Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-08-07
USES GOOD TRICK
w. A. Strayer Wins Slow Race
in Launch Happy Hours by
Clever Placing of Weight
FOR ISLAND CITY IT'LL
Throws Propeller Out of Water, and
Beats Mississippi River Cham
pion, the Iona.

big surprise was sprung last
evening in the slow race given by the
island City Boat club as neither of
the two boats which were expected
10 come in first and second even fin
lshed the race. w. A. Strayer out.
generated the others and won the race
easily, in his boat, the Happy Hours.
Each contestant had the right to
piece the appointed judge who accom-
panied his boat, at any part of the
boat he saw fit and Strayer placed
his judge as far forward as possible,
aiG after starting his engine went
forward himself, raising the rear end
of the boat half out of water and un-
Covering the propeller. This made
the propeller churn the water and the
speed of the boat in this condition
was almost nothing. Even at that it
was close race between the Happy
Hours, the Black Hawk, owned by H.
w. Bennett, and the Iona, owned by
Commodore Carsons.
Both Engines Stop.
They kept neck and neck for the
first quarter of the distance, but sud
denly the engine of the Black Hawk
stopped and it was out of the race
The Iona was the next boat to be dis.
qualified The commodore was busy
watching some friend who was call.
ing his attention from the shore when
his engine stopped chugging and the
hnat Of tho no Loft
it easy for the Happy Hours, the en-
zine of which was running so fast
lat there was little danger of its
stopping. By the time it had reached
the upper end of the course the other
boats entered in the race had com
pleted the course and so ii was en-
abled to come down the river at full
peed and still win the race. There
was some question as to whether il
mad qualified as when it had started
out it had proved pretty hard prop
oSition to steer it on account of the
| Iudder being nearly out of the water
1t had swerved a little out of it,
| course, but the Judges decided thai
1t had not lost enough distance to pu
1t out of the running. Accordingly il
was adjudged the winner. The Semi
| mole, owned by Joe Ely, was SECOND
and the Maybe. owned by Charlie:
Strate, was third. Neither of these
beats were expected TO figure in the
race. but the djsqualifying of thu
other boats made them winners o
lrlaces. w. H. Costs boat. the Vireo
and the Fox, owned by George Guth
CRIMSON, finished the race and wer
in but few seconds before the seconC
end third place beats. There wer
eight entries in the race.
| When the starters for the rowboa
race were called for, none responded
and it was decided to call the race of
Ito the disappointment of the spectator
who lined the bank. 1t is thought tina
the opening of the race to any one
what cut off the entries, for there ar
|several who said that had the confess
ants been limited to the club member
they would have entered the race
This race will probably be cut out i
the future, as there seems to be littl
Interest in rowing.
| Regatta Labor Day.
At the club meeting which followe
the slow race the report of the diffel
ent excursion committees were submit
ted and approved by the club. 1t wa
found that the club had realized
handsome sum, and most of it was 6
once voted to apply on the debt of tn
club.
An expression of the members as t
the best time to hold some more race
was taken, and the club seemed to f;
vor the idea of having a small regatt
on Labor day This. suggestion wi
be given to the race committee to az
upon. If it is favorable to the con
mittee. it is likely that the race fC
the loving cup, donated to the club b
Jacob Ramser, will be raced for by tn
boats of the three cities. This is t
be handicap race, and the committc
is at present preparing a set of rule
taking into consideration the powe
length and beam of the boats. TIL
Isystem of handicapping the boats wi
prove much more satisfactory than til
trial speed system with per cent il
lcrease in speed.