The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-02
REGATTA WAS
 SUPERB EVENT
(Continued from Page one.)

crew and W. L. Clapp substitute. Three of the light racing boats were transported in a baggage car.
 2:30 and they attracted a big crowd to the river. It was the newest sort of a new sport to Middle Alabama. The whole population did not go to the river as was done Thursday evening, but big crowd filled the banks of the river adjacent to the Union railway station. The Georgia State Band was present and provided good music before the races began.
 The oarsmen were on the scene early and the racing machines hard by the ferry landing drew the attention of the spectators. The numbering, ungainly ferryboat afforded a strong contrast to the trim racing craft, each of which cost twice as much money as the river carry-all.
 Early in the day the crews got together and agreed upon the officers Of the contests as follows:
 Judges, Alex Rice, D. w. Whetstone and Daniel W. Troy of Montgomery.
 Referee at finish line-John J. Schaab or St. Louis.
 Referee at turn-otto Becker of St. Louis.
 Starter at finish line-John J. Woulfe, of New Orleans.
 Starter for four-oaredA crew--walter Ritter of St. Louis.
 The finish line was marked by white flags on either side of the river the flag on the Montgomery bank being directly in front of the judges stand, which was occupied by the race officials. directors of the Fair Association and prominent citizens. The finish line was immediately in front of the grand stand. which was filled with persons. Its seat ing capacity Is 3.5oo.
 The four-oared race was to be the first event and a few minutes before o'clock the oarsmen began to prepare for the contest. The boats are of such narrow beam that they are not easily balanced and when the four men stepped into the shell they did 1t simultaneously as four men would mount tandem wheel.
 The contestants were crews from the two crack St. Louis clubs, the Century Boat Club and the Western Rowing Club. There is great rivalry between them. The Century oarsmen were pr. Arthur Stockhoff. bow; A. c. Erker, No. 2; Louis A. Schlosstein, No. and A. F. Nasse stroke. The crew of the Western Club consisted of Fred Miller bow; John Freitag, No. 2; Adolph Beiser. No. 3 and Frank Dummerth. stroke.
 The course for this event which was to be half a mile straightaway. best two in three. was from a point half mile up the river and near the beginning of the bend to the finish line. The starter and referee were stationed at this point which was marked by a white flag.
 The Century crew was the first in the river and when the olive green shirts flashed out into the sun against the trees on the Fillmore County bank the big crowd cheered.
 > Slowly and steadily the men pulled as with one stroke. The racing machine formed a semi-circle and gracefully turn ed its long keen nose up the river to the starting point. They were closely follow ed by their rivals. The Western oarsmen wore white shirts and blue trousers. They were alos cheered.
 Soon after reaching the starters flag, | which could be dimly seen in the dis | tance. the referee, who was keeping his | eye glued to his binoculars whispered to | the megaphone man at his back. "The shells are in position and ready to start" announced the megaphone nan in stentorian tones and the interested thousands craned their necks., They're off screamed the megaphone | and the boats came tearing down the river.
 It was race to thrill the blood of kings. The pride of two factions in the | big metropolis of Missouri hung upon 1t, and each of the eight men who sat in these thin little shells knew it's worth. Every inch of muscle was doing it's level best. Every bit of nerve and brawn was called on to respond for the glory of each proud crew. Down the stream they flew, the Century Club rowing on the east side and the Western men hard up further over. They were neck and neck. Sud- denly the four olive shirts shot out in | front of the white and blue In twenty | seconds the Century crew flew over the