Evening star., 1896-08-01

8. w. Stinemets.
of the sport, for they turned out in thol-
sands, and when all was ready for the
starters word at 3 o'clock, the banks were
lined and every available point Of vantage
occupied.
By 10 o'clock this morning all the crews
had finished their preliminary practice and
were content to let their fortunes rest
wholly upon their condition as they left
their boats for the last time in practice
work. There has been some hard training
on the river during the past two weeks,
and all day yesterday Columbias and Po-
tomac's lightweight fours were diligently
at work in the effort to keep down their
weights to and below the limit of 125
pounds. The Columbia men were inclined
to be heavy and there was some very zeal
Gus fasting done all Of yesterday In antici-
patton of the weighing in at o'clock. So
closely did the Columbias calculate that
Secretary Fischer. who did the Weighing.
found the crew to be only six pounds be-
lew the total allowed by the rules, 500
pounds. Magee weighed in at 124, Seton
at 123. Lumsford at 124 and Parson at 123.
a total of 494. The Potomacs were lighter
than their antagonists. Warden weighing
1061.. Ven Dachenhausen 121, Doyle 123
and Maurice 1909. Total All.
Positions Drawn.
At the committee meeting last night the
crews drew for position. In this drawing
No. 1 was given to the post nearest the Dis
trict shore and No. 4 nearest the Virginia
shore, with the other numbers intermediate.
In the first race, for junior eights. according
to this drawing. the Columbias will have
No and the Potomacs No. g In the Junior
singles Lockwood of Philadelphia will row
No. 1, Maurice Of the POtOmacs No. 2, and
III 10 .,nf4
fours the Ariels of Baltimore will row No. 1
and the Columbias No. q In the senior
fours the Ariels will row No 1. the Ana
lostans No. 2. the Philadelphia Barge Club
No 3 and the Columbias No. 4. In the light
weight four -oared race the Columbias row
No and the Potomacs No. 2. In the inter-
mediate eights the Columbias have No. 1
position, AnalostanS No. and Potomacs
No. 3. In this drawing it is thought that
the Columbias have secured the best places.
for In no race are their representatives be-
tween other boats.
The stake boats were placed in position
ton of Messrs Nolan Baker and Stinemetz.
The course was really measured two winters
ago. when the river was covered with ice.
and Mr.. Baker conceived the idea Of laying
off an absolutely accurate course by a tape
line.
He first drew a perpendicular from the
middle of the Columbia house to the middle
of the old ruin on Analostan Island op-
pOS1te, ana tnen WIN b steer tape ne marked
OF mile straight away. When 1t was de-
cided this summer to use the upper course,
with the start and finish line at the Potomac
house. accurate measurements were taken
from this perpendicular at the Colum bia
house along Water street to She middle of
the Potomac house, and the distance thus
added was deducted from the upper end of
the course. 1t Is unusual that such accurate
measurements can be made, and the course
committee feels confident that the three
quarters run and the mile run are true to an
inch.
Accommodating the Crowds.
Preparations for the accommodation of
the crowds were begun at the two up-river
boat houses yesterday afternoon and COM
pleted this morning. Seats for about 400
were placed on the balcony and roof of the
Columbia house, while the Potomac house
balcony was found large enough to hold
about $50 more. giving room for fully $50
spectators in comfort in the vicinity of the
line The Cumberland boat house and
other floats in this neighborhood were also
provided with chairs and benches and at a
low estimate there were good seats at 8
O'Clock for fully a thousand people so close
to the line that every blade stroke can be
watched as the boats start and finish
In addition to these places, hundreds, IL
not thousands, more throng the wharves,
the stone floats tied along the bank of the
river and the decks Of the ice and coal
schooners loading and unloading their car
goes in that vicinity. 1t was said by a
member Of the regatta committee this
morning that probably never before have
the people of Washington been given so
good a chance to see series of boat races
The Ariel crew arrived yesterday after
noon and took their boat at once to the
Analostan house. The Philadelphia barge
crew got in last night and established
themselves at the Potomac house. The
men are being handsomely entertained and
they look fit as fiddle for the races Of the
afternoon.
left the Cumberland wharf shortly after
O'Clock with a carefully selected company
on board. consisting of the officials of the
course headed by Commodore Carrigan Of
the schuylkiil navy. who. as umpire, was
monarch OF all he surveyed. There was
also on board the members Of the regatta
committee and representatives of the local
press, the whole party numbering about
forty-hve. There was great pressure for
places on the steamer, but all were rigor-
ously excluded except those who held
badges emitting them to places on board.
A few minutes later the judges of the
turn were taken to their places above the
bridge and stationed in their boats, from
Of the races at that important point.
Great Interest In the Races.
There is at this hour the greatest interest
ccncerning the outcome Of the race of the
senior fours. in which there Is the greatest
number Of entries of the regatta. The
Evening Star cup. the trophy for this
event. Is now held by the Philadelphia
Barge Club, whose representatives thia
year are In good form and determined to
retain possession of tho handsome prize ,f
possible. For the past few days it has look
wrest the trophy from their hands. but fhe
CclCmbiaS have shown splendid form in