The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-14
PALATKA. FLA. FEB. IA, 1888.
OUR WEEK OF SPORT.


to-day. The committee which has had
the arrangements in charge have had
little time in which to do their work.
There has been some criticism of their
arrangements, we believe, but this carp
ing, as usual, has been mostly from
those who could not be induced to take
a hand themselves. They are always
the readiest critics. Some, too, have
lost sight of the fact that the idea I'M
DERIVING the whole plan was that some
thing should be done to induce the peo-
pie of other cities and towns and the ag-
ricultural community to visit Palatka by
the hundreds and thousands for few
days. More than this. it was the idea of
inducing tourists, the citizens of other
States, to visit Palatka, and see what
can be done in the way of popular sports
cred with snow and Northern waters
locked in ice. 1t was not to put up
prizes for our own people to compete for
nor to induce yachtmen and good shots
here that Palatkans might win prizes
from them.
There is very litIle Of that feeling,
however, and what exists is not based
on ungenerosity but misconception.
Every one in Palatka will agree in Civ
ing a cordial welcome TO our visitors
May they be numbered bv the ten thou
sand. We wish to see all Florida and all
the strangers that are her guests, in our
streets this week. We hope they will
carry away with them such pleasant
recollections that when the Gala Week
is repeated next year they may all re-
turn to help us be joyful.
The great events of the week, of
course, will be the two matches between
the professional oarsmen, Teemer,
Hamm and Mckay Each will be a
hard fought contest for championship
honors. The news of this race will be
sent everywhere and the time record
will appear in all the year books that
give space to such events, in such
almanacs as the Clipper Almanac and
those published by the great papers.
Those who are SO fortunate as to see
them will see two magnificent struggles
between three well matched athletics.
The two races at Punta Gorda show
how well matched they are. The first was
over three mile course. Teemer rcwed
from the start to the finish in twenty
minutes and four seconds beating
Mckay by four seconds and Hamm by
six. The next day, Saturday, the wind
was high and the water very rough,
filling their shells several times, but
Teemer won the race in forty-one min
utes, forty-six seconds, beating Mckay
by four seconds, Hamm's boat filling so
badly as to throw him behind. To-mor-
row and Thursday Messrs. Hamm and
Mckay will work hard to take the
honors from the champion, John Teemer.
The working boat races to-day will be
of considerable interest. There is not
likely to be SO much of contest of skill
as one of strength and pluck, while
there will be plenty of fun in the shad
boat races if there is light wind. 1t
will be ''Get there, Eli" All the same,
it will take knowledge and science for
Eli to get there. The champion scullers
have consented to superintend this race
as judge, time keeper and starter.
The rifle shooting is something which
should be encouraged. So long as the
arts of warfare exist-and it looks now
as though the ploughshare might yet be
superseded by some new invention be-
fore the swords are converted into inno-
cent agricultural tools-so long will it be
an honor to any State to have good
body of marksmen in its militia. We
are long way off from the time when
each town or parish had its butt for citi-
zens to practice on, but craftsmanship
is still valuable requirement. Practice
with the rifle trains the eye and hand,
steadies the nerves and makes the militia
man a better soldier, giving him more
confidence in himself.
The ball tonight should be crowded
affair-not too much crowded for COM
fort, but enough for pleasure. Particu-
lars concerning it will be found in our
local columns. Military costumes will
mingle with civilian dress and the cos
tunes of the ladies will CLEAN brightly
amid the gray and the black. Ample
arrangements have been made for re-
freshments of the inner man, and for
good music, to keep the dance going I'M
til the small hours of tomorrow morn
ing.
flsitors arrived in great numbers, yes
terday, giving promise of a great at
tendance during the week. Each days
programme presents points of much in
terest. We hope and believe that be-
fore the week closes everyone will be
satisfied with Palatka's Gala Week and
will wish to see it repeated.