Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-09


REscuERs-Two RACES FISIsHKD-FRovoKrNa DE-
| LAYS.
| The Potomac-rfver regatta yesterday afternoon
was brought to q sudden and almost tragic termi-
nation Dy the unusually severe storm before the
program was half carried out The course was mile
and half long from the Columbia landing above
| the free-bridge, TO point near the Potomac boat
house. The terrible storm was not the only dis
| appointing event ofthe day. There was delay OF
almost an hour IL starting the races A failure to
| secure In time permit from the steamboat In
spector for the tugs to carry the passengers was
the cause. AS the same thing has happened before,
| IL would seem that some better arrangements
should be made. II the boat clubs desire to keep up
the interest Of the public in boat races The crowd
at the finish can at the best see but q small part
of a race, and to be compelled to go early TO get
good position, and then TO walt an additional hour
before there are any signs Of a race, will cool the
| ardor OF the most enthusiastic.
THE FIRST RACE
was started by Referee Watts at 80 O'Clock. It
was for four-oared senior crews and the contest
ants were the PASSAGES, Of Newark, and the Co
lumbias and Potomacs, OF Washington. It prom
ised TO be an exciting struggle. but 1t wasn't The
Coiumbias had the Virginia shore, the Potomacs
next and the PASSAGES had the middle of the river
AS the shells were backed up TO the stake boats
Elder, the Columbia bow oarsman, called the ref
the river anS sad hooS out for cul
out of our water" "Are you ready-Go,"
shot away on about equal terms At the quarter
the Potomacs swung over pretty close to the Co.
lumbias, but Strengthened out at warning call
from the referee. As the crews neared the half
mile buoy the Potomacs gradually closed In on yne
Columbus, who were holding well to their course.
tween the starooard oars Of the Posomscs and the
port oars OF the Columbias decreased with each
stroke. Finally the oars collided, and the boats
stopped. When the foul occurred the Potomacs
had trihing lead, as the blade Of the bow oar Of
the Columbias was broken by q Potomac waist oar.
The PASSAGES were. II anything, slightly anead Of
the others. The Potomacs were ruled out, and the
others were again started from the foulng point.
The PASSAGES soon took a commanding lead, and
won with hands down. In 827.
THE FOUL,
while not Intentional, could have been avoided
easily, and those who saw 1t were exasperated.
The Potomac boat could have been Strengthened
out with slight turn Of the rudder when 1t was
seen that there was danger Of a collision.
The second race for junior fours was contested
by the Columoias, PotomacS and Artels, OF Balti-
more. and was won easily by the Columbias in
S.o3 As; ArielS second, 9.15.
While the races were slowly progressing, threat
ening clouds were gathering in the west, fOrebod-
sIeamed up the river however, to start the third
race. Mr.. Watts thinking the race could be
finished before the storm should break. The
hs and Tns
bias were late in arriving at the starting point,
that when the word was given the wind began to
blowing gale. ut Is lucky those boats are gigs
and not shells, or they would be swamped," was
frequently remarked on board the tugs.
AN EXCITING TINE.
The waves dashed against the oarlocks and wa.
ter was shipped at every stroke in both boats.
Above the bridge Coxswain Gibson turned the Co
lumbia gig toward the Virginia shore In hopes of
finding smoother water. IL was well that he did
so. The wind blew harder, rain and hail came
grew larger. still the crews struggled on. Cox
swain Doyle kept the Potomac boat in straight
course In the center OF the river Had he steered
swamped. The oarsmen labored on In a
vain effort to reach the finish. At each
oWef uns tnere we're pas ew pcaes
OF her gunwale visible. A moment more and
Coxswain Doyle was waist deep in the water.
shes swamped," was the cry that was repeated
on all sides, but few realized the danger. The
storm had driven all the pleasure boats shelter,
and the tugs nearly capsized in turning around 70
give assistance TO the crew, who were struggling
In the water, clinging TO the half submerged gig.
Everybody was anxious to help, and yet they were
almost @ Iae tugs nearly c S WITH
crew, who were fast losing their strength,
and there was imminent danger OF running down
those they were trying to save Any attempt to
throw a line from tug was fruitless, for the wind
would not allow 1t TO go q half dozen feet.
IT WAS AN AGoSIzING SCENE,
and spectators anxiously counted the heads which
appeared after each wave passed over them TO see
II all were still holding out Life-preservers were
thrown from the Dixie, and one was caught by
Coxswain Doyle, and he thereupon let 60 OF the
gig. In the meantime several large pleasure boats
mad put out from the shore, but II was slow work
rowing n In the te, teeth OF the storm The
cried out. am all right, help the others"
one man of the crew, Robinson, could not swim,
saa his Ss him
estimated their strength, and in q few moments
more all would have been drowned. Emore and
completely exhausted when a boat came alongside
and rescued them. Doyle was picked up. and
Dyer caught a rope from a tug and was hauled
on board. But Robinson, the man who
could not swim a stroke, was clinglng desperately
to the upturned gig. suddenly a big white row
S8s made yoc It's way among xas 1n tugs ana
keep the tugs away we'll save him" No time was
lost AID there was none to lose. Strong arms
lifted Robinson into the boat, but ne was so weak
he could scarcely sit up. He was quickly rowed to
the Potomac House and placed under doctors
care.
BRAVE DEED.
When It was seen that the tugs could not rescue
the crew, a dozen willing hands seized the big
white row-boat IN the Columbia boat-house and
rushed 1t down the incline. When It slid on the
float, however, one man in q striped rowing suit
made a spring and landed In It. He was broad
Vi
the champion Passaic crew. There was another
man that wanted TO go with him. He was Horace
l. Beall, OF the Columbia Club. When the boat
struck the water 1t was carried on by the angry
waves like shot. Beall hadn't time TO jump. but
he held on TO the stern and was dragged into the
water, but soon climbed In and seZed pair Of
oars. Neither man knew his companion, but each
quickly responded TO the others directions as they
alternately looked around TO keep their course,
and each knew that he had brave companion
They reached the scene OF disaster, and it was
Freeman's clear voice that was heard ABOVE the
storm and revived the failing heart OF Robinson.
THE coLUhBIAs swAMPED
While the Potomacs were battling with the
waves, the Columbus were In a similar predica-
ment near the shore Of Analostan Island. Their
boat had swamped few moments after the Poto-
macs gig went under. They were speedily res
cued by row boats
OTHER AccIDBNrs
Eugene johnson, Of the Columbias and p z
Huneker, OF the Iona club, who were rowing up TO
contest the race for junior singles, were upset.
Huneker was picked up by the tug Cecile and
johnson swan ashore. A capsized pleasure boat.
which noated down the river, aroused Iears OF q
pants had been rescued. The police boat did ex.
celent service. II was lying ut the finish when
the storm broke. large boat from AnaiOst an
Island, loaded with women and children, among
them Mrs. Judge Strong, was swept out into the
river when about 10 make landing at Cumber-
lands. II rode the waves splendidly however.
until its occupants were taken on by the
police boat 1t also picked up several boys who
had upset their boat intentionally before the
storm began, and who were afterward unable 20
reach shore. When everybody was saved and the
tugs landed Referee Watts decided that the races
would Dc postponed until O'Clock this afternoon.
1.-THE most exciting scene that I saw during the
storm yesterday" said Capt sutton, OF the police
10 htyf nat lnaA nSvS