Evening journal., 1907-11-16
What | Know About
Delaware Politics and
Other Things
rwENTY.NlNrH ARTICLE.
By Washington Hastings

occurrence but for weeks prior thereto whilst practice
and preparation for 1t In progress.
refer to the great regatta" it was called. or
boat race Of "the chrstana Navy" This organization
was composed Of body Of young men this city who
devoted aquatic sports for pastime and recrea
ton-basebal football tennis golf not being very
much, II any in vogue at that time
As some Of the members Of that boat club are still
living here-though some have passed the beyond or
moved away--and arc now some Of them stad, sober
minded grandfathers, the recalling memory that
scene WILL am sure be interesting and entertaining
to them at least and perhaps others will De Interested
In recital Of one of the which young
men of that day obtained their amusement and took
their FUN"
ON considering the question Of the best method of
presenting this occurrence TO my reader. have
cuded to verbatim the report Of # as published
IN one Of the daily newspapers Of the period;
though this method may push the ego a trine promi-
nently into the foreground. That report follows:
On Saturday afternoon crowd numbering over a
thousand persons assembled and in the immediate
Nep,ty ol Inrd street bridge, TO witness three-mile
race between the gigs of the Pioneer undine
eor boat clubs which 70 be rowed under the auspices
oi ue chrsuana Navy Along the creek, far
the eye could see parties large and small gathered
to Witness the contest and probably at the time Of
the race 5000 persons had congregated TO IT, The
race was advertised TO come off al 430 sharp; but
then who ever heard Of coming of when
II shoudf When the hour for starting arrived the
could not take place for the very simple reason that
there was no starter, umpire judges present if
mere hhd been there were no boats to start umpire
Judge or timer TO start them for like the former they
were conspicuous for their absence Five o'clock at
a1 arrived as old also the boats judges, etc, and I'm
fifteen minutes later the Gigs were got in line and the
WORD go was given All seemed 10 have good start
anu each crew pulled lively bordering 40 strokes a
minute. The Bachelor took the lead while the
Pioneer and undine neck and neck WERE kept
ViuSe 10 then young and vigorous rival In passing
through the Wilmington and Western bridge the last
named sgs were abreast of each other Bachelor
pool ABOUT thfee lengths ahead In this order they
approached the turning buoys. but owing to the fact
tat one of them could not be was
caused m rounding which resulted in the Bachelor and
undne boats foung; the former boat staving an ugly
and unslshty hole in the tarboard side of the latter
AS soon as they could clear themselves they
the home stretch the Pioneer leading but the Bachelor
boat it is alleged having had her uer ropes entanged
curing the collision became unmanageabe and
the reecs' causing another delay The Pioneer was
stil in the lead followed by the Undine the Bachelor
long distance behind AZ the starting point they
arrived ~ the following order; Pioneer 23O2; Undine
$3.50; Bachelor about 2S
AS soon as the undne boat had arrived the start
ing point her captain claimed foul, and after the
rival OF the Bachelor crew the umpire Washington
tiastlngs ESQ, said he would hold the championship
flag until he had heard all the evidence in the case
when he would render Judgment The Bachelor club de-
tho race but the Undine too badly injured for
them TO attempt this The umpire gave notice to all
interested to meet him at the Howe Sewing Machine
Office at O'clock Saturday night TO testify An The
parties TO the contest met requested the captain
o eaen crew made statement of the fouing, the posi-
tons they were i'm az the time etc. did Mr. Warner
the judge on the Wilmington Western bridge and
umpire took all the into consideration ana this
mornne 'cndered the following decision. which is so
Iu Just and impartial that II cannot fail 10 give general
satisfaction.
Wilmington. Delaware. October 5th, 1874
Gentlemen of the Christiana Navy
In rendering my decision your race OF Saturday
the Sd instant of which had the honor being chosen
ehe umpire cannot forbear TO state that appreciate
fully hope the responsibility which you have seen
proper to place upon me in matter full
From the evidence produced at your meeting ON sat
urday evening it appears that the collision occurred
between the boats of the Undine and Bachelor crews
was purely accidental occasioned by the fact that
one Of the buoys which had placed for the turning
OF the boats viz the one on the northery side Of
creek having sunk confusion thereby created IN
inc minds Of the commanders of an the crews. This
Yea 'ne hacheors who were leading at the time
az point where they supposed their buoy ought TO
he 'see statement Of Mr. CampbelD the Undines
20 turn on ne buoy which had been placed for tho Bach
elors. and the Pioneers To buoy intended
Tor the Dndnes tsee statement of Mr. Mler) all sup
except the Bachelors. who supposing that there was
no buoy for them were doing the best they could
unntentonal as evidently was on the part Of the
undine crew the fact nevertheless remains that they
took place but Of the Bachelors: and being SO
they We're under rule number your navy at their
own peril and risk and liable for mshap occurring
under such circumstances.
These being the facts in the case as between the
heeheior ana Undne crews as understand them IT
only remains 20 review the contest as between the
hachelors and the Pioneers; and. in doing, ! call
your attention to your rule number tweve which
II in any race, in which more than two boats start
foul takes place and the adiudged by the umpire
70 have been foucd reaches the winning most M che
race shai be decided as the boats in. b. 4 the
at louleo uoes nor come M hrst or If the referees
unable TO decide which boat committed the foul tho
race sha Toe rowcd over again, unless the shall
decide that the boat which I'm first had sufacent
lead az the moment Of the foul, warrant the race
being assigned 10 ST.
That the Pioneers boat first is unquestioned
Had she sufficient lead at the of the foul TO
warrant the race being assigned her? To this ques
ton beg your careful attention refer YOU 10 the
evidence taken In connection herewith. Mr. Miller savs
baehelors were one and half lengths ahead of
Jndines and Undnos ahead Of Pioneers
bow as the boats passed Walton and Whanns wharf
about two hundred yards below the turning buoy" Mr.
JACKSON says; Turned the buoy closely as we could
and, IA making the turn We're by the Bachelor
of the Pioneers" w
MT Campbell siys; "On arriving the turning point
round that there was buoy for turned our boat m
nearly as could al the point where the bo, ourbt
To have been; were three lengths ahead of the Undnes
az ihe time OF commencing turn" Mr. Warner
Veferee stationed al the Wilmington q Western bridpe1
says; In passing the bridge the boats were Bachelors
nrsJ three lengths ahead OF tho Pioneers and tho
tndines, which boats line as near as I coud
judge" Mr. smith says: "The Bachelors wore aboad
and commenced nrcf tho,