Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-06
OARSHAEN ARE READY
FOR MIDDLE STATES
Visitors Take Practice Spins
on the Potomac List of
the Entries and Rules
of the Course.

Tn practice spins over the Potomac river
course and in unpackinS and general
overhauling of their shells the oarsnen
who have gathered in Washington for
the great Middle States regatta to be held
tomorrow, Labor day, spent a busy day
yesterday in final preparation for the
tests of strength and endurance that await
them. a strong food tide and an unfa-
Vorable uD-riVer breeze, with the rain
which came late in the afternoon, made
the final practice work far from pleasant.
but many of the home and visiting enthusi-
asts We're not to be deferred even by these
conditions, and for several hours yester-
day the Potomac presented scene of ac-
tivity which will be exceeded only by the
races tomorrow.
Besides putting in a busy afternoon yes
terday greeting the visiting crews and
their followers who will be their guests
AS well as their antagonists tomorrow.
the Potomac Boat Club found time to put
nearly all of their shells into the water
and pull over the course in what will
probably be their last trials before the
events in which they are entered. Coach
Pat Dempsey devoted especial attention
to the "eights.' and in addition to giving
the boys hard pull ahead of the clubs
power boat Black Arrow in the upper
close competition. John Hadley Doyle
president of the Potomac River Regatta
Association. was at the wheel of the
Black Arrow. and he radiated smiles and
satisfaction upon the return to the float
Potomac Folks Confident.
I'VE will let some of them know they
have been in race said he when asked
his opinion of the chances for victory
ahead of the Potomac's prize senior eight.
And he was equally confident concerning
The result of the event in which the
clubs youngsters, the junior eight, will
compete
Sharing fully in the interest created by
the work of the home crews were the
practice spins of Bernard Won GAIA and
Waldemar Sand the former of the
"Rudcrsesellschaft Viking Prussia, the
latter of the 'Ruder-Verein," Prussia.
Both were competitors in the recent
Olympic games in London and both came
to America for the especial purpose of
taking part III the Middle States regatta.
The latter was on the river at the same
time as +. j. German Of the Potomac
Boat Club, who will be oneP of his rivals
in the intermediate singles, and a large
crowd of oarsmen on the floats and on
the clubhouSe porches were interested OBJ
servers of their respective strokes. Herr
Won GAIA will compete in the senior single
with DurandO Miller of the New York
Athletic Club, Fred Fuessel of the Har-
lem Rowing Club. \. :. and with Fred
Bennett of the Springfield Boat Club,
Springfield. Mass. who was defeated for
the national championship only few
days ago by Frank Greer, the crack
Boston SCuller.
Famous Oarsmen Here
Many of the country's most famous
oarsmen are assembling in Washington
for the Labor day sports. and there was
fairly representative gathering at the
Potomac Boat Club yesterday Among
the number was John Kennedy coach OF
the Yale crews, who came 10 the Capital
city especially to watch the work OF
Bennett, whom it is understood he ex-
poets to take in hand and train for re.
turn race with Greer.
Because of delays in the TRANSFORMATION
of their shells, many of the crews and
scullers We're prevented from taking pre-
lminary spins over the course Yesterday
but most of them expect to take to the
water this morning and afternoon The
greatest difficulty was experienced with
the rowers from down east who could
not get their boats through quickly at
Mott Haven. on the New York New Haven
and Hartford railroad. j. a. SWEET bow
and K. T.. Grove, stroke of the Clifton
Boat Club, Staten Island. entrants in the
junior double, were more fortunate in
getting their racing equipment to Wash
ington. and they We're among the few
visitors who braved the wind. tide and
rain on the course yesterday afternoon.
As rapidly as they did arrive the eight
oar 'centpede" and others of the larger
racing craft We're stored in the George
town University boathouSe. which used to
be the Langley ark and which has been
anchored just above the Aqueduct
bridge. Refreshments, too, were lugged
into the Georgetown house. over the
floats connecting it with the home of the