Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-01
IVY THEN COACH DEMPSEY of
Georgetown University set to
NM work to remodel the old ark
w gard of the late Prof. Langley
b. al I2II1-

AAAA WoTA To TSluCUcl LILO OaO dTh
gard of the late Prof. Langley
from which the Inflated Buzz
refused to fly, he little thought that some
of the old-time traditions would cling to the
remodeled boathouse But at present 1t
looks as If they do: for ever since the win
ter days through which the diligent coach
toiled vigorously to transform the low fiat
old ark of the lower Potomac into a larger
portable two-story boathouse the crews
under Coach Dempseys charge have suf-
fered countless reverses and setbacks to
their spring training
In the first place. when the crews left
the machines three weeks ago and We're
ordered to the boathouse to take advantage
of every one of those warm balmy days
that Indicated an early and favorable spring
for boating Coach Dempsey received his
first setback For when he attempted to
move the boathouse from its moorings ON
Analostan Island he found the old craft
tenderly clasping Its old hoodoo and incl
dentally sticking fast in the mud or the
Analostan fats. For three days every at
tempt to dlslodge the old craft proved OF
no avail but on the fourth high tide aided
to lift the house off of the mud bar. Then,
no sooner was 1t safely moored alongside
convenient dock at the foot of Saith street,
than afO1& came the Dcidttt 9AtoNS
and storms.
Several times during those queer heeting
snow storms OF two weeks ago the citizen
would be standing on the Aqueduct bridge
In from four TO six inches of SNOW watching
the crews of Georgetown receiving their
first training of the season upon the water
But this could not last; the wind grew ag-
gressive and the river was too rough Then
the cold days that followed were TOO
threatening to risk taking out the crews
-. 10, %l7nf r-n A0yd
out and SO cold was it that icicles formed
all over the oars, outriggers and hulls or
the racing craft. And so since the cessa-
ton of indoor work. several weeks ago, the
crews have had hardly seven days OF really
satisfactory practice.
And all this with the opening race of
the season just one week on, and threat
ening spring torrent now pouring down
from the upper Potomac and the Shenan-
doah Many of the men have contracted
colds from being around the riverside these
cold, damp drizZly days, and altogether
the crews are in frishtfully dangerous
condition to open their season.
Last Thursday the men reported at the
boathouse to find the river rushing along,
carrying logs and trees and all sorts OF
dangerous drift, which made rowing impos-
sbble. Friday there was an even stronger
current in the river but as the driftwood
was not SO thick the coach took the two
first crews out for a spin. What Is more,
reports come from Harper's Ferry that the
river is thirteen feet over its banks there
with the Shenandoah backing up, which
seems to indicate that Georgetown's crews
will be fortunate Ii they can be on the
water at all In the last week before their
race at Annapolis.
Another thing that has been quite a han
dicap to the coach is the lack Of a coach
ing launch in which he could follow the
crews and pick out f.heir faults in their
practice work. The launch Georgetown
was found to be defective, and is being
fitted with new engine, SO that until she
is sent back in shape from the factory the
coach must watch the crews best he can
from small boat sometimes by taking
a seat with one of the crews. It is reported
that a friend of the college is endeavoring
to get fast motor boat In running order
that he may turn it over to Georgetown's
coach. which, II 1t can be done in time
will fill a much-fef vacancy and will do