Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-24
A DREDeE IN THE WAY.

A DREDeE IN THE WAY.
The prospect for prompt start was made
still worse BY big dredge getting into tbs
middle Of the river.
As the hour for the start drew nearer the
betting became more lively, but still continued
| even.
That Washington loves sport Of q fair honor
able description is evident to-day If it never
was before. The eastern bank of the
Potomac, from the gas works to
| the Long bridge is crowded with
anxious manhood and womanhood white and
| colored. The piles of cordwood and tons of
coal are invisible because of the thousands of
people who want to see tho championship of
America decided, for time, at least.
The fact that bitterly cold wind is blowing
has apparently no effect upon the good humor
| OF the crowd. Men laugh while their fingers
Jingle, and boys feebly attempt to whistle
through lips that are blue.
The women shivered and looked pleasant.
The Analostan boat house is filed with
visitors and the wharves and barges
are loaded to their utmost capacity
Bunting flies to profusion from the
adjoining buildings, and every vessel and boat
visible in the long stretch of gray-brown water
has at least one flag on it.
A MAN OVERHEARD.
The monotony Of the wait has Just been
broken by the falling into the river of
an unfortunate individual who mis-
judged the distance from a rock to a
boat. He was rescued Immediately, but the
unfeeling crowd did not wait for assurances OF
his safety before it yelled and jeered vocif-
erously.
Who the Oarsmen Are.
THE MEN WHO STRIVE FOB THE CHAMPIONSHIP
TO-DAY.
John Teemer was born at McKeesport, Pa,
July 8, 1864. He started rowing in 1881 and
| entered his first race in 1922 professional
contest. This he won with ease from Powers,
Of Pittsburg. A large number of minor races
engaged his attention until June %, 1888, when
he rowed at Pullman, Ills. In the great race he
was defeated by Hanlan, Hosmer, and Hamm.
He won first prize in the consolation race, beat
ing Gaudaur, Lee, Mckay, and number of
others. After this he took in the regatta cir
cult and was very successful, ending up by cap
turing first at Fall River, Mass, defeating
Hanlan, Hosmer, Ross, Riley, Ten Eyck, and a
dozen other racing celebrities. At Hutton, Pa,
he rowed away with first money from Hamm,
Conway, Ross, and Hosmer. Teemer has twice
defeated Conway in match races, and has
beaten Ross twice and Hanlan twice. Gaudaur
has also suffered additional defeat at his hands.
Teemer has rowed in thirty-two races in the
past two years, and has captured every one.
has been on the regatta circuit, the only match
being one with Gaudaur at Point OF Pines, Me-,
where Teemer won the race, and pocketed
$1,000 gate money. Teemer's best time for
three miles is l9.26A: This was made in his
race with Hanlan at Toronto, August 10, 1887.
Teemer now weighs 17111s pounds in walking
costume.
William J. O'Connor was born in Toronto,
Canada, Is years ago, and from boyhood up
has been an ardent follower after aquatic
IT
amateur in 1882, being then member of the
Don rowing club and employed in the Toronto
offices of the Grand Trunk railway. His first
noteworthy effort was his winning of the junior
single at Ottawa and on the same day, in COM
pany with Enright, he won the double skull,
and with the same partner came in second to
O'Connell and Buckley, Of Portland, Me-, in
the double shell race. Following soon after
this he and Enright after magnificent strug-
gle, defeated the Lang brothers on Toronto
bay. On August 5. 1888, he captured the senior
single at Hamilton, Ont, and thus won the
championship of Canada. The distance, II
miles, was covered in 9 minutes 80
seconds. In 1885 O'Connor challenged
Ritz. of Pittsburg, to race for $1,000 side
but the Pittsburg man declined. This brought
September 1887. he rowed against Hamm, at
Toronto, for 81 900 side, winning the race by
lengths in 20 minutes. Is seconds. His next
appearance was at Buffalo, n. Y. on July 4,
1887. Here he had some good men to contend
with. the cracks who started, being Hanlan,
Hamm, Bubear, of England Courtney and
O'Connor. The water on this occasion was
very rough and shortly after rounding the turn
O'Connors boat was swamped; he was then a
close second to Hanlan. As rapidly as possible
he made his way ashore, dumped the water out
of his SHE'LL returned to the course and won third
money. beating Bubear and Courtney. O'Con-
nor then challenged Wallace Ross and a race
was arranged. Ross, however, backed out, and
OConnor took the money, after rowing over
the course. Peterson was O'Connor's next
victim. and he succumbed at San Francisco on
March 20 of this year, O'Connor winning by
four lengths, in 20 minutes II seconds. Then
George W. Lee thought he would try o Conner,
and on August Is lost the race and $500 stakes
to the Toronto boy. At the Sturgeon Point
regatta, on August 18, O'Connor defeated Gau-
daur Lee, and Wise, winning easily in 10 min
utes 46 seconds. Stripped for the race to-day
O'Connor weighed 164 pounds.