National Republican., 1880-10-14
AN UNDECIDED BOAT RACE.
A Struggle for the Citizens Prize and q
Claim Of Foul.
An Exciting Contest Between the Potomacs
and Analostans-The Race to be
Rowed Over Friday.
The Citizens Regntin.

The Citizens Regnttn.
The race between the fours, representing
the three District clubs, came OFF yesterday,
and though 1t afforded very pretty sight for
the spectators, as the struggle between the
Potomacs and Analostans was very close and
exciting, the result was rendered unsatis-
factory by y foul which occurred in the last
milo of tho race. On account Of this foul the
relative ability of the crews is involved in
as much uncertainty as the first news from
| Maine. and the public will not be satisfied un-
less the race Is rowcd over again. -
The day was in every respect favorable TO
good rowing, save that the water WIS little
rough and choppy. The friends OF the three
| clubs gathered in largo numbers at the boat
| houses aud on the river banks rs carly rs
o'clock. As the air was n little nippiug, COM
| paIntvgly few persons venturcd out in boats,
n fact which was greatly to the advantage Of
the oarsman. The boat houses all presented
a gay appearance, and especially the Colum'
bia boat h6nse, which was elaborately decor
atcd with bunting.
The course, which started from the foot of
jefferson street, Georgetown, aud extended
straight down tho river for one mile was
| tagged, aud the starting and finishing line
was marked with row of red balloons float
ing ON the surface of the water. BeIereo
| Willctt, Timekecpcrs Whiting aud Hayes,
reporters aud few other gentlemen, occupied
the tug boat Fanny Gilbert, which appeared
on the scene of action about o'clock. When
the signal was given for the crews to come TO
tho scratch, the Columbia crew, consisting of
Brice (strokc), Brace 81, Ziegler (2) and
Moore (bow). was tho first 10 pull away
from their boat house. The Columbias
were neatly attired in new uniform, con-
sisting of red caps, shirts striped with white
and black, and black brceches. Next came
the Analostan four, COM posed of White stroke;
Douglass, 3: Mnundor :, aud Page, bow. They
rOwed in new shell aud were attircd In white
shirts, blue breeches, with blue caps. Tho
Potomac crew was composed of Croploy, stroke;
Morgan, 81 Bailey, 3, and Wheeler, bow. They
wore rcd shirts aud blue pants aud appeared
bare-headed. This crew is tho one that won
the race at Fredericksburg, aud the opinion
among the Oarsmen appeared to be that they
would win this race. Tho crews were called
to position about balf-past 4. The Potomacs
having won the choice Of position
took tho centre Of the course. The Aanalos.
| tars chose the Virginia side leaving the water
on the District side for the Columbus. After
receiving tho preliminary instructions from
the referee ut 4:54, that official, having eau.
toned tho oarsmen to look out for them.
selves, gave tho word, Are you roady2 Go |"
The three boats dashed OH well together, tho
PUtomacs taking the water little ahead of
their rivals. The Columbias and Polomacs
started in with forty strokes u minute,
but tho Anaostans began with a forty.
four stroke, which soon told by giving
them u lead of length. Tho Analos-
ttus then steered in toward the District
shore, which was probably to their dsad-
vantage, AS they had to steer out again when
they made the turn, but as the oarsmcn said,
they wanted to "hunt" their rivals, so they
could TIL what they were doing. As the
boats passed the AunOstan boGt-house tho
=
more than length, and 1t was already aU-
parent that the Columbias were out Of the
race. Both the Potoluacs aud AnaOstans were
hugging the District shore. The COumbias
who were pulling an even bat not powerful
stroke Of 80, were gradually losing ground.
After the first half mile tho AnRiostuns
slackened their hot pace, but had good load
Of two lougths which they kept to the turn.
They made pretty turn in 6m 10s the Po-
tomacs following eight seconds later aud the
Co!umbias turning in Gan. 45j. The last mile
WAS warmly contested by the POtomacs and
AnHlos,aus. The long, powerful sweep
OF the former told amazingly aud tho
gap between the boats gradually Iesscned.
About half way home tho Pot0maCs rOwod
down the AnalostHns and the latter turned
in toward the District shore, crossing the
bows oil tho POtomaCs. The POiomacs ran into
their rivals aud tho boats came TO stand
still, thou oars being mixed together, In the
contact strip was split of from the blade
of Wheelers oar. When tho crows had
IightCd themselves they started again
in about tho same relative positions
they occupied before the foul, which they
held for a quarter of mile, when the AnalOs-
tans made u squirt which gave them the lead
at the finish Of two lcngths. Tho Analostans
! finished in 1927, followed by the Potomacs In
1851 and the ColumbIas In l4:ll. There was
much excitement, both on the shore and on
tho river at the finish the Potomac men in
dignantly claiming that they had been ioulcd
! and some limiting their belief that they were
} iouled purpOsey. Whcn the crews were as
semblcd around tho tug Fanny Gilbert,
Referee Willott announced that he reserved
his decision. Tho bow oar of the AnalOstan
stated that when he saw tho PotOmucs bear.
ing down on them he ha!loed to them to look
! out and put his Iuddcr down as hard as ho
could The referee, Mr. Willott notified the
Judges to meet with him later in tho
evening. AT tho Potomac house there was
much Indignation expressed on account OF the
foul" At tho Analostan house the oarsmen
claimed tho race, and were in high spirits
over what they sGid was a victory over their
old rivals. ThcTowing ability of tho Analostan
four rather surprised tho general public, who
expected that the Potomacs would surely win,
aud much disappointment was expressed that
, the foul had occurred and thus prevented tho
race being won on the merits OF the oarsmon
Tho Potomac crew behaved splenddly and
| made fast time on the last hal'milc Of tho
race, notwithstanding Whcelor's broken oar
which impeded them, Among persons not
connected with either club general desire was
, eyinccd to have the race rowed over In justice
=, to tho Columbia four it should be stated that
they went into the race without any expccta'
, ton of even getting second place, IN order to
! insure an interesting contest Their rowing
yesterday was worry credtablo, especial y
when it is considered that they had had little
time for practice.
I Referee Willott and the representatives of
tho three clubs met last evening Both the
Potomacs aud Aualostans claimed the race,
, After thoroughly cInyassing the subject, 1t
, was proposed to have the race rOwed over, but
' no determination was reached. The referees
decision will probably bo announced to day.
THE UIE DIFFICULIY.
q Excitement gHiust the Indians and Officials