The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-07-13
A GREAT OARSMAN.
Career of wallace Ross, the ltiva
IlnnInaI .anA TnnInnn-


wick February %, 1857, and consequently
was Only twenty-eight years old last Feb
ruary. He has done a wonderful amount
of rowing since he began in July, iS7a.
His last challenge has brought these mat
tiers TO mind Ross has always wanted to
have go at the very best. 1t took three
matches with Banlan, all of which the
latter won, to satisfy him that fianlan
was the better man. Back in 1873 mon
were contcnted to row for smaller stakes
than they are now. Ross third race was
against Alex. Braglcy, and the stakes con
sisted of n five pound note. Wonder
what he would say now If asked to row
for $25 ? Ross has been over to England
three times, and has been quito success
ful there. The first time he rowcd only
one race, and that against Frank Emmett
in 1870 for $1,000 side, Ross won clsily.
When the International regatta was given
in England in 1880, Ross went over
again. He won his two trial heats, but
finished second to Laycock in the final.
He also won match race with Trickctt
on December !, over the Thames course
for $1,000. Ross next visited England in
the spring of 1881 and made match with
George Bubear, giving him ten seconds
start and winning easily by fifteen lengths.
During the summers of 1880 and 1882, Ross
was rowing faster than he ever had be.
hard to get into fix, and harder still to
keep there. During both these summers
he was with John Kennedy.
The first four-oared crew the Columbias
ever sent away from home was composed
OF Williams stroke; Lake 3; Smith, 2 and
Icigler, bow. The boys rowed ut Rich
mond in 1881, and, though they trained
faithfully and rowed hard, they were out
classed. That summer Ellis Ward took
hold of the club, and since then they have
won as many races as any club in the
country.
The Elizabeths thought they could row
mile and half at Fredericksburg, on
squirt, but after squirting continually for
mile they were pretty well winded. At
the Harlem regatta, on May 30, they only
had mile TO go and rowed right away
from the other crews, getting lead Of five
lengths before they had reached the first
quarter. They will he on hand at the Po-
tomac regatta to try and regain the laures
they lost at Fredericksburg.
AQUATIC mpPLEs.
1t was given out by Potomac members,
when the Washington Club was organized,
that they never would be allowed to row
in race on the Potomac River. They
seem to be doing their best to make this
assertion good. Baker and Ryan were
both warned by Potomac members. be-
fore they joined the new club that they
were shutting themselves OIL from all COM
petition with other clubs. Articles detri
mental to the Washingtons are hawkcd
around the local newspaper oiliccs-usu-
ally by one man-until newspaper men
are sick oft. The matter has been over
done, and people now say that it, per-
secution that is being carried on.
Mr.. William Dickson's open and manly
letter in the morning papers should put
an end to the slanderous stories that have
been set ailoat in aquatic circles.
Local oarsmen will be glad to learn that
one of the largest regattas ever held in
this country will be given by prominent
persons at Fortress Monroe in September.
1t will be an amateur and professional re-
| gatta in one. Prizes for amateur fours,
| doubles, junior and senior singles, will be
| offered. The prize for the four will be Il
| massive silver cup, costing $780, which
will become the absolute property Of the
| ers will be entertained while there free of
| charge. This regatta offers a splendid
| chance to our local oarsmen. Their shells
| can be placed on the river steamers, and
| themselves transported without any of
| the Inconvenience Of travel incidental to
| railroading The Columbias and Wash
| ingtons will undoubtedly enter.
Captain Stincmctz says the Philadelphia
| boys entertained him royalty. The Fair
| mounts are not members of the navy
| there-probably they row too well--but
| they are a nice lot of fellows, and the
| victory they achieved is all the more
| fattering to them, because they are not
| members Of the navy.
The question has been asked, How could
| three members of the Brown University
| crew row in the NaTagansett eight at the
| late Philadelphia regatta? 1t seems there
| is no Brown University boat club. The
| undergraduates mostly belong to the Mar
| ragansetts and rowed in the college regatta
simply as q crew from Brown University.
Mr.. Gibson says that the veteran Eustis
| had one of the finest eight-oared crews in
| the Atalantas, at Philadelphia, that he
| ever saw. Eustis had his partner, Downs,
| with him. The crew rowed in perfect
form and were very confident but seemed
| to lack power. After the trial heat the
Maltas thought the race theirs to a moral
certainty.
The course at Boston, over which the
| national regatta will be rowed, is fine
| one for witnessing a boat race. The mill
| dam runs up nearly the whole distance
| and affords Il chance for fifty thousand
| people to see the race. The finish is right
| in front of the Union boat-house, and
from their front balconies and observation
seats ON the roof the crew row right to-
ward you and finish mt your feet.
Baseball.
The Nationals lost another game Satur-
day, much to the disgust of their adj
mirers. Powell was put in to pitch, not
withstanding the fact that the Lancasters
had solved his delivery; and, as u result,
free slugging was the order of the day.
The Republican and CRITIC have both
urged the National management to try
Morrissey in the pitchers box. The sug-
gostion in this mornings issue Of the
former is worth needing. 1t seems per-
fectly useless to put Powell in to pitch
against the Lancasters ON Tuesday. After
club has once gotten well on TO pitch
crs delivery they can generally pound
him.
Much to the surprise of good many
| people, the Nationals have made money.
1t was said that when the Nationals could
not get into the American Association
they would cease to draw, This has not
been the case, and the games in the East
crn Association have proven about as
good ball as those in other associations.
The games yesterday resulted as follows;
st. Louis Brooklyn, s to o. Louisville
Baltimore, 6 to 0; Observation-Disclosures,
Gto5.
1.-THE st. Louis would only drop few
games the other clubs would be right on
to them, but they won't. Mexican and
keenan, are great addition to the Cincin-
natis. Snyder played Il clever trick on
Detroit in securing them.
Chicago has at last secured her much
needed change pitcher in Mccormick.
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