The sun., 1904-08-14
ten DROWN VIEWING REGATTA
LAUNCH WITH HFOURTEEN ABOARD
CAPSIZES IN THE POTOMAC.
Four OF Those Lost We're Wornen-vessel
Upset When All Crowded 10 One Sido
TO Watch an Interesting Race-Four
Men Picked Up-BOdies Recovered

to watch an Interesting Hace-rOur
Men Picked Up-Bodies Recovered
WAsHINaToN, Aug. 13.-Ten persons were
drowned in the Potomac River this after
noon by the capslzing Of the steam launch
from which they we're witnessing the twelfth
annual regatta of the Potomac Boat Club.
The four women in the launch were among
those who lost their lives. Four Of the
fourteen persons thrown into the water. all
men, were saved The dead are
Miss HAZEL HIzEE,
Miss HELEN MOORE.
MRS LULU DRErYus
MISS BERTHA SSLBACH. sister OF Mrs DrcyfuS.
CHARLES h. BLUABR druggist
j. GEORGE SMITH. clerk.
j. HERBERT COATES, lady's tailor
A. j. BOOZE, salesman.
JOHN WAi.DMAN, taors helper.
W. NJ. SMITH, employee OF the Washing ton Navy
Yard.
These were saved. f. W. Wagner, william
Lederer, DR.. c. A. Stewart and j A Woulfe.
All along the city bank OF the Potomac,
from the foot of Thirty first street to the
Aqueduct Bridge, six blocks away hundreds
of spectators had assembled to witness
the regatta, while the river itself was
crowded with steamers and rowboats.
third street. about midway between the
Potomac Boat Club house, the starting
place, and the Aqueduct Bridge. which was
lined with spectators. At Thirty first
street a heavy volume OF water enters
the river through a fume from Cissel' q
mill. The launch was near this point when
the SECOND race was started.
This event was for junior single sculls,
in which were entered G.. F. Jolly, Bachelor
Barge Club, Philadelphia; W. d. Klare,
Arundel Boat Club, Baltimore; r. Redding-
ton, Potomac Boat Club, Washington,
and C. W. Ralph, Ariel Boat Club, Balti-
more. The race was unusually close and
aroused considerable enthusiasm from the
crowd ashore and afoat. All four boats
were neck and neck as they approached
a point opposite the launch. Those in
the launch, which was proceeding slowly
up the river in the direction taken by the
racers, were highly excited over the con-
test and apparently regardless OF the
dangerous course their craft was steering.
As the racing shells passed the launch.
1t ran full into the current OF the fiume'
which gushed forth volumes OF whirling
water that caused heavy undertow and
eddy Az the launch entered this swirl
OF wrathful waters, those on board crowded
to one side to get better view OF the con-
test. The sudden pressure Of fourteen
people in one direction, together with the
strong current under the hghtened side OF
the launch, caused 1t to capsise and turn
turtle.
For a moment nothing but the keel could
be seen. Then several heads rose above
the surface at the stern OF the overturned
launch. There was rope fastened to
the stern, and those who came to the surface
at that end OF the launch grasped 1t Tor
support. The referee and press steamers
were passing and these reversed engines
and came to full stop, while those on board
of them threw life preeervers and ropes
to the people struggling in the water. There
were half dozen clinging to the stern
OF the launch None Of the others who had
been on the launch was visible.
Owing to the strength OF the current from
the flume, the two steamers were unable tc
navigate near enough to reach the launch
The people in the water were quiet and
evidently confident that they would be
rescued. Two OF those seen in the water
| were women and were being supported by
| the men.
The press boat was within five yards ol
| the launch when the six people holding or
the rope suddenly sank, having been draw
down by the heavy undertow. None OF them
came to the surface alive. The four mer
/ saved were carried out into stiller watel
by the force Of the current and were picked
| up by boats.
All the bodies were recovered. The
| bodies of the six persons who had beef
holding the rope were taken out together
| They were clinging to one another in 6
| deadly grasp.
President H. S. F. Mcfarland Of the
| Board OF District Of Columbia Commits.
sioners, who witnessed the regatta from
| the United States torpedo boat Talbot
requested the regatta committee to cal
of all the subsequent races, but this wa
declined for the reason that 1t would NEAR
| 0 serious financial loss to those crews which
had come from other cities to participate
| in the regatta and that few Of the specta
| tors knew OF the tragedy. All the subse