National Republican., 1876-08-24
SPORTS ON THE RIVER.
Launching Of the Mary Rebecca" Exciting
Sklff and Tub Races.

oklu ana 1uD naceS
Yesterday being the day selected for the
launching of the Mary Rebecca and for the
skiff and tub races on the Potomac, at the foot
of Ninth street, which were under the manage
ment of Messrs. Brooks and Thomas, as might
| have been expected, Thousands were gathered
to witness the fun and excitement incident to
the occasion. The balcony of the boat-house
was crowded with ladies and gentlemen, while
on the wharyes and shipping were assembled
all manner and classes of people, from the
bootblack and ragged urchin to the we'll
dressed and refined gentleman, all gathered
with one accord to participate in the enjoyment
of the scenes. On the river all kinds of craft
were pressed into service-the swift sailing
yachts, the neatly built row and sail-boats and
the mud -scows, and almost everything in the
shape of a boat, either ancient or modern, that
would float, presenting an interesting spectacle
to look upon.
At 12 o'clock, the hour appointe for the
launch, the Mary Rebecca was relieved of her
stays and props and let gradually into the
water, the time occupied being about fifteen
minutes. The launch was beautifully and sue
cessfully made, mo accident whatever occurring.
Mr.. Conrad Faunce is captain of the Mary Re-
becca, which is fifty feet lo?g and fifteen feet
beam, and is intended as fishing smack.
The skiff race, the most important feature of
the day, provoked spirited discussion as to who
would he the winner, and the ability OF each
Of the contestants, each one holding up his
fayorite as the one who would successfully
carry off the prize, $40. The judges were
Mr.. William II. Talbert, DR.. H. E. Leach and
Captain James johnson; timer, DIR. Leach.
The following entries were made White Lily,
by David jenkins; Mary, by VIM. Luckett;
Annie, BY VIM. McKenney, and Fannie, BY NJ.
| F. Nicholson.
The regulations of the race were for the
boats TO start twenty feet apart from the
wharf; the course to be to the buoy below
the Arsenal wharf and return to each stake
boat and round to.
At the appointed hour the contesting rowers
| were got into position, and the signal to Ego"
| given at 4:3S O'Clock. They got off we'll to-
| gether, the "Mary" taking the lead, which
| she kept throughout the entire race. They
| rounded the buoy in the following order:
'Mary'' at 500, "Annie" at 5:0lA, "Fannie" at
502Iz, "White Lily" 5:027I.
On the home stretch great excitement was
| manifested as to who was to be the winner.
The rowers kept the same positions, with the
exception of the "Mary" gradually gaining.
| The rowers rounded the stake-boat as follows
MARY" 81 minutes, "Annie" 39b "Fannie'
Il, "White Lily" 431E, the "Mary" beating
her opponents by about twenty yards, and was
greeted by shouts, cheers and the firing of a
1 cannon.
After the excitement of the skiff race came
| the tub race, which was the occasion of much
fun, and was contested in by the "Wide
| Awake" entered by H. Brion; "Good Idea, 4"
| by B. Quinn; ''Gutter snipe," by Charles B.
Galloway; "Tony Pastor" by Walter Fisher;
"Blue Bird )" by Frank Lomax; 'tLet Her Go, !"
by David Jenkins; "Syren," by Thomas
shafer. The prize offered was IS. Ludicrous
scenes were exhibited as the rowers were get
ting into position, the tubs rocking TO and fro,
nearly filling with water as their owners were
| getting in, and upsetting the occupants after
| they had at last secured footing in them. At
last they were drawn up in line, and at $50
! O'Clock the signal was given for the start, but
1 only four contested, as the rest had met with
some mishap or other. A good start was made,
"Iet Her Go" and "Wide Awake" taking the
lead, with the "Let Her Go" in advance. The
race was finally only between sinese two, As the
others soon gave Up the contest. The "Let
Her Coz kept her own and won the prize in
eleven minutes, rounding the first stake at
$50 and reaching the stake boat at 6:01, and
was greeted with loud applause. The multi
tudes then dispersed to their homes to discuss
the issues of the occasion, which will be
remembered with pleasure by those who wit
messed them and by those who took q more
active part.