Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-04-20
TARS AT THE OARS.
Sailors Boat Races at the Ma.
val Rendezvous.
SAN FRANCISCO BLUE JACKETS WIN

And the Frisco Visitors Go Wild with
JOY, and Are Long on Shekels-The
Cruise or the Philadelphia Catamaran
"A Craft That Was a Nautical Joke
An International Love Feast-Arrival of
the Arethuse.
FORT MONROE, Va, April 20.-The men
Of the San Francisco are wildly rejoicing.
In every race in which their crews rowed
they came off victorious and the enthusi-
asm of the San Franciscoans at Fort Mon
roe is of no low degree of hilarity. The
men were given liberty" the officers
were exultant and even the little boats
with the monogram s. F. upon their bows
seemed to dance with more than usual
lightness upon the waves. All Americans
are happy because in a contest with the
most athletic fellows of the English and
Russian fleets American boats carried off
the palm.
The Water Covered with Craft.
The races were rowed in the quiet waters
of Elizabeth river. Boats were so thick
that a man might almost have walked dry
shod from the crowded wharves of Nor
folk on one side to the equally dense
throngs of people in Portsmouth on the
other. There were, of course, the usual
craft that make a regatta scene one of live
iy interest, but in addition to these the
launches and cutters and gigs of the vari-
Gus war vessels, flying both strange and
familiar colors, gave to the scene a touch
of international interest.
Order in Which the Races Were Run.
The first race was six-oared gigs, and
frisco was first. Philadelphia second and
Blake third; second race, twelve-oared
cutters, Frisco again first, Chicago second
and Atlanta third; third race, siX-oared
whaleboats, Frisco first, Partridge second,
and Atlanta third; fourth race, four-oared
dingies, Frisco first, Baltimore second.
Chicago third. Although the money act
ually paid in prizes was not large, the
highest purse only being $50 to the first,
$50 to the second boat, a considerable
sum of money changed hands, and San
Franciscoans got it all. They also have
all got sore Threats, for they Gifted the
roof when their ships boats came in
ahead each race.
Was a Nautical Nonsuch.
A touch of humor was given to the scene
by the way in which the catamaran crew
Of the Philadelphia appeared A cata-
with high sides and is used to carry off per-
sons from a sinking ship. This particular
catamaran contained as groteSQue a crew
as ever walked deck. There were seven
man-of-war's men aboard. One was a
dizzy blonde with a wig red enough to
light pipe, and a pea green dIess. An
other masQueraded as Uncle Sam, another
was a typical bumboat woman and all the
rest were as outrs as the most rag-tag and
bob-tail attire could make them.
Burlesque on the Flagship.
The boat was fitted up as a travesty of
their own ship. A barrel served as boiler
and from stove dense clouds Of smoke
arose. The solitary mast was rugged with
Z. single yard and from the latter as well
as from the mast itself string of wash
clothes foated gaily as signals. A slush
bucket did duty as a speed ball-which all
ships display when in motion-and was
run high in the air whenever the fanciful-
addressed crew began to work Industrious
" with the shovels which they used for
bars. Across the stern the name of the
funny little thing was painted. 1t was
simply the word "Soup."
jolly Tars Are Fraternal.
The French flagship Arethuse has ar
rived and been given the regulation sa-
lutes after she had opened the lombard
nent by saluting the American ensign.
The way the sailors fraternize is quite in
.eresting. With men from six nationali-
lies it is somewhat remarkable that there
have been no disturbances, but all the men
seem to be on their good behavior. There
has been no restraint on liberty and the
privileges have not been abused. The
British warship Partridge has slipped away
FOR Nassau, where it is said there is diff
Guilty between the negroes and whites
which she will endeavor to settle