The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-05
SPORTS FOR AMATEURS
AQUATIC CLUB EVENTS AT BROAD
RIPPLE YESTERDAY.
Immense Crowd at the Park-Result
of Country Club Golf
Tournament.

The Aquatic Club races were given at
Broad Ripple yesterday afternoon in the
midst of a bombardment perhaps as noisy,
If not as effective, as the famous engage
ment off Santiago just a year ago. The
thousands Of people who came out to the
park brought along enough firecrackers to
average at least a bunch per visitor, and
all along the beautiful. quiet stream there
was continual booming and fixing Of Chi
nese ammunition, people in boats and on the
shady shores contributing to this general
scare of the fishes. Never before in the
history of Broad Ripple Park were so many
people gathered there. The high banks
at the park proper were lined with people.
and every nook up the river had family
party, the youngsters putting IL the time
between races at fishing. The boathouse at
the park did not have a sufficient fleet to
supply all the demands, although there are
more boats there than at any other pleasure
resort in the State. A band furnished music
during the afternoon and the evening. Cap
tain Norvilrs steamer Sunshine had all the
business 1t could do. and many hundreds
took the pleasant trip up past the island
and back.
The Aquatic Club houseboat was anchored
about a quarter Of a mile above the park,
on the opposite bank. where 1t was de-
lightfully cool for a July day, and the MEM
bers and their friends were transported to
and fro by Mr.. c. B. Fletcher's steam
launch. the Lillian. There was quite a
number Of spectators on the decks OF the
boat when the races. which were limited to
club members. began. at o'clock. Much
interest was conferred in the event for ca
noes. which constitute the chief boating
equipment OF the club, for a number Of the
canoes were built this season and few MEM
bers had "a line OUT as to their speed.
Only six were entered for the competition,
however, and these were padded down to
the park, from whence the start was made.
Robert Scott acted as Handicapped and Ben
jamin d. Walcott as starter, with Thomas
j. Carter as judge and DR.. S. Fl. Malpas as
timer. The fine Sprague canoe, the In
diana, owned by DR.. Maurice Raschig and
H. T. Hearsey was intrusted to Carl Fisher.
Bruce Maxwell padded his canvas canoe,
the Madge, and Charles Maxwell the Delta.
Lannes McPhetridge was in Allan Hen
dricks's low rakish Goldenrod, Gavin Payne
in the Mary and F. B. whitlock in the Won
8. whitlock had good lead till close to
the finish. when Fisher came up with a pref
ty squirt and took the heat, with but few
feet to spare, the other entries being strung
out. Inc time, the Instance DellS III excess
of quarter of a mile. was lao 30.
The second heat was the fastest, being
padded in 1:a 3-5, resulting I'm very close
finish between Whitlock and Payne, the lat
ter winning by a half length, after the two
canoes had been neck and neck for several
hundred feet. In this heat Maxwell and
Fisher made a fine struggle, keeping Well
together most of the course. As several OF
the canoeists had participated in the ex-
hausting swimming race, which came be-
tween the canoe heats, II was decided TO
postpone the final heat, which will decide the
race, till next week.
In the swimming race, which was for
not satisfactory, but Harry ID. Hammond,
who won a gold medal in last years tourna-
ment, easily showed his superiority over all
the others. Whitlock, Payne and Fisher
were the other entries. and finished in the
order named.
In the diving contest the decision was
given for the most graceful dive, the leap,
the cleaving OF the water and the clear re-
covery being considered The entries were
Paul Payer III. d. Hammond, Will Scott,
Robert Scott, Bruce Maxwell, Charles Max
well, Robert Smith and Carl Fisher. A
committee of ladies, consisting OF Mrs. Nal
pas, Miss Bieler and Miss Braden. were Sc
lected as judges. Bruce Maxwell was finally
adjudged the winner He made one OF the
prettiest dives seen at the Ripple for some
time. From the second deck of the boat he
struck the water almost without a splash,
coming 10 the surface almost instantly. The
prizes yesterday were bathing costumes and
canoe paddles. Tonight the club will have
its weekly dance.