National Republican., 1881-09-09
SPLENDID ROWING.
THE FIRST DAY OF THE REGATTA.
Fast Time and Exciting sport-The Hlllsdales, st.
Pauis. and Elizabeth Win the Four.Oared
Events-who VIII Row In the
Final Heats To-Day.

bHTSlncl OCCUTTeu NCSIcTuVy OH lnt lOlpluhN hiu
was witnessed by small crowd Of people. The
day was almost too hot for the spectators but for
the participants in the races a more perfect day
could not have been desired. A slight haze OBJ
scurcd the sun aud warded off the fierce rays. Tho
bosom OF the river was stirred only by slight |
ripple, while a gentle breeze cooled the heated
brOws OF the struggling oarsmcn. twas splen-
did day for the races, and IL everything had been
rs favorable as the weather the proceedings could
have been pronounced grand success. The ab-
scnce Of great crowd was not serious draw |
back, rs that was hardly expected. When the |
races began there were perhaps hundred people |
on tho grand stand, which is situated below the |
gas-works and is almost on line with the finish,
aud on this account was supposed to be the best
place for seeing the raccs. Next was Cumberlands
boat house, with an awning stretched over the
roof and tho chairs were occupied by spectators.
a row of men and boys lined the bank upto
THE ASALosTAS BoAT.HousE,
which was gaily decorated with flags and bunting,
and presented the most festive appearance OF my
point on the river. The balcony was filled with
ladies'. Below the house was another group of
spectators, while opposite, on the Virginia Shore
wns n lot OF small boats filled with spectators. In
fact the small boat the feature OF the day. II
seemed hardly impossible that there were so many
about the river But they were nll out yesterday
even the old fiat. bottomed boat, which did yeoman
duty. The Moseley, Mary Washington, Corc0ran,
and Mystic with only small number of passcn-
gers, otcred about tho finish or lounged across the
course just ns tho owners saw fit AT one time the
broadslde Of one of these vessels was stretched in
front Of the grand stand completely obscuring the
view. Then another went across the course just
as one of the races was being finished, and one of
the contestants was In consequence Obliged TO
draw out. The boats did Just as they pleased and
so did the small boats, while two or three tugs,
filled with persons belonging to the alleged con-
mittee of arrangements, were churning about the
river constantly 1t is safe to say that there never
| was rowing course so churncd and In such be-
wildcrng maze rs the one yesterday. Most Of the
onrsmen looked as II they felt relieved IL they
escaped out of the labyrinthine confusion of the
finish with whole boats and bodies, and were In
different rs to the result of the race.
| A FINE COMMITTEE
The imbecility of the members OF the alleged
committee on arrangements reached the highest
| pitch of impotency yesterday, and now they can
retire to their we'll earned obscurity, with the
proud satisfaction ofknowing that they are first
| class frauds. They perhaps would not have been
so deserving of this high character If they had not
| made such grand professions of what they would
| do. They had committees upon committees oil
| with their different colorod badges carefully
selected to suit the compilations of the various
members, and the consequence was that the mem
bcrs did the heavy sitting around and allowed the
regatta to run itself They took special care to
havo two or three tugs TO carry their precious
bodies mp and down the course, and the referees
boat had OH board gang OF these rlbboncd gentry,
who acted as special escort to the referee. These
men, with their special friends who might
have been much better on the shore, took the
| places of those whose business required them
to see the race. The committee on press
arrangements absolutely did nothing except
to prove their inCflcicncy They proicsSed
to have tug for the use Of the press representa-
tivcs and the night before called meeting to as
| certain if the newspaper men would aid them by
buying tickets in order to deiray the expenses Of
the boat. The press men willingly agreed to pay
| the entire expenses of the boat for the two days,
and went prepared to carry out their portion ofthe
contract; but on reaching the appointed place
yesterday morning they were bitterly disappointed.
| A tug was there, to be sure, but the newspaper
men were informed by the owner that only ten
could be admitted to the boat, and for this scanty
accommodation demanded the eXorbitant price OF
$40 q ticket for each day Of the regatta. As s2j
would be good price TO pay for tug for one day,
il was evident that this was II job between the
owners of the tug and the alleged press committee
to make little "spec.," aud the proposition was
rejected. If there had been no press committee
the newspaper men could have made proper ar
rangCmcnts and obtained the facilities that they
needed. Ifthis had been the only defect IN the
arrangements 1t might have been passed over; but
THE SAME IMDECILTrY
characterized the entire arrangements for the re-
gattn. 1t is very fortunate thing for the credit OF
the District that there were so few visitors from
abroad, and the business men who contributed so
literally TO defrny the expenses will demand more
brains in the management of the next regatta
There is use in people going to the river TO see
the regatta under the present arrangements, be-
cause II Is impossible to see anything or to get any
idea of what IL going on. The only arrangements
| 10 C,rl lIp tngt thn mi
figures on blackboard fastened to "a Flagstaff II
the stern of the referees boat but 1t Is impossible
to see the figures from the shore even If the boa
stood still long enough, and as to knowing whici
t crew won the race, no arrangements have beer
made for giving this necessary information. TIT
regatta Is a complete failure as far as the public
is concerned, and 1t is marvel that any arrange
monts were made for the oarsmen to row. Thi
was probably mistake and the committee hav
ing this matter IN charge blundcred into It, 1t
. impossible to believe that they intended to max
any arrangements except for themselves and thei
friends TO spend pleasant day upon the riyel
The grand stand Is
THE BIGGEST FRAUD
in the whole thing us the finish Is so far out i
). the liver that the occupants would need tcle
scope Of great power to see the contesting boats q
. ALL to say nothing OF the impossibility OF lookin
/ through big river steamer There were very FEY
y on the grand stand and these few dwindlcd dow
! to none before the races were over, and the pur
| ahaSers of seats in disgust sought more eligibl
y sites. In spite of the committees and their aboi
tive designs some Of the spectators had really
T. good time Those who were fortunate enough
n own boats or hire them rowed over to the Nirgin
D. shore where there was delightful breeze and II
freshment boats, and they enjoyed the day. AS
looking at the races, no one seemed to know
l. care anything about them, except those who hN
-, friends among the contestants, and they wou
- occasionally send up shout to encourage ther
X Beyond this there was no public enthusiasm man
a, tested during the day. Some OF the reprcsontaty
Of the press secured row-boats and plycd bctweC
!, the finish and the shore, leaving their dIspatcht
: and In this way they combined business Wi
~ pleasure, and spent very enjoyable day.
Us THE RACES.
The official programme stated that the first raj
l. would be for double sculls, and OF the followil
entries all started Ataanta Boat Club, New 70
,r City; No. (colors Ted)-E, j. Blake, bow; welgi
lG2; J. X. Ross stroke, weight lG6. Mutu
= Boat Club, Albany, ~ y: No. 2 (colors, whte)
Charles f. Bulger, bow, weight 1885, silas Brewsl'
stroke, weight 10, Pawtucset Boat Club, Pa'
tucket II. L.: No. 3 (colors, bluc)-F G. Apple
bow, weight 100; Frank +. Holmes, stroke, weg
nv 100. The Pawtuckct pair were the favorites, n
an when at one o'clock, the word was given tn
We Jumped away in the lead and were meyer ov'
ms taken, although the Mutuals made several d.
No perate attempts TO catch up with them The III
esq of the Pawluckets was 9A5H, Mutuals, 055
N. while the Atalantas, being hopelessly nstern w
ID. neither placed nor timed.
ed TIIR SECOND RACE
i've was also for double scus, for which the follow
n entered and started; Nautilus Boat Club, Han
,w ton, Canada: No. / (cOlors, red)-C. Furlong, be
*. weight llO; J, Donohue, stroke, weight l5O. b
is ington Boat Club, Burlington, Iowa: Nc. (colC
,,. Nyhita\--E L. Parsons. how. weight ll1 C.,