Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-06
THE GREAT AUGUST REGATTA.


Champions Of the National Association to
Meet ON the Potomac.
PREPARATIONS IN PROGRESS FOR A GREAT GATH
EBINa OF oARsMEN-rHE ARRANGEMENTS IN
CHARGE OF LOCAL coMMIrrEE-MANY ENTRIES
ExPEcrrD-rHE PROBABLE COURSE.
TNEN YEARS AGO THE NATIONAL ASSO-
Il citation Of Amateur Oarsmen held it's
annual regatta on the waters of the Potomac
river and since then there has been nothing
done by the people of this city in the way of
the encouragement of the aquatic sport under
national auspices. The time. however, has
come again for Washington to act as host, and
preparations are now being actively made for
the holding OF the nineteenth annual regatta of
the National Association ON here the 18th and
18th of August.
This association is the only national body of
amateur oarsmeu in the country, and therefore
1t represents the best classes and the best in
terests OF the sport. 1t has membership of
over sixty clubs and other associations scat
tered throughout the country and comprises
only amateurs to the extent of debarring from
its ranks all oarsmen whose work has even the
slightest tinge Of professionalism. Like many
other athletic organizations it cam Q into exist
ence largely through the necessities that ex-
u
wholesome atmosphere in the rowing world,
when there was such a decided set toward pro-
fessionalism that the sport seemed doomed to
fall into the hands Of the men who were leav-
ing their legitimate occupations and taking up
rowing Business 1t was organized in 1872
and its first regatta was held the following
summer.
Under the provisions Of the constitution of
the association the regattas are held in such
cities as will guarantee to provide the necessary
facilities and defray the expenses attendant
upon such an event. There is ALWAYS some
thing like strife for the honor of playing host
to the hundreds Of oarsmen who gather at the
national regatta from all over the country, and
1t Is very fortunate that Washington has Sc
cured it, for it is thought that the event on
the Potomac will tend to encourage the sport
here and to bring out great many more oars
men than now frequent the river.
THE LOCAL COMMITTEE.
The affairs Of the regatta, from local point
Of view are in the hands of committee of nine
members OF the three boating associations on
the Potomac. as follows: Analostan-Samuel
Maddox, r. E. Pairo, W. A. McKenny; Poto-
mac-Wm. Off1ey, Oscar P. Schmidt and Claude
X: Lappone; Columbia-Alex. Grant, Samuel
W. Stnemetz and W. Howard Gibson. Mr..
Grant is chairman of this joint committee, Mr..
Pairo, treasurer, and Mr.. Schmidt, secretary.
number OF meetings have already been held
for the purpose Of determining the means that
are to be adopted to raise the fund that will be
required to float the enterprise and to make a
successful regatta and the committee is now
hard at work pushing its scheme which is to
swell the fund that must be guaranteed. Cir
cuiars are to be issued to the business men and
other citizens of the city urging upon them
the necessity OF making a good showing for
Washington in this matter and asking for sub
scriptlons to the fund. 1t is estimated that the
expenses will range from 81, 500 to s., 500 and
part Of this must be raised in this way. The
three clubs stand good for the sum in proper
ton to their membership, the Columbus I'M
dertaking the greatest share.
In other cities this matter Of providing for
the expenses OF a regatta is not nearly SO diff
cult problem as 1t has always proved to be
here. In Boston, for instance, at the approach
OF such events the city council appropriates
certain sum for the entertainment of visiting
oarsmen, as well as for tho natural expenses of
the regatta, and there is no demand made upon
the local clubs. At Philadelphia, during the
local regattas there during the past three years,
SO liberal a fund was raised by popular SUBJ
scription that each visiting oarsman was enter
tanned at the best hotel in the city for three
days. The same spirit prevails all through the
north and east, and in most of the cities the
merchants and corporations are but too anxious
that the regatta shall be held there, as they re-
alIze the benefits conferred by the event upon
the trade OF the place. Already the street-car
lines OF Washington are beginning to feel the
effects OF the increased traffic toward the river
each pleasant evening as oarsmen and their
friends go over to indulge in or to witness the
practice work Of the crews.
In such an event it is not possible to defray
the expenses, as 1t is in the case of athletic
games such were held on Analostan Island
last fall, for by the nature of things there can
be no charge for admittance, and thus there is
no way in which the races themselves can be
turned to financial account. 1t has been
practically decided by the committee not TO at
inn ut md III
former efforts in this line have proved failures.
THR COURSE.
One Of the most important matters that is
now before the committee is the selection of
course for the regatta. There are several
reaches on the river that are available and
suitable for the races, but all have some obiec-
ton but one that is now being urged and which
will probably be adopted finally as the water in
which the events Of next August will be rowed
This course extends north from the Long bridge
to point short distance south of Littlefeld 4,
wharf, following the wall of the flats reserya-
ton, with the finish some little distance above
the mouth Of the sewer canal. Under the rules
OF the National Association all races are Of a
mile and half. and thus the course will be that
length. This course presents few, il any. OBJ
jections. and will most likely be accepted before
long There is but little current in this part of
the river. as the main channel is some distance
west, while the river Is practically straight for
d
curve toward the east in the wall of the flats.
but by drawing the course line straight from
the bridge this will not interfere. The starting
boats will be placed about hundred feet north
OF the Long bridge, where the water is practi-
cally still and 80 shallow that there will be no
difficulty at all in anchoring the boats in as
firm manner as desirable. This is one OF the
to the up river course, the cur
rent and the depth being SO great at the point
from which.the start must be made-opposite
the Three Sisters-that starting boats almost
always drift from their places.
In case the course described should be
adopted there will be ample facilities for the
public on the days of the races. for the fats
will afford accommodation for thousands along
the river front without the least interference.
There are few or no wharves in this part Of the
river, but their absence will not be felt in view
which half Of Washington could be assembled
without any danger of falling off.
EACH DAYS PROGRAM.
The races will begin at 2 o'clock on each Of
the two days of the regatta. Tuesday and We'd
nesday, and will continue until the program of
the day has been concluded. There will be
eight events, as follows: Senior singles, junior
singles, double sculls, pair Oar shells, four oar
for mile and a half each, and a
quarter mile dash for senior singles.
The races will be rowed in trial heats when
ever there are more than five entries in each
event, and thus the program will be sure to
occupy the afternoons of the two DAYS. A
race will be started each half hour after 2
O'Clock, and, by means of the magnificent sys-
tenn that has been perfected by the National
Association, there will be few. if any. delays.