Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27
GREAT WATER FETE.
THE VIRGINIA boat CLuWs RE-
GATTA A DELIGHTFUL AFFAIR.
WITNESSED BY A LARGE CROWD.
Programme of Six Events Provides
Excellent sport-Mnny Guests Ems
of the OarSmen.
of the 0arsncn

-
The placid waters OF the James. in the
neighborhood Of Mayos Island. were
alive with numerous craft yesterday al
ternoon. Fr the banks. the bridge.
and from I hospltable clubhouse OF
the Virginia Boat Club. hundreds looked
down with keenest interest and delight
upon one OF the most successful regattas
conducted under the auspices OF Rich-
mond oarsmen.
1t was not that any records were
broken. or that the attendance outnum-
bered that Of any former occasion. that
contributed to this happy condition OF
affairs. but simply <hat the vIrginIas
had laid themselves out to spend the af-
ternoon as pleasantly as possible, and
had provided an excellent race pro-
gramme-and an abundance OF other
good things Including good fellowship.
THE COURSE.
course, hve-elghths OF a mile long.
stretched from the rock Just off the old
Dominion wharf to the clubs yacht.
which, gayly decked out with red and
white pennants-the colors OF the club
lay some $50 yards below the boat-house.
At o'clock, when the races started.
tho tide was at its lowest ebb. and tho
current scarcely perceptbe 30 that con-
ditions We're as nearly equal as possible.
There was not breeze stirring, and
nature lent her assistance 20 no crew.
so the results were directly attributable
to developed sk'I and careful training.
The guests OF the club occupied
vantage point on the island. opposite the
fag-boat.
THE RACE PROGRAMME.
Tho FIRST race was for single sculls,
Richard Walden and Woodbridge Ed
runds were the only entries. The con-
test was the most exciting OF the evening.
md wcs a race from the crack OF tho
starters revolver until both boats passed
the judges yacht with nothing 10 choose
between them, and the race was declared
a dead heat The course was covered in
five minutes. and the race was on tho
whole a very croditable exhibition
The next race was for single pleasure
boats. There were eight entries. and it
had been decided that IL should be rowed
I'm heats. However. when the time came,
only three boats came to the scratch.
the contestants being Messrs Charles
Jordon. Mayo Binford, and W. II. Wood.
The three boats left the rock together.
but before the quarter was reached MIR.
BMford was leading By a length and Mr..
Jordon was about tho same distance
ahead of Mr.. Wood. The order never
changed. and Mr.. Binford gradually in
creasing his lead, won a rather slow race
by three lengths. with Mr. Jordon eight
lengths in front OF Mr. Wood. The Tine
l xtrnIu raafs
THE FOUR-OARED GIG-RACE.
The event Of the evening was the four
cared gig-race. The contestng crews
were:
First-Messrs. II. y. Lewis. stroke: w.
/ II Jones, 8; Leo Elmulds .. r. c. wall
den. bow, and w. b. Claiborne, cOx-
swain.
sccond-Messrs. Joseph Young, stroke,
T. W. Duke. 3; j. B. Wilbon. 2; Thomas
A. Spencer, bow. and +. H. Smith. cox
swain.
The race was started promptly at 6
O'clock. The result had been a foregone
conclusion, yet the second crew put up
a good race. The first crew pulled u
clean and steady stroke throughout. and
squirting as they passed the improvised
| grandstand. won by four lengths. Tho
| second crews work was very ragged
from the start. The time Of the race
was 41-2 minutes.
TUB. SWIMMING. AND DUCK RACES.
The tub race. which followed. caused
great amusement. It was won by Mr..
Julian Bnford. who triumphed glorausly
over his opponents. Messrs ". b. Clai-
born. Charles JOrdOn. and Mayo Blnford.
The 10O-yards-dash swimming race was
won by Mr.. II. B. Lewis. MIA Held VIII
bon carrying off the second honor and
Mr. Julian Binford third
The duck race. with which the pro-
gramme was concluded, was won by Mr.
W. II. Jones after a brief but exciting
chase. Mcssrs. Jordon, Blnford. Wilbon.
| Edmunds, and Claiborn were the other
entries.
THE CLUES ENTERTAINMENT.
After the races the club entertained
their guests on a very liberal scale. and
the shades Of evening had gathered be-
fore the party broke up.
Among the ladies' present were noticed
the following: Mesdames Binford, Capers,
Roden, George Warren. Franklin. and
Misses Allan, Loose. Beekham. Shepherd.
Wallace, Hudgins. Booker Betty Booker.
Knowles, Franklin. Pizzni, Ives. Cayce.
Moseley. Gwathmey, Binford, Hewitt.
Ida Burch. Dcane. Lyel, Brown, Wise.
and others.
The French Challenge Cup. which was
won by the Virginia Boat Club was ex-
hiblted I'm the assembly-rOom. This very
handsome trophy OF solid silver. which Is
valued al $500 was presented 10 the Vir-
| ginla Association Of Amateur Oarsmen in
1876 by Mr.. j. c. French. OF F'redericks-
burg. The Virginias won 1t In 1856. lss6.
1889 ana 1894.
The Virginia Boat Club proposes to
hold a regatta every year. I'm which en-
tries Will be confined 20 members only.
| and viii not be open 10 other organlza-
tions. There has been very decided
boom In matters aquatic this year. and
the club now boasts a membership that
IS within ten Of the prescribed limit. The
/ clubhouse Is one OF the most complete
and convenient in the South, and 10
splendldly equipped. The present officers
are President, Hon. Beverly r. Crump;
Vice-President. J. l.. Hill; Secretary r..
L. Roden; Treasurer. w. g. Watson:
Captain. \. S. Peticolas.
The Committee on Arrangements for
yesterdays races was composed OF the
following gentlemen: G.. y. Pegram. X.
c. Walden. Edward Winfree. J. l.. Hii.
T.. l.. Roden, and W G. Watson.