The San Francisco call., 1898-08-19
CAL|FORN|ANS IN
 SPLENDID FORM Astoria Regatta Will Be-
 gin To-Day. MIDGETs STRONGLY ToUTED ARE FAvoRITEs FOR SENIOR
 BARGE RACE. It Is Expected Thirty Thousand Peo- pie Will Participate in
 the Northern City's
 Carnival.
MIDGETs STRONGLY ToUTED
ARE FAVoRITES FOR SENIOR
 BARGE RACE.
Special Dispatch to The Call

ASTORIA, Or, Aug. 1s.-The As toria Aquatic Carnival, the hfth III the history of the city, begins to-mor- row. The celebration will last three days-F'riday, Saturday and Monday. Sunday Is being reserved for regatta excursion to the seaside.
 With the exception of Frank Wilson, who was entered in the senior skiff from the Ariel Club of San Francisco, all the entries from San Francisco are here. The midget crew of the South End Club arrived by train yesterday and the Alameda crew came in last night. s. J. Pembroke Is with the Alamedas Both crews received an ovation when they arrived at the depot They were escorted to the Murray Ho- tel by a large delegation of Historian citizens.
 The people here think a great deal Of the San Francisco oarsmen. The boys have made an impression with the As torians by their sportsmanlike spirit in helping each other while training. It is no uncommon sight to see the op- posing skiff men and barge crews rub ping each other down after hard row. Although the greatest rivalry exists between all they have acted to each other like members of the same club.
 The men are all in good trim. Their work consists of five-mile rows daily and cross-country running. The Ala meda crew will be a little handicapped in its race with the "Midgets," as 1t has not rowed in a week. Al Webb, No. oar. has been in Astoria since Monday, but the rest of the crew ar rived only last night. They have all been rowing singles in the Alameda estuary during the week, however, and are in good fettle.
 The South End ''Midgets" rowed over the course yesterday at a racing pace. They were closely watched by the northern oarsmen and their work has already won favor. The Astorians think them the neatest at oars that ever pulled over this course.
 The water around Astoria is the same as on the California courses, be- ing choppy in the afternoon and com paratively calm in the morning. The races will take place as early as pos sible to insure still water. The course will be a measured mile and a half and will be laid out along the railroad track, where observation trains Will i follow the crews from start to finish. A grand stand capable of holding 2O0O people has been erected at the starting | point and a band of forty-one pieces will be stationed there.
 Boats and trains arriving from ad- jacent cities are crowded with pas sengers. Room cannot be found to ac- commodate all that are coming. House boats that have not been used In years are being fitted as sleeping quarters for the visitors to the regatta It Is expected 30,000 people will be here, in addition to oarsmen from Victoria, Burrard Inlet, Vancouver, Portland and California
 Alex. Pape of the Dolphin Club Is confident of winning the senior skiff event He has been trying like a Tro- jan, but Coney Ochs of the Pioneer | Club and pr. Dennis of the South Ends have been working just as hard, and the people will get their money s worth out of this race. Dennis never l roWed in better form than at present and the wonderful turn of speed Ochs has been showing lately has caused the 1 knowing ones to regard him as danger l ous For once this sculler has got him. self into proper condition. He Is cer- tainly the prettiest rower of the trio, and a great number of Astorians favor his chances.
 The "Midgets" look like moral 1 for the senior barge race. The other day they held the tug Relief which was once one of the fastest tugs on San Francisco Bay, down for nearly half mile, the tug going at pretty good speed.
 The San Franciscans are talking of | doubling up after the barge and skiff races and entering the whitehall, tub and swimming races. They are anxious ! to take home as many prizes as posSi- ble.