The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-11
AQUATIC.

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| New Four Dared Bont for the Atnlanta Boat
Club-Ihe Launching and CkristeninS-An
| Evening Rowing Excursion.
The members of the ATLANTA Boat Club had a
very pleasant reunion last evening just before sun.
set at their comfortable house, loot OF Christopher
street. This Is not unusual with the "a. B. CO. blue
jackets at the end OF the week, as at such times
they man their barges and indulge in pulling about
| the Hudson, short or long distances as circum-
stances may dictates and while this exercise keeps
| them IN fine trim for an occasional tilt with any
similar boat crew, it binds them closer together in
that bond OF friendship necessary to the success
and permanence OF such an organization.
While thus they meet every Saturday for work and
the interchange OF good fellowship the occasion
last evening partook of all these characteristics
combined their gathering together In such large
numbers was caused primarily by the fact that a
new four-oared boat, built for the club by the well
known amateur oarsman, Mr.. George Roahr. had
been brought home, and they INTENDED 10 launch
after five O'Clock, the christening beng performed
IN capital manner by member, MI Cnas. A. Pever-
ely, VINO broke the bottle as he named 1t Cornwall
The boat Is thirty-four leet In length and four feet
wide, and constructed or white cedar, with Spanish
cedar gunwale. The inside finish Is very handsome,
beng OF solid mahogany; the rowlocks are silver.
plated, the stretchers OF an improved character; in
TACT all the modern improvements are observable In
Its construction and finish.
Immediately after these ceremonies were gone
through with the boys manned the new boat and
their eight-oared barge ATLANTA, and INDUCED IN q
pull as far as Charlie Vollmaus, Hoboken, where
they landed and began 10 take matters easy. All
looked well their club dress and heartily enjoy ed
the VISIT 1t was late when they returned, but the
occasion, although one OF manv OF like nature, viii
not soon be forgotten by the Atalanta lads. The
officers OF this club are:-
Presidsnt.Ransom Parker. Jr.
Vice P'' -sidsnt-Wiam II. Webster.
T'edsuer-John King.
secretdrg-S. W. Edwards
Ftnaacd' Secred,lI-W. &. Mainland.
ir-RuSsoll ID,
Lteutt1tdnt-l. Walienby.
Whitehall Boys the Winncrs-An Interests
ing Bit OF New Y.rk's Early HIS ory.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
SIR-As regattas and yachting have created con-
siderable excitement IN the public mild for the last
year two, and as the subject seems to have died
away and Ia scarcely spoken 81 at the present time
IL may be interesting 10 some OF your readers to
hear an account or the FIRST international regatta
that l II member 10 have taken place between this
country and any Other-between the captain OF
British frigate and the Whitehall boys as they were
then called The latter were kind Of club or asso-
citation for beating In me bay AMI harbor OF city
or New York. Part OF their calling was to board
ships in the bay In all weather, and at times they
ran great risk OF losing their lives. They were
q hardy active, fearless set OF men. and
were at that time considered superior boatmen.
They, OF course, would not row one OF their boats
against the British captain but ordered boat built
expressly for the occasion to SUIT their own judg-
ment and taste. will now give you sketch OF the
regatta according To memory; but as have no
memoranda TO remind me oil the facts, may make
mistakes III some of the details, as i am over
seventy-1ve years Old, and this must have taken
place about forfy-nve years ago, more or less The
leading facts, however, 1 remember perfectly WELL
british irlgae arrived in INC bay Of New York
the lrlgate or The captain do not rcmemDer; she
was IRON the south american station where sue
terested IN boat racing, had many trials
wn,lc there, and had beaten all mat he
boats. Consequently shortly after his arrival In New
York. he considered there would not be mucn risk
in proposing a race with New York boatmen. lie
therefore gave challenge Il think through the
press TO row against any four-oared boat In the
city Of New YORK Tor $4,000 q side, which was ac-
cepted few days alter by the Whitehall boys
The English captains boat was very superior
one; she was very light, four-oared, and was what
cIinker built Her ribs were whalebone, forming
the frame OF the boat, and she held a remarkably
well drilled crew that had practised together for
many years, winch argued In favor OF their winning
the race, and produced much difference OF opinion
as TO the result. la the meantime the Whitehall
boys hal Their boat built, and the day was fixed for
the regatta.
When the boat was finished a Kind OF council OF
war was held over her by the boatmen to decide
whether she was everything they required 10 enter
the race with. While examining her an Old boatman
remarked, boys, that boat won't do; she's en-.
treIy too stl: she has too MANY ribs or tinbers and
II you row her against that Brtlsher, you ose.n IL
was then remarked 0y some OF the society, "What
TO do there Id not time for another boat TO
be built The person who made the 1rst objection
replied that The only chance for them was to knock
out every other rib or timber. This was to make
her more Timber TO move on the water like Ribbon
that she might the more readily partially conform
70 the surface she passed over, as Ill boatmen VIII
perfectly understand.
The regatta took place and was very handsomely
won by the Whitehall boys. An account or ~ was
published In the New York papers of that day, and
10y examining the hles may DC found. can only
remember four papers that were pu bshed at that
time IN New iork-lhe Ecening Post, the Da,ty or
WeDb's COurieti or course there were other papers
published In New York. but ! don't remember any
OF them; the above mentionei were the most pro-
mlnent. There Is retired gentleman living In
the regatta as having taken place but has little
no recollection OF The details
There are many particulars OF this boat race and
some anecdotes, which might be loo lengthy 10 state
here l VIII Simply mention two The winning
boat was hung up in the old American Museum in
the PARK for many years on exhibition. heard
flying report at tie time tfur the truth OF which
| Will not vouchl that the English captain
said he lost the race In consequence o. the superb
ority In the model ana construction OF tho American
boat THIS reaching the ears OF the Whitehall boys
they proposed TO cnanQe the D0at ana bet another
$5O0U, winch the captain declined.
Allowing the above statement, that we won tho
first International regatta In New York and lost the
second between the oxford and Cambridge ana
won the third at Cherbourg IN OF war boat
with the French, 10 strikes that an inter-
madonna point OF view we are the winners partlcu-
larly wnen we consider that u race took oiace very
lately Ia French port between the boats 81 Brit.
ish and an American man-of.war and was won Nv
the latter, the account OF which has been recently
published. Yours respectfully,
COSMoPoLITE.