The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-05-07
AMERICAN TARS DIDN'T ROW
Three of tho Boat Races on the Hudson
Won by British Men-of- Wars-Men.
The Other Captured by the Russians-An Ex-
citing Contest Yesterday from Which
United States Sailors We're Barred.

awoke this morning he was happy. To-day
was the first day since be arrived in this
port that he GOULD justly look upon as his
own. and he rejoiced to find the elements
were kind to him. the air being cool and
the sky cloudless. All the sailors who
planned to participate in the race between
the various boats belonging to the war
ships tumbled early out of their hammocks
and began preparations for the events. In
the first place they went through number
of light exercises which were followed by
q cold water bath. Jack was feeling in
good condition then. and when he sat down
to his breakfast ne did ample justice to the
meal After ON hours rest the boats were
lowered from the men of war.
Those who were early visitors to River
side drive. and their number was many. saw
the sailors take q short spin. This is one OF
the peculiarities about sailors races. While
in professional and amateur racea the men
who are to take part take no exercise on
the day of the race. Jack Tar is MP early
and pulling away for dear life. He says it
limbers his muscles and gets him In better
trim for the occasion. Nearly every boat
which entered into t0-day's contest could
be seen on the river In the early morning.
There were the ten and twelve-oared cut
tiers from the Brazilian, French, British.
Italian, German and Engllsh vessels. and
in some cases two from single ship were
spinning over the water. There were five
Dared Ralleys and white boats. and there
were singie-barked dinges. 1t was some
what difficult TO distinguish the
boats of one nationality from, those
OF another this morning. but this afternoon
each boat carried it's proper flag. that the
spectators might tell who were the winners
OF the races. AS the afternoon approached
tle lnhahlfanfQ fhA wh0m a
sailors regatta was novel sight. took
scarcely any less interest in the matter
than the sailors themselves. The front of
the river from One hundred and thirty
second To Seventy-secOnd street. Oft and
between which the course of the races iie
was lined with persons during the earlier
morning. With every succeeding hour the
number of spectators seemed TO increase,
until the drive was simply packed, were
also numerous excursion boats and craft or
all kinds.
fhe result of the days sport was q great
victory for Great Britain. Her tars carried
of the honors. winning two of the three.
and coming In a good second In the other
race. which was captured by the Russians
Picked crews from all the foreign men-Of-
war; except the HOllander Van Speyk par
ticiDated, and they made as pretty q series
of races as has been rOwed on the Hudson.
The course was between the lines of the
men-ot-war. This gave the crews of the
war ships an opportunity to cheer their
of the vessels grand stands from which the
races were reviewed. The Chicago W as used
as judge boat ind the finish was n line
drawn from her TO the French flag ship
Arethuse. The Judges were on the Chicago.
THE RACES.
At o'clock. when the races were TO
begin. the Philadelphia Newark. Atlanta
and Chicago. of Uncle Sans navy. had
several thousand people on their decks
waiting for the white boats far ND the
Hudson to come down the long course. A
hundred steamboats,, tugs ana launches.
loaded from deck TO gunwale with people,
surrounded the crews at the starting point.
and nearly as many more waited at the
finish. It was 4:22 p. m. when the first race
was started. 1t was for ten and twelve
cared cutters, double banked-that is, two
men rowing abreast-and was three miles
straight away. There were sixteen boats
IN line. and British. Russian. Italian.
French. Brazilian. German and Argentine
crews were In 1t. They got away
well Nell. together. and with hd the sun sum
glisienlng from their oars as they
pulled n long. stroke together, they came
down the course. With them came mob
OF screeching tugs aud steamboats, loaded
with yelling Passengers. lie wss grand
fotilla and the sailors on the Columbian
earavels stood on the elevated decks of
their queer craft and looked on with amaze
ment. The iirst two miles OF the race were
closely contested. The cross of St. George
on the Britons' best cutters swung "a little
TO the fore. but the Frenchmen, Italians
and Germans were on their quarter. All the
others were In q bunch just behind. When
the crews reached the Blake and it was
seen that the British boat led there was u
cheering and claDping of hands that
could be heard a mile away and the British
tars forged slowly ahead. The Italians
alone stayed with them and a second Ital-
ian cutter and the German boat pressed
them closely. The Engllshmen row ed like
automatons. There were twelve oarsmen
aud c0xswaln In each OF the leading
boats. The coxswan stood and threw
himself forward with each stroke.
Down past the four British ships and past
the three Russians the crew rowed The
pistol shot on the Chicago announced the
finish. and instantly the British boat
banked oars. while all the tugs wbIstled
and the bands played, God Save the
Queen and people on the decks of the
men-of-war and pleasure crnft yelled and
swung their hats. the crew from the Brit
ish ship Australia won in twenty-five min
utes and fifty seconds. The GREY from the
Italian flagship Etna was second, with the
Italian crew from the Bausan next The
ten-oared cutter of the Magicienne which
came In fourth, got third prize by time
allowance. The boats from the Tartar.
kaiserein Augusta, Jean Bart and Blake
were together in a lump. and the other
Italians. Germans. Frenchmen and Brazil
ians brought up the rear.
The excitement had not Abated when the
galleys and the whaleboats of the second
race were discovered coming down the
course. The Russians led by a short boats
length two British boats. and just back of
them came the Germans. Brazllians and
Frcnchmen, with six boats In q bunch In
the rear. The finish was exciting. the peo-
pie on the British and Russian ships doing
their best In the way of cheering TO aid
their respective crews. The crew from the
Russian ship General Admiral won in
twenty minutes. forty-fve seconds. The
crews of the Blake and Australia were AL
most side By side, two boat lengths In the
rear of the Russians.
In the third race. hich w as two miles,
only three British crews led all the way,
with first one or the other of them aEead.
and with two Italian crews crowding them
closely. The crew from the British ship
Australia won IN seventeen minutes. thirty
live seconds. with o second Grew from the
same ship second; crew from the Blake
third. and the Italians from the Bausan.
Eridano and Tartar last
The Americans were barred from COM
peting. as their boats are lighter and su-
perior TO those of the foreigners.