The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-09-28
A GREAT BOAT RACE.
THE eENNlNGroN's CRACK cRewGoT
a COSTLY SURPRISE.

Pockets nnd Lrccrn.cd the Feelings of
Uncle Sans Jactics.
"About ne dismal Fourth Of July
as ever | experienced on board man
o'.war," said an ex.sailor of the navy
now living in Washington to report
or, twas Independence day not many
years ago down in the harbor of Homo
lulu. The bennington had an all star
racing boats crew. The eight had just
happened to be assigned tn the Ben
ningtun in bunch before she left for
her Pacific cruise, aud several of the
oarsmcn had been mcmlsrs of the Co
lumbia's cracl. BOATS crew that wallopcd
all of tho British nnvy's boats crews in
English waters few years before
The Bennington's cutter was one ui
the best in the navy, and she had been
built for n racer. Before we left tie
Marc Island navy yard for south Pacific
waters the ships racing crew had easily
beaten all of the other crews of the
ships lying at the yard, including the
tiptop crew Of the Olympia and the
Boston's fine crew We thought that
we were about as warm as they make
'em after our crew put it on so muny
other man.o'-war crews giving them
couple of minutes the start of us, too
on numerous occasions and still beating
them disgracolully.
"The people of Honolulu arranged
an aquatic festival for the Fourth OF
July--tho Americans down there cc!c-
brated the Fourth just as enthusiastic.
ally as we do up here-and the Ben
nington's crew figured in it largely
Our ships colors were at the fore in the
two races that were run with picked
Kanaka crews, and the third and last
race of the day was ono in which our
crackajack eight was to figure, the ot.cr
races having been won by subcrews
practically picked at random from
among the strongest seamen.
"We thought this race was at our
mercy. Itwast to be fouy sided affair
one crew of hauaka sugar field workers.
crew of Kanaka policemen and the
racing crew of the yacht Eleanor, be.
longing to Mr.. Slater of Providence
that had pulled into Honolulu hcrlJr
from Japan n few days before Our
crew didn't pay much attention to the
yachts racing crew and were only fig.
uring ON the distance they could beat
the crew of Kanaka policemen, which
seemed the most formidable.
"The race was over the four mile
course carefully blocked ort in the har.
bor-which was very SIN ooth-by the
Honolulu aquatic sportsmen, and the
start was first rate. There WASH man.
fore or aft, on the Bennington that
didn't stand to go broke to the extent
Of at least months pay on tho success
Of the Bennington's crew, aud we had
to give 8 to 1, too, for it was generally
conceded that we had the race at our
mercy.
1.-The start, as said, was good. and
the Bennington's crew showed in front
first and started out apparently to make
q runaway race Of It. The Kanaka po-
licemen's crew trailed after them, pull.
ing steadily, then tho Kanaka sugar
workers and, good ten lengths to the
rear. the Eleanor's crew. This was the
way IL looked for the finish when the
Bennington's crew rounded the stake.
boat and started for the return trip.
"Some of the Honolulu men who had
their money up on the two Kanaka
crews actually began to square accounts,
and the cry, 'It'salI over bloomington
was heard all over the bay. When the
stakeboat was rounded, it was noticed
that the Eleanor's boat was sort Of get.
ting O move on itself, and the mcn
were working like machines at Long,
steady stroke that certainly looked as II
1t was cutting down the Bennington s
lead and the lead Of the two Kanaka
boats.
1.-TWO minutes after the stakeboas
was rounded the Eleanor's gang wcro
right abreast of the Kanaka cutters and
gaining on them with every stroke, and
the cox 'un of the Bennington's cutter,
hearing the yells Of warning from the
Bennington bluejackets ashore. looked
behind him and saw the Eleanor cutter
only two lengths behind him and com.
ing like an electric launch. Our crew
was tired, and that's all there was
about 1t.
"The Eleanor's crew had held them
selves in for the finish. and they Ger.
tainly did make Garrison finish of it.
The yachts cutter shot ahead Of our
cutter good mile from home, and then,
to make the thing more CALLING, the
crew actually stopped rowing until the
Bennington's crew was alongside again.
Then they took to the oars again, and
from then on it was bowling farce
The Eleanor's crew just romped their
outter in ten lengths ahead of our cut
ter and the Kanakas a quarter of a
mile in the rear.
"You never saw such disguised lot
of men in your life as the men and
officers on the Bennington. The Flea.
nor's ship company had taken all of the
to money they could get ON board
our ship, for they knew they had good
thing up their sleeve. The Eleanor s
crew on the whole trip around the
world that was wound up at San Fran
cisco had not been beaten once in cut.
ter race, and the yachts sailors had