Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03
SOME LOCAL AQUATIC
HISTORY RECALLED

Say, boys, l was somewhat off in my
dates last week when 1 referred to the old
time rowing the Potomac said old
Stroke-oar as he seated himself among the
"Has-beens' in a gathering of boating men
the other night.
You see my memory was muddled to
certain extent by the fact that earlier in the
day 1 had run up against Billy Mckinney,
the noted sculler and bow-oar of the Poto-
mac crews in bygone days. and 1 mixed his
crew up with the one that went down to
defeat in 1881 at the hands of the first
crew that ever won a big race under the
colors Of the Columbia Boat Liub. The
crew of the Potomacs was composed of
Wheeler, Bailey, Mckinney and Cropley,
while the Columbia squad was Wallach
NeSbit, Mute and Brace.
X X
"The'ra Of 1888 was brought about by
the intense rivalry, which almost amounted
to hatred, between the two local contn-
gents. The Potomacs had just won a spec
tacular race from the Eurekas of Newark,
twice champions of America; the Fairmonts
of Philadelphia and the Ionas of Phladel
phia. This contest was a wonder, which
developed one of the strongest finishes on
record. The Potomacs had lead of about
two lengths up to within the last quarter
mile, with the Eurekas the next best in line.
Just off Easby's Point the Potomacs
afoul of small schooner alongside the
wharf, and their friends and hackers gave
them up as defeated.
They had to unship their oars and I'M
tangle themselves from the schooners
side. When this was done the
Eurekas had gone ahead three or four
lengths. But it was a great sight to watch
the Potomac four from then on-Fraser,
Ryan, Baker and Mckinney settled down
to work, and have Billy McKinney's word
for it that they set their stroke up as high
fifty minnie Their CHI IF
like an arrow from under the schooners
bow, and barely caught the visitors when
twenty yards from the finish line.
1T was undoubtedly one of the greatest
finishes ever made in four-oared contest,
and their admirers went wild in their en-
thusiasm. st was this enthusiasm that
proved their own undoing. Now, the Co.
lumbia crew was to have entered that race,
but defect found in it's boat on the very
day of the regatta kept it out. That night,
while the Potomacs were celebrating at the
old Morgan House in Georgetown, some of
the rash young bloods made the statement
that the Columbias were a lot of towards
and cutters who were afraid to row.
This nettled the Columbia four consid-
erably, and old Ellis Ward, their coach,
took them aside and said he would train
them gladly. even gratis, if they would re-
main in training another two weeks, at the
end of which time he felt confident they
could beat the victorious Potomacs. They
naturally agreed. as there was no lack Of
real sporting blood in both clubs, and
after plenty Of squabbling the date was
fixed for the first Saturday in October. The
Columbia four were Mute, stroke; Kintner
g.; Wade, 2, and Kondrup, bow. Wade, in
No. seat, did the steering, which was the
first time in history that the rudder was
guided by any other than the bow oar. This
four defeated the proud victors of the week
before and carried away the handsomest
a contest on the Potomac river.
X
zone of the strangest races that ever
took place on our course was one that
saw some time back in 1887 between the
three local crews. In those days there was
seldom a four-oared race without foul or
a mix up of some kind, as there was always
that desire Of the crews to get near each
other and fight the contest out stroke by
stroke. Well, this race I was speaking Of
one foul but it was more than remarkable
when the incidents Of the race are told.
''The Analostans and Potomacs soon
began to edge together. They were about
nip and tuck in the contest. and all the
time were getting nearer and nearer 10
each other. The referee warned them
both. but get together they would. and
hence the wonderful part Of the race. Ihey
were so close that the port sweeps OF the
Analostan crew virtually Tapped the star
board ones of the Potomacs. and they were,
in the language of the oarsEnen of the time
locking horns They pulled this way for
200 yards What would usually have be-
come a foul instantly by the, touching OF
one or the other oars was somehow avoided.
stroke over stroke they rowed, almost
touching, yet never did they They finally
gradually drew apart and finished the race
without a foul
"Courtney, Ellis Ward and Biglin. the
coaches of the three local squads. said they
never heard of such thing before.
The Analostan crew was Somers. Eckstein.
nd pafrn while the POtOmaGS who
rowed in this freak contest were Wheeler.
Wilmington, Doxson and Smallwood. Both
crews were so wrapped up in their winning
the contest that they did not fully realize
the wonder of their performance until after
the affair was over and they had had time
to think it all over"