The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-08-23
AQ IA TIC.
Sports on The Water Second annual Regatta Of he
Eclipse Boat Club at Meyers Lake.


Tuesday was gala day for all who love Hne
healthy snort and Of class that takes the lead of
all honorable sports.
The Eclipse Boat Club, principally through the
earnest efforts Of Frank @, and Joe Meyer, who
organized the club about two years ago. held their
second annual regatta at the lake on Tuesday
afternoon and the affair was success In every
sense Of the word.
The largest crowd we have ever seen gathered
at the lake was present. and the New Berlin Brass
Baud, an excellent organization, played during
the races on the bluff above the boat houses and
the water was dotted for time with skifIs whose
oars kept splashing time to the music
AT three O'Clock, p mr. the course was cleared,
and the Stake boat, four'oared gig, rowed by W.,
# Reynolds, Julius Whiting jg,, A, 8, Hunting.
ton, and Norman Chance, took It's position at the
foot OF the lake and the sport began. ]. NJ. Camp
bell, an experienced oarsman, and formerly a
member off Boat Club at Madison, Wis, acted as
referee, and gave all participants thorough salts
factlon-in fact, not word of complaint was
heard from any of the losers, and the winners out
ofgood nature, half wished they hadn't won, but
rather kindly permitted some less fortunate one
to get in ahead. The course measures exactly
one mile, with the turning stake at half miles
distance from the starting and finishing point
The first race called was the Junior single sculls
in which there were three starters. L. NJ. Davis,
formerly of the Naiad Club, Ed Blechele and
John VOgegesang of the Clipper Club. The boys
got away with an even start, and Biechele spurt.
ed TO the front at once. The race was finely con.
tested between Bechele and Davis, and although
the former got the lead at the send Off the latter
gained slowly on him, and at the finish came in
just half length behind Biechele, with Vogelge.
sang distant third. Time, ten minutes.
1t is but justice to Vogelgesang to say that he
has been In working boat but few times and
showed laudable spirit in entering merely to fill
the race
The second, a skif race, had five starters, and
was won by Frank Purney.
The double sculls came next, and there were
but two starters, Frank @. and Joe Meyer of the
Eclipse Club, against Andy Biechele and William
Vogelgesang Of the Clipper, The doubles had an
even and admirable start, and pulled a steady
stroke, side by SIDE until near the stake boat
when the Meyer boys steered wide of the track
and the Clipper lads cut into their water and
gained the tuIn about so yards in advance. After
the Eclipse men turned the stake boat, they made
an admirable spuTt and steadily gained on theil
competitors and finally gained the race by 9
length and half. No time taken.
The tub race followed, and was contested by
five youngsters, who splashed, foundered upset
and sunk, affording considerable amusement L
the crowd on the bluff The silver medal wal
won by the smallest lad of the lot a son of NJ. E
Wilcox.
The final and most interesting race of the day
fba Of half inns
six o'clock. The entries were Frank C. Meyer
Joe Meyer and Milt Ballard of the Eclipse, ant
Harry ChafIey of the Clippers, They got an ever
start, and after short pull, the race settled dowr
to contest between Frank G. Meyer and Bal
lard. They turned the stake closely and came
up the home stretch, as 1t were, neck and necl
crossing the line in the same way-in fact, they
were so close that spectators on the bank begaI
to cheer for Meyer but 1t was obvious to persons
on the Judges boat, looking in bee line from
flag to flag, that Ballard came in about thirC
of a length in advance; Joe Meyer third, anC
Chaffey fourth Time 81 minutes.
This closed the regatta, which was in all re
spects success, except perhaps it is to be regret
ted that not a single member of the Naiad Clul
was entered, for the benehtof which organization
more than any other one, the regatta was gotter
up,
The prizes consisted Of silver goblets, cups ant
medals, all appropriately engraved.
The Meyer brothers deserve great credit for tn,
energy displayed in the emanagemento of the affair
but they find their reward in its success
The members of the press gang are also unde
obligations to them for valued favors.
1t is to be hoped the occasion will be repeate,
as often as expedient, aud probably it will be- a
the participants certainly received all the encoul
| agement due.