in fact,
tin- prm ipal attraction in tlie building, will be
the swimming pool a magnificent sheet of
roofed-in and properly-warmed water. 20 feet
wide. oO feet long, and with a graduated depth
of from 3 to 8 feet. Its even temperature will
! be <!? gn ? . ami freak Water wdl be continu
ously pumped in while the stali*liquid is forced
? out. To ke p the water us clean as possible the
' rules will require inch bather, previous to en
j tering the pool, to wash himself at one of the
I show, r-batha. which are to be erected at the
ends of the pool. Once a w< < k the bath will
be emptied of its cont? nts and the huge tub
will be cleaned. On tin- south side of the pool,
aud running parallel with its entire length, will
b..- a prettily-arched colonnade with a p tvement
of tiles. This will be separated from the bath
only by a br.i-s rail, aud here the bath' rs will
promenade between "dips." It will also be
used by those who desire to reach the
epring-haftrd. which v ill be at the deep end of
tlie pool. At night the great bath Will be bril
; liautly lighted by clusters of electric lights,
' which w ill encircle the pillars of the colonnade.
| liuring the summer evenings the scene in this
apartment will In- one which art itself might
j fail to truthfully depict. Twenty or thirty of
i the moot muscular young men in the city? the
i best types of American civilization?enjoying
; the combined necessity and luxury of as much
' bath as they want; swimming, diving, turning
? somersaults, and performing any aquatic prank
; that may suggest itself. Now the whole crowd.
with one exception, is still anil the exception
| is giving ati exhibition of some new kind of
| daring or skill; then the eutire troop chases
itself out of the pool at the shallow end. races
I down the colonnade, and one after another, as
; fast as the spring-board can throw them, they
' plunge into tie liquid d*-rth. w hich is as bright
aud clear as the reflected electric lights can
' ever make Potomac water. The club does not
propose, however, to monopolize tlie pool,
flic w ives and children of member* aud others
; in tin ir families are. on certain days and under
; certain conditions, to be admitted. The awim
, mmg-in-tructor the ??professor"?will bothere
at si! tim* s anil under his tuitiou the young
; idea as well as its more matronly progenitors
j will be taught the natural art aiid the easily |
soluble mysteries of how to do for themselves
' what animals can do without aid or instruction. '
; The dressing-rooms for the pool are on the
floor above aud are reached by a rear atairwav.
THE MAIN FLOOR.
At the head of the great stairway, on the
second or main floor, will be a hall?14 by 28
; feet- finished in quartered oak. and leading out
, of this will be two reception rooms. One of
, these, for club purposes, occupies the entire
| front of the building with the exception of the
i space taken up by the stair-hall; the other, a
smaller one. is for visitors, behind this the arch
itect has placed the drawing-rooin. a fine apart
ment 20 feet wide aud 33 feet long, and iu Its
rear is the librarv aud reading-room, almost as
large. In all these rooms will be open fire
plact s but the one in the librarv will be more
than ordinarily capacious. Huge logs will
crackle on its antique andirons aud. standing
with his back to the cheerful blaze (an attitude
which the author of "Don't" savs is impolite.)
the clubman may gaze through the arches of
half-opened portieres down a vista of 72 feet
into the stair-hall. A plentiful supply of day
light will illumine these rooms from the long
wiudowson the west side of the buildiug. win
dow* which open out on a covered veranda,
8 feet wide and 78 feet long. Heated on this.
| lady visitors and club guests can witness the
games in the t< unis-court wbich will occupy
the space west of the building. Later in the
| evening when the ladies have gone home the
| veranda will be a pleasant place for member* to
j sit and smoke and tell marvelous stories of
athletic achievement?past, present aud to
1 coma.
T HE N E W C
OFFICIAL HEADQCARTFRH.
Opposite the strangers' reccption-room?oil
the east side?is the official headquarters, a
spacious apartment sacred to the use- of the
board of governors and the officers of the club.
Here these dignitaries will assemble in solemn
conclave uninterrupted by the membership.
Entrance to this room will be forbidden to all
save the elect, and the privacy of the office will
be emphasized by a door?the only one of any
importance on that floor.
Behind this room will be the hat nnd coat
room, and here what is usually faulty has been
made perfect. The window at which the head
gear and garments will be received is to be in a
deep recess, so that while there may be a crowd
thereat the hallway will not be obstructed.
Hardly a club-house in the country has a suffi
ciently large hat and coat room, but the Colum
bia's architect and building committee have
provided space so ample and pegs so numerous
that if the entire membership of the club wants
to hang up its hat and coat at one time it can
be done and there will still be room to spare.
LOOKERS.
Next in succession toward the r??ar is a lock
er-room. and here will be 300 lockers, in which
the bathers, the bowlers, the lawn-tenuis fiends
and the others who may fee! so inclined will
li/le their best clothes while tiny paddle
around the pool, roll the noisy balls, whack an
unoffending ball back and forth acrotis a lielp
less net. or otherwise amuse themselves. En
trance to the locker-room in cut off from tL<
main hall by a swinging door, the second and
last one on that floor; all tho other entrances
and exits being between the soft folds of grace
fully hung portieres.
In the extreme rear are to be two store-rooms.
These will be reached by a stairway fron: all
entrance on the alley, and this stairway wili be
used by those employed in the cafe and bv the
jnveniies who will patronize the bath and the
gymnasium. The remainder of this floor is to
be occupied by dressing-rooms and the neces
sary bath-rooms and closets.
THE THIRD FLOOR.
proceeding up the main stairway the third floor
will be reached. In the northeast corner of the
front ia to be the billiard-room; to contain
three billiard tables and one pool table, with
all the latest devices to contribute to the com
fort of the players.
In the rear of this will be two whist-rooms,
a barber shop, and then the main locker
room is entered. Here will be lockets
for 375 men. Opposite the billiard-room
and sharing with it the front is to be a
private dining-room, 13 by 30 feet, and be
hind it the cafe will be situated. These rooms,
with the vestibule, can all be thrown into what
would be practically one room. The windows
on the west side open out to a balcony?the top
of the veranda on the story below. A butler s
pantry is in the rear of the cafe, sandwiched be
tween that apartment and the buffet The
back portion of the floor is occupied by four
dressing-rooms, five baths, with accompanying
Hall 4 'wide.
Library
and
Reading
Room
300Lor her3
ina
Ctints
lf/ja'
Governors
and.
Officer 8
Roojn,
Reception
Room.
Reception?
IS X 2l'
llnonu
LUB HOUSE.
apparatus for sliowor an J needle baths; and all
tht: necewary sanitary conveniences. Open tire
places are in the majority on this floor.
A PERFECT GYMNASIfM.
The fourth and fifth floors are practically
one. and hero will be tho gymnasium. The
room is to be 50 feet wide and VK) feet long, mid
while nothing will be crowded, still there will
be 110 waste space. The swinging apparatus
will hang from the bottom flanged of the iron
truss-girders which will support the roof, and
is so arranged that whenever the floor space is
needed for exhibitions of skill in boxing, fenc
ing or wrestling, the ropes. &o.. can be swung
into the gallery out of the way. This gallery
is 9 feet above the floor and it contains the
running track?20 laps to the mile. In the
rear of the room, under either side of the gal
lery, are to be the boxing and fencing rooms,
where ambitious youth may thump and prod
itself to its heart's content. Those who desire
to toy with rowing machines and other fixed
apparatus will find them near the front win
dows.
Above the boxing and fencing rooms, and on
the level of the track, will be the kitchen and
the servants' rooms.
The gymnasium will receive most of its light
from above through the medium of skylights.
The roof will be double, with a large air-space
between the outer and inner shells so that the
fierce summer's heat will be made endurable.
The glass in the outer roof will be strong and
colorless, but that in the inner shell will be of
a golden hue. so that even on the cloudiest
days there will be apparent sunshine in the
room. Tht effect has been thoroughly tested
and it is a complete success.
Thirty-six feet above the gymnasium floor
will be the "lookout" on top of the tower, and
here the main stairway, which has been in the
tower from the ground up. comes to an end.
So far. everything has been done that looks
to making the building beautiful and compl*te
The plans have been carefully scKfineiT and
none of the features were finally approved
Eaxlng
Jtoom,
20K 20
JUL
Fencing
Koonu
20X20
Gymnasium.
SO X 30
until every one was satisfied, \euui4uuii .mil
heat have been thoroughly discussed and the
most nearly-perfect sanitary arrangements
have been adopted.
Plans completed will provide a bicycle
room oil the west side of the club-house, under
the porch, with accommodations for at least 75
wheels.
THE ANNEX.
On the east side of the club-house another
building will be erected. It will occupy 44 feet
of front, and will extend 110 feet to the rear
with a height of 22 feet. The interior will be
fitted for a combination of uses: it will be
a winter tennis-court, or it may be a very
pleasant place for a ?'germaii." and it will, or
will not. according to circumstances, be
entered from the clubhouse. Iu the basement
will be fitted two bowling alleys, aud here pri
vate bowling parties may be given. This will,
says Secretary Perry, fill a "long felt want."
ANOTHER BCII.DIMi IN PROSPECT.
The ground on O street and the lot at Ohio
avenue and 15th and D streets is not all the
real estate owned by tho club. They have a
very valuable piece of real estate on 18th street
on which they will soon erect a bachelor's
apartment building, which will be tenanted by
those members of the club who believe not iu
matrimony. No plans have as yet been decided
upon, but*as soon as the new club-house is
complete the matter will be taicen tip and dis
posed of.
ON ANALOSTAN ISLAND.
Then the club has a lease on Analostan
island, whore their out-door sports reign su
preme. Five tenuis courts are there now and
arrangements are being made for a number of
additional ones. Tho quarter-mile track is
said by "experts to be the best in the countrv.
It is 24 feet wide in the stretch, with an ordi
nary width of 14 feet. There is an admirable
| baseball field and a rifle range for practice at
100 and 200 yards. Orounds for other sports
jumping, pole-vaulting, quoit-pitching. Jtc.?
aro also in perfect order and carefully ar
ranged.
It is the purpose of tho club management to
advance toward atheletic perfection aa rapidlv
as possible, and both football and la crosse will
be added to the repertoire during the present
season. The probabilities all point to a good
deal of energy during the summer months.
Capt. Gibson is getting out an eight which
will do lots of hard work between now and the
4th of July, when the long slim craft in which
the Columbia crew will row will endeavor to
push its nose ahead of all others in the compe
tition for the Sharpk-ss cup at Philadelphia.
In the club there will be a good deal of solid
competition. The 'Beds" and the "Blues" will
be pittefl against each other. Each will have
an eight-oar out, and they will contest for
supremacy in a series of five races, the winners
to De decorated with gold medals. The "Beds"
and "Bluea" will also have a base-ball team
each, and they will wlay a series of five games.
The club "nine" will be a strong one this year,
and will b? selected oat of the following ex*
it"7cn Colum
perU: W. B. Hibbs. W. Throckmorton. L. L.
Harban, John Van Renssalaer W. H O'Neill.
& J- K:a? M. B. Hanson. J. E Jones. C. L.
McCawley, L. S. Well*. jr.. W. E. Parlor. W.
H Lewis. Alex, Bntton. R. H. Wade H. D
Cochran, Eugene S. Cochran and C. G. Van
Hook.
A club tennis tournament will commence on
June Is, an J son?- tint playing mny be looked
for. especially among the new men. a number
0! whom have devt loped surprising skill during
the past three or four months.
Interest ^centers. at present, on the spring
?rlnl.e>A -1: 8lvon on the island on
.Ma\ du. 1 his will not be simply a series of
club competitions, for invitations will be sent
to some of the best outside clubs, and. n* .1
consequence, a number of crack amateur*
from other cities may confidently be looked for.
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS.
"The best executive worker in the clnb."
j said a prominent Columbia man tho other
cveninf. "is Sam Stinemetz."
bifins. who Wf*re in tho
group, re-cchocil the
1 sentiment heartily, so
j the first speaker proba
bly knew what he whs
talking about when h.
said what he did. "Sam" 1
is the director of ath
letics and a "hustler."
No work for the club is
too hard for him. and
the man has not yet
been received into mem
bership who saw him ,
endeavor to shift his re f
sponsibility or shirk hi
duty. He'wag with th<
club from the start an.;T'
developed un cnthu-i- \
asm of the most aggres
sive type. In the old boat club he served as
lieutenant and captain, and is now doing his
second term as director of athletics in the Ath
letic club. He is a fisherman and a hunt. r. and
can sit all day 011 the liver's brink, while the
sun is removing the cuticle from his noae and
the back of his neck w ithout losing his patience,
and conside rs himself ami>ly compensated if
some poor skinny eel will only nibble off *0 much
of his bait as willfnable him to say truthfullv that
he "had a bite." (!ame fowls "and rare varie
ties of pigeons are his pets, and he has a very
valuable ornithological collection on 1 xliibitio.'i
under glass, but it is us a club-man that he
shines. He would get up in the middle of the
night to start a boat race or a foot race. and if
the crow should be short one man. or if there
were not a sufficient number of starters in the
foot race he would inject himself into the con
test without a niomt nt's hesitation. Next to
his wife aud boy lie loves the Columbia ath
letic club.
c apt. rrnisox.
More thoroughly identified with boating than
any other niacin the District of Columbia, is
Capt. W. Howard Gib
son. an enthusiast who
is credited with prefer
ring rather to see a good
crew go out of the boat
'house than to eat his
dinner. For years lie
h is been secretary of
the National association
of amateur oarsmen,
and to his labors the
lovers of clean, honest
niiu itio sport owe much.
Tin-captain delights in
a boat, and although he
.cannot swim he w ill go
mt in a shell when most
men would prefer to
? \ stay on shore. His
knowledge of records, and shells, and sliding
seats, and sweeps and rowing-machines makes
him an encyclopedia of boating information.
Purine the past season the club dispensed with
the services of a professional trainer for the
crews and the burden fell on the shoulders of
the captain, or rather on the captain and
"?eto. Wherever you find one you will find
the other. "\eto" is one of the brightest little
black and tail terriers in the city, and the cap
tain would be a lost man without his canine
companion. Lieut. 1!. W. Ryan was and is one
of the captain's strong pillars. Capt. Gibson is
married.
THE VAMOCS STROKE.
F. A. Nute is the famous stroke oar of the
club and is an aggregation of pluck and muscle
calculated to "snatch victory out of the jaws of
defeat" nine timesout of a possible ten. When
the cry goes out over the river "Nute is at the
stroke!'' then everybody knows that there is
going to be a race which will test the skill and
endurance of anv crew that rows against the
Columbias. Mr. Nute's strength is not apparent
in his appearance, for he is rather inclined to
thinness, but when the proper time conies?and
he knows when that is?lie can throw more
weight into his oar than any other man of his
avoirdupois in the city. Boating is his onlv
amusement. He is a quiet man, a good steady
work'-r for the club s by>t interests, is not in
any sense one of the "b hoys," and ib married.
R. H. WAI>E.
"Bob," is the affectionate manner in which
the Columbia boys' address 11. H. Wade, one of
the Apollos of the club.
He was a member of
many of the best crews
se nt out by the old boat
club, hut did not do
heavy work last year.
He can play base ball
better than a great
manv professionals, end
as a swimmer ean com
pete on even terms with
any one in this vicinity.
With the gloves 011 ho
can more than hold his
own with any member?^.
of the club, and has, on
numerous occasions.
proved his fistic ability.
He is popular anywhere vj ;
and is a fine sample of -
evenly developed phys- '^5. ?
ical manhood.
R. J. W. BREWSTER.
The initials "R. J. W." have been removed
by the club from before the name of its all
round athlete, Brewster, and in their place is
the cognomen "Bobby." He is the son of the
late Attorney-General Brewster. "Bobbv" is
the best light-weight boxer the club ever had,
but his vigor and skill are not confined to that 1
one branch. He is a thorough oarsman, and 1
A
if
~ mm I*.. ? ...?!
lias rowed in one or two eight-oar crew*. A* a
baseball player he has few local superiors, and
he will ran with any of the boya. He is an
excellent gymnast. Ha doe* a good deal of
bicycling and is as expert to mutter* pertaining j
to guns and horseflesh. To him belongs the
! distinction of having won the ftr*t victory 'or
| the Athletic ciub. Ik taking th- junior smgl< *
! Ht * regatta at Alexanariv During the p?*t
year cr so he ha* not been ar<>ind the t i*l?
room* to any consi Jerable ext? nv for he h* e?
at Oalthersburg Md. where h>s fine h ret is
adorned by 4 beautiful wife and two charming
children.
j. c. Kosp*rp
I has the enviable reputation of b'ing the
laziest man in the club, and there are men who
?ay that he is proud of the distinction. The
| chnrge of inactivity, however, fall* to the
| ground, or into the water. w hen you put him
\
in .1 boat: there he is nil bnsines* and hard
work. What he dor* not know about practical
rowing is but small in qnantity and is cert; inly
valueless. No tirst-clnss Columbia crew could
be made up without him. I'lure in a legvtid
in the club that he ha* tri< d other line* of
athletics. Some of those who ought t.? know
sav he used to go over to the club grounds on
| Analostan Island and there practice running.
| but that he gave it up when he figured it out
i that King could give hi:a 4'.?0 vnrd* start in a
! 500 yards race, and then be it lum by two or
three second?. Ho plays b**e ball, but not in
the club nine. Mr. Koinlrrfp fs married, and is
very popular wherever he is known.
A SI'RIXTER.
Especially proud is the club of it*J"*printer,"
S. J. Kiug. a quiet, retiring young in n. but an
enthusiastic and conscientious athlete. Mr.
King first came into prominence us a sprinter
at Princeton college. mid now he is known all
over the country. He ha* eompet? d on even
terms witli the be*t men and never failed to
give a satisfactory i??count of hiiiiM It. While a
(student at Princeton he broke two records, do
ing 100 vards in 10 seconds and 220 yard* in
At the spring meeting of the
8. J. kino's start.
New York Athletic club in 1S*7 he was a close
second in the final on the 1U0 vat da. He holds
the Philadelphia Pres.* gold medal, won at last
winter's indoor meeting of the University of
Pennsylvania. The distance was 441 yard* and
lie did it in 4 4-5 seconds def. ating 29 compet
itor*. The greatest running he ever did was
at the Manhattan club sports in Madison
Square Garden on January 2*. 1SS8. rhere
were 72 men entered ill the sixty-yard dash.
King won his heat and his trial heat, and in the
final came in a very close second to Westing,
now champion of tile world. On May 19. Ism*.
he entered the 220-yard race of the New York
Athletic club, with 40 men in the field, and
won in 23 seconds. In November l.ist. at Madi
son Square (iarden. he was winning the 75
yard dash wh< n he was deliberately joatled out.
taking second in 8 1-5 seconds. In the 150
yard dash he touched the string, so the New
York papers said, at least a fi?ot ahead of the
next man. but the judge* gave him second
place. At Uockville last summer he won four
medals?one for the 100 yards. i:i 10 , seconds;
one for the quarter mile, in 53 seconds; one for
the broad jump, and one for general excel
lence. He is easily the club's champion, last
year winning the 100 yards in 10 2-5 seconds,
the 220 yards in 23 seconds, and the quarter
mile ill 55 second*. King is a b seball player
of decided ability and watches left field for
the Columbia nine. He is training carefiillv.
and the club believes be will hold tie- world's
sprinting championship before this season
closes.
?WITH THE FOILS.
Mr. Alexander C.reg. r lias been a prom nent
figure in Washington society for several veara.
Occupying a position of prominence as secre
tarv of the Russian legation, possessing con
siderable wealth and having particularly
pleasing manners, he is a great society favorite.
The public has been inclined to regard him as
a polished parlor knight, but ouly his intimate
friends know that he is au athlete from the
j ground up. He is a fearless rider, and has
i done more than anv one else to popularize the
! cross-couutry hunts at the capital. He created
i quite a sensation a couple of yc ;irs ago by drif
' ing about the city in a real lluasian urosky,
drawn alternately by a bay and a iblack. both
beauties, of the "famous OrlofT stock. While
Mr. Greger is fitted physically to engage suc
cessfully iu any field of athletic sport, he has
devoted" most of his leisure time to perfectiug
himself in the art of fencing, and has succeeded
admirably. His skill with the foils is not sur
passed by any amateur in the country, and at
the same* time he is a dangerous opponent in
ill any kiud of sword contest. The accompany
ing portrait, which will be recognized as a
particularly truthful likeness, represents Mr.
Greger iu his fencing costume. 3io member
lie. ALEXANDER OREOER.
of the Columbia athletic club has been able to
compete successfully with him in fencing, while
he has frequently had the best of exhibition
contest* witn professional swordsmen. He won
the championship for foil* and broadswords at
the recent contests of the New York athletic
club. He is a "rusher" with the sword*, and it
take* an unusually cool opponent to stand up
any length of time against him.
WASHINGTON'S FLYER.
One of the speediest bicycle riders in tbe
world is W. E. Crist. He commenced riding in
the spring of 1884. and at once took his place
as a racing man by entering for a one mile
Capital club race; he was a good second, com
pleting the mile in 3:28. He ha* improved m
speed since then, and on May 21, 1888, at
Coventry, did hi* best mile 2:33 2-5. finishing
third in the world's championship contest; the
winner doirg it in 2:32 3-5 These ""erecor^
breaking times. 235 having been the best
previously. In 1884 Mr. Crist irode in
took first in four and second in the other. He
raced eight times in 1885 and captured five first
prizes and three seoond. In 1886 he was en
tered for seven r~es. and these brought hum
first honors la firs instances and second m the
w. r. t'BisT.
other two. The star senson wa* that of 1W7.
for in that he started fifty time* and wa* re
warded with fortv-?ix pri/ee; tuirtv-eight of
them tirsts. In one of the Inst rann he fell,
and in the other* he was too heavily handi
capped. Last year he took nxtw n first prize*,
eleven seconds and five thirds, three of the
first* being <'hHni|iioushi|>?. He holds the t?o
liule nntioual chainpionslup mid the five-mile
Maryland championship. The titr-mik na
tional tricycle championship is also held by
him. 11. is a partner in two other champion
ships. He and PhiL Brown have never l?*?n
defeated on th?' tandem tricycle and are Um
{ champions on that wheel, and i'riat and l>svi?,
of Harvard coll.'(re. ure the tandem bicvcln
champions. having done the tnile in 2 44.
Crist's sunc-rioriiv is not simply one of tnns
1 rle; he riot* with his head as well as with hi*
feet, and by supe rior eencral'liip lie has oftea
snatched a rictorv. He ?ill train steadily tills
spring and intends comjieting iu all the . ham
piousliip event* abroad r.iul in all the locnl
r.wes. Crist is pre-eminently a spur tor. and
tin accompanying sketch represent* him in hia
cliAracteri-tii position when lie is rushing down
the atretch on the last Inn. When be double*
himself op in this style his admirer* know be i*
ruling to win. ai d it is a wonderfully speedy
whet lman that can prevent bun from flying
past. Crist is a well proportioned young man,
ati.1 hi* mn?c|?<. as can be seen in the picture
are highly developed.
rim.. *. wtowx.
r.rown and Cri?t make a cycling combination
that tile chilli swears by au 1 pin* It* faith on
t?ll the time. It thinks tin re is un lietter team
in nil the world than those two young wheel
men. Phil, P.rouu commenced to rid> a bicy?
cle in the spring of ls*4. and Ml months later
he started in iw ; m ill:: man at tie fall meet
illg ?>!' t'ie C.ipltal He'Vcle .?lull. Here he Wa*
au in* tali* lilt Oils success, lie captured first in
the one-mile race, covering tin distance hi
,1.0t< 1-j; in tin lialf-mile contest he was MCotid
ill 1.27 2-8. and iu the two-mile handicap, start
ing from scratch, he wa. second in 6.12 1-5. In
l*ec- he won ei^lit tirst prires aud live seconds.
i<nd in the following year bis firsts uunila red
seventeen; hi* seconds footed up five, while he
also had three thirds. Iu this same year he
and Crist, at Springfield. established tandem
tricycle records, a Inch have never yet been
broken, the mile standing at 2.45 2-5. He did
less racing in !s?7 than lie had anticipated, but
his prizes included twelve tir-ts. ten second*
and thrt^e thirds. His beet mile record ?
2.411 1-5 was ma le at Hartford iu the year, and
on the same day he won a fiv.-iuile race, beat
ing Crist and a numb. r of other cracks by more
than quarter of u mil.. I.nst *ea?oti he started
j iu thirty-seven races, won nineteen tirsts. eight
j seconds and six thirds, lie wruld have woa
I more bad it not been for his bad luck. Sev
I eral times he his been within * few feet of %
| tro|jliy. and yet lost it because of some aeci
, dent. He delights iu tiiUiHK the handle*
around with linn when he makes these involun
tary dismounts. He is iiiakiug preparation*
for doing a good deal of wheel-work this sea
thirty or thirty-five pound* very shortly. The
facilities for training here are much lietter tin*
year than ever tielore. ami he ex|>ect* to ride
; faster than he ever has heretofore.
second lieutenant of the athletioVlub, and i* a
famous "oar.** Theclub never had 1?"
than those in which he had a place. He i*
authority on boating matter*, and wa* referee
at the boat race on the Potomac laat fall, w hen
O'Connor rowed nway from Teeiuer. Mr.
Elder is an athlete outside of hi* boating abil
ity; he is the club'* champion standing high
and standing broad jumper, and wa* entered
for the broad jump at the Amateur Athletic
union games at Madia. ii Square on January 19,
but owing to heavy handi< uppatig be failed to
bring home tbo in dal. He omil?* the honor*
with Shtlley as a high kicker, and i* a more
than ordinarily clever boxer.
A TitLTU.
A. L. Mar holds the championship at bil
liards and pool, but las efforts are not confined
to these indoor games. He wears the medal
for pole vaulting, hav
ing won the champion
ship at the athletic
games. Mr. May it par
ticularly proud of hi*
victory, for he broke
the record in an unusual
war, having won at the
lowest height for which
a medal wa* ever award
ed. With the aid of the
pole he cleared the
string at exactly 4 feet.
Bo me of his longer
legged opponents could
eaaily have atepped
over, but they were un
able to manage the pole.
and consequently could a. l mat.
not do anything. Mr. Mav i* a baseball en
thusiast and ha* charge of tile baaeball interest*
of the club. He ia considered one of the level
headed members. Hi* long connection with
railroad matter* has-brought a realization of
the value of time and Dromptneaa. and lit*
judgment ie sought on all matter* involving
club policy. He is a good organiser and is the
financial secretary of the <uab, and aee* that
the due* arp promptly paid.
tenuis ciAimx.
C. L. McCawley is the club's champion '
player and wherever there are, 1m
t. v.. Et m:r.
If you went into the Columbia athletic club
building and impure*! of a member as to the
whereabouts of J. B. Elder he would probably
look blankly at you tor half a minute or so aud
then in a burst of inspiration would say. "You
mean 'Bobby' Elder, don't you?" By that
prefix is he known to his many friends. He i*