The Washington critic., 1888-08-09
TIE REGATTA YESTERDAY.
The Gigs swnmpcd by the storm-wiId
Scenes During tho Hurricane.


The regatta on the Potomac yesterday az
Georgetown was an occasion which will long
be remembered by those so unfortunate as to
be present The mercury was boiling in the
SUMS rays--in the shade the thermometer
marked 9S degrees. There were OOOO people
along tho line of the course. including thuu-
sands of women and children decked In sum
mer attire.
The bridge was crowded with swelterinr I'm.
man!ty. Anaostan Island was covered with
st0aming sight-seers.
The clubbouses overfowed with excited and
perspiring partisan friends of the respective
crews.
The Potomac was alive with cvery concelv-
able sort Of a craft which would float
Tic tugs and steamers pulled and whistled
as II Bedlam had broke loose.
The whnrves and house-tops were crowded
with brolling young hoodlums, prepondcr-
ence OF whom were OF African scent, in their
ragged and well ventilated summer costumes.
The first race, as usual, was an hour late in
starting.
The two contests were cheered by the as
sembled thousands. The men swung their
hats with one hand and mopped their steam
ing heads and faces with the other.
The women waved their handkerchiefs and
famed their sweltering selves with an excited
exertion which increased their perspiration.
The third contest started amid nervous
cheers at the black and threatening storm
cloud which rapidly gathered over the scene
OF the days sport.
The leading boat had nearly reached tho
finish line when old Boreas pulled his valves
wide open and poured forth blast, long pent
up, with fury and Internal noise credtable
10 old Gabriel when he shall attempt to waken
the dead with n similar blast from his bugle-
horn.
Then for an instant the clouds of dust made
the atmosphere impenetrablc to human
vision.
AS the dust passed IL revealed the Potomac
River surging with angry waves and white
caps running Six feet high, the air filed with
straw hats, parasos and fans, the water craft
on the river rushing before the storm at the
mercy Of the wind and the waves.
The steom-tugs were powerless to guide
their course.
The two four-oar contesting shells were IN
stantly swamped and ten human heads bob
bing up and down IN the angry sea was all that
was visible Of the famous strife for aquatic
victory.
Then the excitement aud screams of the
women, crying Of children, yelling and ges-
ticulating OF half-craZed men, as they gaZed
at the dangerous condition Of the struggling
shinwrcckcd oGrsmen.
Then added to the sea OF calamities was the
tremendous downfall Of rain, which came
down In torrents and drenched TO the skin
thousands of spectators who went to the
Georgetown regatta. Many of the women
gay attire, now resembled so many half
drowned hens and chickens.
And q shell race in Itself Is about rs in
teresting an entertainment rs to see two ducks
swim.
The seventh annual regatta of the Potomac
River was TO have been held yesterday, but
only two races were rowed. In the senior
fours,in which the champion Passaic crew were
victorious. They were NJ I. Quigley stroke;
Charles A. Lunjack, 3; Fred. Freeman, 2;
John Charmbury, bow. The Columbias and
Potomacs of this city were entered against
them. At the word "go u the Passaic caught
the water and Immediately shot ahead. pulling
40 strokes At the quarter the Potomacs
fouled the Columbus and were ruled out of
the race at minute 55 seconds after the start.
Thetwo crews were again started and the race
won by the Passaic in 6:32 after the foul Co
lumbias 6:34.
The second race was the junior four, between
the Columbias, Potomacs aud Arlels Of Balti-
more, Md, won by the Columbias in 1858,
Ariel, 9!13; Potomacs time not taken.
The third race was between the gigs Of the
Potomacs and Columbias which was started
at 437 o'clock. Heavy black clouds were
lowering over the hills on the Virginia shore,
and before the Aqueduct Bridge had been
reached the water had become so high that 1t
was feared the boats would swamp. The
wind was blowing a hurricane, carrying all
before it rapidly down the stream. The
CTtWS, MlleA sl3Uub III elRulU Oh u lnlle from
the finish, were simultaneously swamped.
Within less time than 1t takes to recite, the
wind had gained such velocity that not q
small craft on the river was right side up.
Excitement ran high Women tainted, men
yelled like demons, and it seemed as IL all
would surely perish. The press-boat went to
the rescue OF the Potomacs, and with great
difficulty succeeded in rescuing Dyer, which
was done by Mr.. Orris Brown of the District
Engineers Office, who tore down the awning
pole, which he stretched out to Dyer, who was
in this way drawn toward the boat. Mr..
Fielder Plummer and G. w. Harris rendered
helping hands In pulling Dyer aboard. j. III.
Doyle, the coxswain of the Potomacs had
caught life-preserver thrown him by Captain
Zapphone of the Potomacs. Doyle was finally
picked up by the referee boat.
When the gig first went down 1t was learned
at the Columbia house that Robinson could
not swim. Fred Freeman of the Passaics ran
down the float of the Columbia house crying
out "Who will go with me to get Robinson"
~ willn shouted Horace Bell of the Colum-
bias and together they started out in working
boat, reaching Robinson just as he threw up
his hands and was about to go under. They
quickly pulled him in their boat and also res
cued Reynolds, who was still clinging to the
gig. The action of Freeman and Bell cannot
be too highly praised, as it seemed impossible
that row-boat could live in such q storm.
Gilmore was picked up by a tug-boat The
Columbia gig crew were about a hundred
yards from the Virginia shore, ana all sue
ceeded In reaching land.
Two thousand people were estimated to be
on Analostan Island and sought shelter as
best they could beneath trees, behind rocks
and under tents. Not single person was
able to keep dry, the ladies being drenched.
The Police boat rendered invaluable service,
heading up stream after rendering all ncces-
sary assistance around the boat-houses She
reported all hands safe uD the river which
was miraculous in such gale.
Robinson, 1t is feared, VIII not be able to
row again for some time, as he tainted twice
after reaching the boat-house, and was COM
pletely undone from nervous exhaustion.
Two carriages on the Aqueduct Bridge were
blown over on their sides.
Paul HunelIer of the Iona Boat Club Of
Philadelphia and Eugene johnson had set out
in singlesculls for the starting point when they
were struck by the storm and thrown into the
water near the Three Sisters. They were in
the water for some time before assistance
reached them. Huneker, who is q fine swim
mer, said he could not have held out another
minute Both men were saved by the efforts
| of the steam launch Cecile. At the boat
houses women tainted, men yelled and NIL was
chaos, Mrs. Judge Strong and boat load OF
| people were rescued by the Police Boat and
carried to the Potomac Boat'house where Mrs.
Strong tainted, and twas fully two hours be-
! fore she could be resuscitated.
The Passaics left last night on the 1l;20
! train for Newark. taking with them the
Eganing Star cup, individual medals and ban.
ners for the senior four race. The crew
! learned before their departure that the Po-
tomacs were somewhat dissatisfied with the
race, claiming that they thought they would
have made better showing had 1t not beer
for the foul. Fred. Freeman OF the Passaics
sought out Elmore Of the Potomac four, who
| eXtr1s6ed hirnsn1f az nprfactlv satisfied and