Evening star., 1903-07-25
NEWS OF THE OARSMEN.

That rowing is the most popular sport or
this season was more than borne oue by the
large turnout of people who assembled last
Saturday to witness the club regatta of the
Potomac Boat Club. The immense stretch
of water from in front Of the club house up
to and beyond the Aqueduct bridge, as We'll
as the latter structure was one mass OF
people intently watching the enlivening
sport on the water. The clustering of pleas
ure boats at the finish of the races was one
of the prettiest marine views ina gnable. If
an ordinary club regatta can turn out such
"a vast throng of people 1t arsurs well for
the crowd that will be attracted to the city
on the occasion of the big middle states re-
gatta which Is scheduled to take place here
on Labor day. September !, and in which
the local citizens have already begun to
take a vital interest. In speaking OF this
regatta the New York Herald last Tuesday
gave it its opinion that there would
be more representative clubs from the
vicinity Of New York at Washington on
Labor day than would make the trip to
Worcester. Mass, to compete in the ma
tional regatta" This is all good reading to
the promoters Of the regatta in this city.
and what is true of New York can be also
said of Philadelphia the center of boat
clubs Of America.
The local regatta committee. of which
Mr.. John Hadley Doyle is chairman. held
an important meeting Thursday night and
listened TO reports from its different com
mtterS. They We're more than encouraging
| in every respect and 1t is a conservative
claim Of the local committee In stating that
there will be over 10 entries in the many
races. This means average of six en-
tries in each. which is far above the per
centage in affairs of this kind. The Of
tcers of the association. with one or two
exceptions. will all come from the north
ern clubs. ard named by the Middle
States Association. The circulars for the
regatta have been mailed by Secretary
Brown. and he sends word to the local
committee that already he is receiving
many letters making inquiries as to the
rates and other items Of interest. At the
meeting Thursday night the following COM
mttee was appointed to make systematic
appeal to Washington citizens for funds to
help defray the big regatta: Messrs. Joseph
H. Bradley. Il. ID. Blackstone, Nelson IL.
Duvall. e Richard GaEch. George H. Hill
dreth: W H. Mcconyille John Meiss, jr;'
Nolan. James Strayer. c. w. P. Stodder,
Charles G.. Sloan. Walter l.. Tenney. c. q.
Warden. Odel Whpple F. Baker Weaver.
c. r. Zappone w. F. Bowen, with Mr.. John
Hadley Doyle chairman. The members
of the committee are of the opinion that a
good sum may be realized by the sale OF
the official program of the regatta. and they
are now receiving bids for the privilege.
A feature that will be interesting to the
local people will be the first appearance. as
Tor aquatic nOnOrS, OF a crew
from the District of Columbia Naval Re-
serve. This is a cutter race and is open
only to crews of a regularly organized
naval reserve squadron. and at Philadel-
phia. on July 4 last proved one Of the best
| contests of the day. The local tars will
have as competitors crews from the re-
serves of New York. Pennsylvania. New
Jersey. Maryland and probably Virginia.
MIR. Claude X. Zappone. who Is working
most zealously for this local regatta, will
go to the national. at Worcester, Mass. on
August 16 to act an agent to induce
the Canadian and Boston crews to come
here on Labor day
During the week somewhat of lull has
taken place among the local oarSmen, al
ways the sequence of big regatta, but
1t is predicted that during the coming
week there will be plenty of activity shown
all around. The Analostans feel sore over
their double defeat at the PotOmacs
gatta in the first, or feur-oared event. be-
cause of a Misunderstanding of positions
and the regrettable foul that placed them
hers de combat. They are confident that
If the foul had not occurred. and for which
they hold themselves blameleSs. they would
have won out in canter, they were
rowing easy and strong when the mixup
and spill overheard took place. In the
| eight-oared race the Analostan boys man
| fully admit that the POtomacs outrowed
them from the start. but still they feel
sore over the defeat, after having defeated
them so easily in the former race. Com
| HOuOTe olZcE HAS dnuOulCeu MS retirement
from shell rowing. much to the regret
of the entire rowing body OF the club He
was pre-eminently the best man in the
| house. and his purpose in stepping aside
was to devote more time to canoeing, which
| is his hobby. Mr.. John Evans is passing
| the remainder of this month In his canoe
| doing the twisting channels of the crooked
James river. having as his companion Mr..
Harry Whiting OF the Potomacs.
! On Thursday evening Messrs. Craig and
Rupp gave a barge party and dance to
| their many friends in the club, using the
| ten-oared barge and the war canoe to take
| the invited guests up stream. On returnir