Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-10-12
WEIseERBER WINS.
Defeating John Ritz by Nearly Two
Lengths.
Ritz Loses the Race After Noble Effort,
Weisgerber Having too Much.
lndurenee for Him.

Yesterday afternoon about three hundred
of the lovers of the Aquatic sport left this
city to witness the boat race between John
Ritz, of North Wheeling, and George Weis-
gerber, the Courtney of West Virginia.
Those who witnessed the contest were GER
tainly well repaid for their trouble, as this
was the finest and most closely contested
boat race ever witnessed on western waters;
in fact it is the only race on record in which
the men pulled steadily from the start to
the finish. Mr.. Walker Peterson was
referee, and Mr.. Jacob Grub, stakeholder
The referee arrived in Wellsburg at 2
o'clock, and worked hard to get the men and
their buoy boats into position
before O'clock, but failed signally
and had to turn the control OF the
race over to the final stakeholder, as he
(Mr. Peterson), was compelled to leave
Wellsburg on the o'clock train. Mr.
Grub took charg. of the race and after a
treat deal of trouble succeeded in getting
be buoy boats set and the judges in them
John Manton represented Ritz at the start
ing boat and Dan Cochran at the buoy
James Gather represented Weisgerber at
the start, and Henry Weisgerber at the
turning buoy. The men were called by the
referee at few minutes after 3 o'clock,
Ritz having secured the choice and took the
Ohio side Of the river.
THE RACE.
At exactly nine minutes after the word
90" was given, Ritz taking water first and
swinging to the front with full length the
cad in the first 100 yards. The relative
position of the men were not changed until
hey neared the turning buoy. Then Ritz
ont on terrific squirt and turned with fully
;wo lengths the lead He (Ritz) made the
irst and fatal mistake of the race; instead
# pulling straight up the course, he pulled
or the Ohio shore, while Weisgerber after
.urning, kept straight up the river, turning
slightly TO the Virginia shore,
hereby getting advantage of the
deep and still water. Ritz had to contend
With the shoal water all the way on the home
.iretch. :,
Ritz led on the homeward journey until
be men had covered two miles and one
lalf Here he ran aground on the barr
which completely checked his progress.
Weisgerber, who was on the Virginia shore,
Jaw the accident and put on squirt, which
,ut the men on equal footing by the time
Ritz cleared the bar. From this point to
he finish the crowd on the shore wit
messed one Of the most hotly
-outested races ever rowed on the Ohio
river. First one man would squirt and lead
and then the other This was kept up until
Ritz was completely winded, and Weisger
Der succeeded in passing him about 200
Yards from the finish and winning the race
,, boat length and halt, the official
time being 2O:2l! by Mr.. Grubbs watch.
BETTING.
There was, comparatively speaking, nc
betting on this race, both sides being appar'
emily afraid to risk their money. What little
money was placed in the pool boxes was
with Ritz the favsrite at 100 to 50. Every
body was surprised to see SO little betting
Each ofthe contestants had plenty of friends
on the ground, none of whom, however
were willing to place their money except on
even terms
THE MEN.
John Ritz was trained by Chas, Miller, o.
Bridgeport, and entered his boat at ia
pounds, which is considered by knowing
orcs" as being a little too fine, or in Other
scrds, he was slightly over trained. Weis
gerber entered his boat at l52 pounds, hav
ng been trained by Eddie Clator and was
pronounced in very fine condition. Ritz
rowed with nothing on except dark pail
Of trunks, while Weisgerber appeared with 6
@litc shirt and dark trunks.