Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-19
THE FAMOUS HILLSDALES
Billy Mckinney Tells How a Worlds
Record Was Made Here.

Those old rowing stories of my friends
Morgan and Fugitt are refreshing" OBJ
served Mr.. "Billy" Mckinney. the assist
ant superintendent Of the bureau OF en-
craving and printing. "inasmuch as they
bring back to us incidents of the long
ago. now almost forgotten
THE history Of aquatics on the Poto-
mac river from the. days of the old pio-
neer club, the Falcons. which afterward
merged into the Analostans, down to the
present time has been one interesting
chain of events. and though it has seen
it's ups and downs, the river has never
lost its prestige as one of the foremost
rowing courses In America" continued
Mr.. Mckinney.
II have been in the game for forty
three years, and today as / look back over
that eventful lapse of time l cannot re-
gret one moment, for 1t brought to me
health, pleasure and enjoyment. which
has stood me to the good all the time.
especially the health-giving part of the
sport.
81 have seen some wonderful races on
this Potomac river course. but l do not
think I recall one that was greater in
rowing results than the senior four-oared
contest rowed here in 1881. the occasion
being the annual National Regatta OF
American Oarsmen. In that race were
the renowned Hillsdales Of Michigan. the
Minnesotas of Minneapolis. Nassaus of
New York. and Eurekas of Newark in
the final heat of the picked crews Of
America.
that ever sat in a four-oared shell, and I
mean by that just what l say. Their
equal has never been seen In any coun-
try They were four big lumbermen Of
Swedish descent. and they went after
their stroke with the precision OF the
ticking of a clock. for they generally av-
eraged sixty strokes to the minute. Now
that looks preposterous on the face of
things. in view of the modern style Of
rowing Of about thirty-two strokes to the
minute. and If crew gets up to thirty
five the press speaks Of 1t as a very fast
stroke; but with these brawny sons of
Michigan, with the Swedish blood thrown
in, such rowing would be regarded as fit
only to row to the place for starting.
"They rowed the mile and a half of the
Potomac river in 1881 in the unprece-
denied time OF sos. the fastest time ever
made on dead water. and which today
has never been equaled. l remember that
day distinctly, September g. 1t was a
hot day, without the least bit of wind
to help the crew. The Hillsdale folks
had given 1t out that they were going
for a record. both in regard to time and
also for the number of strokes pulled
during the race.
The contestng crews-Minnesotas
ones. and the first was confident it would
defeat the Hillsdales, as 1t had on the
first day easily defeated the ATLANTA
crew, which was regarded as the most
likely OF all to win, and with John Ken
nedy coaching them the oarsmen regarded
themselves as winners. But the race
never was in doubt, as the Hillsdales.
starting with a rush. pushed the nose of
the boat ahead. and at ten strokes had
clear water. They pulled the fastest and
most methodical stroke that has ever
been seen in a boat race, for during the
eight minutes and six seconds they took
to cover the distance they dug their
sweeps in and out Of the water an aver
age Of fifty-six times to the minute. They
beat the Minnesotas a quarter of mile,
and their time was almost as good as
that made by the eight-oared shells that
day. which shows that the tide and wind
had nothing whatever to do with the re-
suit.
1T was the greatest crew the world
has ever seen. and when they visited
England and rowed on the famous Henley
course they made the oarsmen of John
Bull look like clasp knives, so quickly
did they shut them up.
Il am glad The Star regales us old fell
lows with these stories from time to
time, as it helps aquatics, keeps the clean
est sport in front and recalls to our minds
deeds never to be forgotten by any of
the old oarsmen of the Potomac river"