Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-05
THE REGATTA.
AN IMMENSE CROWD WITNESSED
SEVERAL GOOD RACES.
Excellent Time---A Move on Foot to
Have the Successful Four
so to the Pullman
Regatta.

attracted to witness that popular sport
The program was announced to begin at
$50 sharp. but long before that time the
streets leading to the scene of the races
| were crowded with vehicles Of all descrip-
tons. All of the extra cars of lines run
ming in that direction had to be pressed
into service and run regardless OF time
tables, simply starting when they were
filed and making as frequent trips as pos
sible Thousands Of pedestrians hurried
| along the sidewalks. anxious TO get
| favorable view of the course.
1T THE RACE COURSE.
| Near the boat house seats for the accom-
mediation Of large number Of the in
vited guests of members of the boat club
| had been provided. and every one was
occupied by the feminine youth and beauty
| of Wichita before the first race was
| called Scattered about through the
| grove along the west bank Of the river,
were all kinds of refreshment stands and
amusement contrivauces. All OF these
were lavishly patronized and assisted IN
! entertaining and satisfying the crowds.
| Everything was quiet and pleasant, SO far
| as the behavior Of the crowds were con-
! cerned. The Oak street bridge during the
| races was one mass of humanity, through
| which it was almost impossible for vehl-
| Gle to work its way Every conceivable kind
! of river craft that could be made
/ to carry passengers was loaded with inter
ested spectators, who in their anxiety to
| get the best possible view obtainable ere
ated a great amount OF unintentlonal
/ bother by constantly getting in the course
rowed over by the boats
THE RACE COURSE.
The course over which the races were
| rowed is on the Little Arkansas, begin
ming Just north Of the Pine street bridge
of the Riverside motor line, and
/ continuing up stream three-fourths of
a mile to the turning bouys, making what
is called a regulation mile and half with
a turn course. The course of the river is
gently bending not enough at
more than one point to re-
tard the progress of the boats mate
rally, but still sufficient to require more
attention than should be devoted to steer
ing. The water yesterday was somewhat
rough, and in returning oyer the course
the oarsmen had to face a pretty stiff
| southeast breeze. Notwithstand ng taese
noticeable drawbacks, the time Ins e was
remarkably good and far above the average
of amateurs. In fact the time made by
the successful four-oared crew, the Ores
cents, " was such as TO excite the admlra-
ton of every one who saw them row, and
there is already on FOOT project to
SEND THEM TO PULLMAN
to represent Wichita at the next annual
re-atta OF the Mississippi Valley Amateur
! Rowing association. to be held at
Pullman, Illinois. on Lake Calumet
on the 18th and 14th of this month. 1t Is
hoped that the citizens will interest them
selves sufficiently 70 contribute the
amount necessary to carry out such pro-
gram The four-oared crew can be enter
ed in the Junior four-oared race. with
every prospect of getting close up to the
| winners, if indeed they may not be able
to take first money Guy Meyers, the
promising young single sculler, would be
entered in the Junior single. Such step
as this. even though it might not
bring back to Wichita the highest tro-
pixies to be competed for, would give her
an amount of very desirable noteriety.
She may at least depend upon the fact
that her representatives would acquit
themselves with credit to Wichita, her
boat club and all interested in their well
fare The total estimated expense Of such
a trip is put at $50, an amount which can
surely be raised in a very short time.
Every other city on good water, OF any i'm
portance III the Mississippi valley, belongs
to the association and Wichita should not
take a back seat. There is no other city
in Kansas to be represented.
THE RACES.
The first race was the Calumets," the
light weights. in the four-oared shell
y. Oak" rowing against time. The
crew consisted OF: W B. Foutz, bow; s. S.
Miller, No. ?: VIM. Radford, No. 3: W. Z.
Chambers, stroke They got a pretty
start with about thirty-six strokes To the
minute. which they main;a ned to the
flags. Both Of these were turned without
delay and the start back made at the same
stroke IS they neared the Oak street
bridge this was Increased slightly and
maintained TO the finish. Time, $40 ID.
Messrs. Thomas Fitch, d. Z. Hotchkiss
and l. E Lindemuth, thelatter gentleman
being the starter and timer, were judges.
There was considerable trouble exper-
fenced in getting the course cleared OF
small boats. This was even more annoy
inc in preparing for the second than for
the first heat.
After about ten minutes the ''Crescentsh
or the heavy weight four-oared crew,
took positions and were given beautiful
start. taking about 81 stroke, but cover
ing lots of water They kept up this
stroke with regularity. The turn was
made in good style. Coming back over
the course the stroke was increased to 30.
As they neared the boat house and 1t be-
came certain that not only the time
of the other crew, but the best
time Of last years regatta, would be
beaten. the crowds on the bridge and on
the shore cheered enthusiastically. The
time. as announced was very fast, being
SIS Is.
The second race on the program WAS the
single sculI race, was between Guy Meyers
and Ed Clayton, Meyers having twenty
seconds start. Both men were in good
trim and did not disappoint their friends
who predicted close race. Clayton gained
slowly on Meyers, until near the bEi!ge on
the return, when Meyers made a squirt,
bat steering under the bridge poorly, lost
what advantage he might have had
and Ciaytor. having also made a squirt,
pulled ahead and WOE the race By consid-
erably less than length. The time was
9l4 SIS for one mile and hzJL CiayEor s
actual time was 9.3A Meyers boat lad
leaked badly. He, however, made much
better time than be did last season, when
bis best time was lilo
The working boat race was omitted ard
the next race was tire o1e between The