Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-20
BOATING ON THE POTOMAC.
Gossip of the Beat Houses and Pros
necta of the Season.


The boatining men on the Potomac are
beginning to grumble more than a little
over the lateness of the season. In years
gone by the various clubs have found that
they have accomplished good deal in the
way Of getting ready for the summers
work by the latter part of April, but this
year the score is pretty near a blank. The
Columbus and the Potomacs have neither
had boat on the river as yet, and for the
last few days the Analostans have let up
on their work of preparation for the con-
test with the Annapolis boys, which was
set for May IL.
But, unfortunately. all the plans for the
Annapolis Analostan race have been de-
clared off, owing to the inability of the
local club to get up an eight which would
represent them in proper manner. This
will be something Of a blow to boating, as
the race was arousing good deal of in
terest in local circles and would have in
augurated the season in good style. For
some time past the Analostans have had
two fourS out on the river, putting in some
good work, and before long they were to
have gone into an eight for further prac-
tice.
The crew has been heavily Handicapped.
however, by the loss of two of the best
men in the boat, one of whom, X. c. How
ard, is suffering from severe injury to
his hip, which may prevent him from row.
ing to any extent this summer. Then, too,
several of the men are in local law schools,
and they found themselves with examina-
tons on their hands just about the time
set for the race, and their chef interest
naturally centers in their success in the
intellectual game. So. taking one consid-
GRAFTON with another, 1t has been deemed
best to throw over the race altogether
A proposition was made to the middies
this week to make 1t four-oared instead
of an eight-oared race. The Analostans
could still have put first-class four on the
water, but the middies did not see it in the
same light, SO there will be no meeting be-
tween The two this season.
COnoefng is Dead.
Interest in canoeing seems to have died
out almost altogether during the last few
years. The old canoe club was absorbed
into the Analostans several years ago, and
the boat club took, in the floating boat
house which the canoeists had been using
as home, and for time it was hoped
that canoeing had come to stay, and would
be one of the popular and standby sports
This has not been the case, and the pres
ent season opens with only one or two men
on the Potomac owning their own canoes
The Analostans still have the big war
canoe. which used to be a familiar sight
on the river, but this will probably be used
this season by the members Of the club
solely for pleasure outings on the river.
4ucIS may NC d revival u interest IN canoe
ing, but there are no signs of it as yet.
There is some talk of holding the re-
gatta this summer at an earlier date than
usual, and some of the most active boating
men would be pleased If it could come off
some time during the latter part of July,
instead of a month later. They argue that
it is difficult to have men in the best con-
dition on the latter date, and that It is
cruel to keep crews in training through the
worst of the summer
1t is still a little early to talk about boat
iEg, but there Is no doubt that boating for
pleasure will be a strong feature on the
river this summer. A number of new pleas
ure boats are being built, and the probable
tiles are that the water will be gay with
small craft on warm evenings, when it is
pleasanter to be cut on the river than
cooped up in the hot town.