Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-07-06
RlTZ's RACE.
How Wheeling Won In tho cincin'
natl Regatta.
Details of the Single Seull Race in Which
John Ritz Took the Prize-The En-
quirer's Compliment to
the Winner.

lne Winnefs
Yesterday morning the. REGISTER pub.
lished an account Of the winning, by John
Ritz, of this city, of the single scull race in
tie Enquirer regatta at Cincinnati. The
fuller details as given by that paper, will
be read with interest. 1t is estimated that
5000 people took in the races and predicted
that it will be the beginning of brilliant
series Of racing at the Queen City. The
water was rather bad and by the time the
race was announced to commence the ap-
preaching squall had chopped up the sur.
face considerably and made good time
simply an impossibility. Through the tor
rents which descended while the single
scull contest was in progress thousands
kept their places, and despite the rain
stuck it through to the end, The steamers
at the landing, the U. z. Schenck, the
City of Madison, and half
dozen more were crowded with specta-
tors, and the Telegraph gave its passengers
an opportunity to view the race before
steaming out for the up'riyer towns. De
spite all the MISUNDERSTANDING, rain and
lumpy water-with which the regatta was
surrounded it was far from being failure.
The flag ship, Lark, laden with a reporto-
rial corps, the judges, and several ladies,
steamed over the course in the wake OF the
boats, and her gay streamers were visible 10
the people on both shores. Police boats
found it difficult to disperse the smaller
craft which had all but taken entire posses
sion Of the course, and the time made In
the races was greatly
IMPAIRED By THESE PIRATES,
who could not be kept out of the way.
From the Newport Barracks crowd mum.
bering hundreds, aud embracing scores OF
ladies, viewed the race. Below the suspen-
sion bridge, near where one of the buoys
foated, was gathered another great as
sembly. Every available spot OH either
side of the Ohio was seized by the throngs,
who, when it began to storm, hoisted UNI
brellas and settled down patiently. Some
Young maidens without fear in their souls
ventured out in boats alone, and one craft
was pulled by its fair occupants almost be-
meath the stern of the flag ship, the Lark k.
The several accidents ION the water only
added to the excitement OF the event, as
none OF them proved serious.
PRELIMINARY WORK.
Under the direction of the Judges, con.
sisted in placing buoys at the head OF the
course to mark the turning points. There
were five of these, fashioned after the de-
sign of those used by the Government in
the River and Harbor Service, Capt. Geo.
Vandergrift, of the United States steamer
Lilly, kindly experimenting their
construction. The buoys bearing
white flags numbered respectively
from one to five. were anchored
abreast of each other with sufficient space
between to admit the passage of boats be-
tween them and to make turns without
colliding. At the lower end of the course
barge was anchored broadside upstream
shore. This was intended as a starting
point for the shells, but as it was subse
uuenily knocked out OF position by the tow
boat Pacific, other arrangements had to be
made. and the Hazel Kirke, owned and
named by the National Boat Club crew
performed the necessary service.
SUGAR FOR RITZ.
John Ritz the model oarsman of the re
satta and winner Of the 500 prize, is q
Wheeling boy. and will not be of age until
September next. At home he is a dray'
man, and in following his occupation his
muscle has been developed until he is as
stout as bull. His weight is 80 pounds
and height five feet eight and one-half
inches. In July, 1880, when scarcely Is
years old, he defeated William Felsinger,
of Wheeling, in three-mile race, with q
turn, winning purse OF $500. The time
was twenty-five minutes and fourteen Sec
onds. Subsequently he won victory
over Pete Snyder, of Pittsburgh, in race
over a course of the same length for like
amount. His last and only other race
was with John Barrett, OF Wheeling. This
was very close, and as they rounded the
stake boat bow and bow, Ritz broke 2
swivel and captized Ritz is not unlike the
great oarsman Hanlan in appearance, and
certainly has q better looking pair of
shoulders than the famous sculler. AS he
stepped into his paper shell yesterday at
SchmidtS boat.hO and pushed oil, his
good form and generally fine appearance
excited admiration from all sides. He
swept his boat out into the current with
the stroke OF young giant, and the self.
sufficient smile on his face showed that he
was not unconscious OF his own power. He
used a paper shell weighing % pounds. 81
feet in length, ~ inches beam and q
inches deep.
THE SINGLE sCULL RACE
came off in the worst of water and at the
time it was thought to postpone fhe race.
As it was six of the entries were deferred
from starting by the rough water; sew.
enth, Mike kale, of Sedamsville, while on
his way up the river to the stake boat was
upset, and, Of course, had to withdraw.
Four oarsmen were now left and they took
their positions in the following order: C.
NJ. Weeks, No. l: Henry Weber, No. .,
John Ritz, No. 3, and John Tucker No. 4.
At this moment the clouds broke, and
rain camedown in torrents. Captain White,
of the Cincinnati Boat Club acting as
starter after several warninG to the oars
men and one false start, gave the signal.
They took water together, but Ritz, getti ~
the best grip,
SHOWING HIS BOW IN FRONT
on the first stroke, with Tucker good sec
ond. Weeks seemed Hurried on the start
and splashed considerably They were
pulling from twenty-five to thirty strokes
per minute. At a distance of fifty yards
from the starting point, Weber, believing
that he was in a position to take Weeks
water, made pull for it. 1t proved mis-.
calculation, and his cardboard oar-blade
passed under Weeks shell, capsizing his
own boat, but not interfering with Weeks
The upset was complete, Weber remaining
out of view for quite time while he was
disengaging his feet, which were strapped
to the foot board OF his shell. When he
came he was water-logged.
The race continued with the three re-
naming men until point opposite the
mouth OF the Licking, when Weeks, who
was still nervous from the recent collision,
missed his hold on the water and disap.
peared like shot. He was rescued by one
of the many cruisers and brought
ashore with his boat. Tucker and Ritz
now had it all to themselves, with
RITZ IN THE LEAD,
pulling long twenty six, and Tucker
short, quick thirty.two. At the Newport
bridge the Wheeling favorite was found
we'll to the front, with Tucker pulling
doggedly two hundred feet to the rear
Rounding the turning buoy in good style.
they began the finish. 1t was plain that the
visitor was going to be the winner; nothing
but an accident could loose him the race.
Once on the home stretch fuckers chances
frightened, as yawl pulled by two born
idiots headed directly toward the path of
Ritz; warned by the shouts of people on
the bank the oarsman SOW his danger and
ceased pulling. This loss OF time was
seized upon by Tucker, who rapidly closed
up the gap. The course again opened.
Ritz went to his oars and resumed speed
which brought him to the stake boat win
ner by two hundred feet. Time, fifteen
minutes and fifty seconds.
INSTRUMENTATION Black Silk Velvets re-
-. l. o. r