Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-01
B0ATH0UsE GOSSIP.

II is pleasant reading for the members
of the aquatic clubs hereabout to learn
that President Taft has taken an interest
in the DEVELOPMENT of the Potomac river
as boating center. as his remarks last
week on the subject fully attest. In
speaking to a committee that waited on
him in behalf OF the rowing regatta for
September Is next, President Taft said
In the most earnest manner: Go ahead
in the matter and l will cooperate in
every way possible to make 1t a glorious
success. 1t is a pity. almost a shame
that the beautiful Potomac river from
the Highway to the Chain bridge is not
used more as boating center. II it were
elsewhere there would be half a hundred
clubs. while here there are not enough to
count on your fingers. The government,
will help all regattas on the Potomac
river in order to make it the center OF
aduatics for America
This is fine food for the oarsmen. and
hence they are taking hold and working
all the harder to make the big open re-
gatta OF September next one of the best
ever held in this vicinity. They Of course
do not expect to make it So mammoth in
proportion as the Middle States of last
year. but what they will lack in number
they will make up in quality, as they ex-
pect to have the very pick OF America
represented here on the Potomac Park
course during that day of continuous
racing.
Another attractive card for the regatta
will be the motor boat races that will be
sandwiched in between the rowing and
which will no doubt be just as much of
an attraction as the rowing events. The
committee in charge of this decided novel
ty in the way of racing is composed of
gentlemen who guide the destinies of the
Corinthian Yacht Club. as for some un-
knn hn ta1 s111h
not send representatives, and they are
mapping out a strong card for the day
They expect to have entered some of the
wonderful speed boats OF New York ano
Philadelphia. craft capable OF cutting
water at the rate of twenty-eight OF
thirty miles an hour. which. with the
speedy ones around here, will give oul
citizens something never seen on the Poto-
mac river before. They will have q
twenty-five mile race for such boats anG
six other events for semi-speed and cruis
ers. The prizes in these races will bt
gorgeous silver cups of a decided type Of
make suitable for such affairs and ricf
enough to lure some of those fast one:
from the Hudson and Delaware rivers
Another added event talked about is to
give a cash prize for a sculling match
between the professional coaches here
with crews on the day of the race. Thi:
would take place after all the Other
events and would be Independent of the
Vail OF the Ariels. Rice of the Arundeis
Dempsey of the Potomacs and Hecox Of
the Virginias to start with, with prospect:
Of more.
That the movement to gel rid of the
Three Sisters the trio of rocks tina,
somewhat interfere with the upper
course, is not dead by any means is shown
by the fact that in the estimates sub
mitted for the improvements of the river
by the engineers in charge an item has
been inserted looking forward to Their
removal. and the object is distinctly
stated that il is for the purpose CT max
ing the place secure and free of OBJ
struction for racing purposes. Now
with the distinguished President of TIT
United States interested in making TIT
river the scene OF annual regattas, there
is reason for hope that this eyesore ant
Other distractions will be removed from
the river. If it is done 1t will NIX
the upper course the most perfect rac.n,
place in this country, though even a.
it is now it is the equal OF any in Amer
lea.
Mr.. Claude r. Zappone and John ]
Nolan will represent the Potomac Boa
Club at the annual meeting of the Nation
al Association of Amateur Oarsmen a
day OF this week.
All eyes Of the oarsmen of America ar
turned just now on Detroit, Mich, wher
Friday and SATURDAY. OK this week tn
blue ribbon rowing events OF America vii
be decided and the question Of cham
pionship set lied for the year o. 1903. tt.
promoters Of the regatta are looking for
ward to a record making list OF events. th
| majority of which aill come from the or
ganizations of Canada, Minnesota, Mich
gan and Missouri, as only the picke,
| crews of the east will be represented. II
| order to accommodate the Canadians tn
association held open the entry list unit
today, so that the winners of the Cana
| dian Henley, held yesterday at ST. Cath
arines, Toronto. may have time to fill
their blanks. The west is taking a grea
! interest in the regatta and the crew
| from ST. Paul and Manitoba may spring
some great surprises on the more prom
inent clubs of Canada and Detroit, Will
| in the four-oared shells st. Louis is bank
ing on making great showing. 1t vii
| be a race meet in which every event viii
be filled by the pick of America, and
are good. records will topple in many o
| the big events.
| The Potomacs buckled down TO har
work Monday last when Coach Pa
| Dempsey arrived and took complete con
| troll OF the racing men of the club. III
| found a very large field of available me!
ready for work-in fact, more activ1t.
! than has been seen around. the dubious
| IN years-and hence ne should have III
| trouble in getting fast crews for the re
gatta of September. Just at this tim
Coach Dempsey is deyoting all of hi
| time TO the juniors who are expected
| to go down to Richmond, Va, Angus
| IA to row the Virginia Boat Club mattel
race, and he will have his hands full get
| ting a crew fast enough to beat tn
mer. and some of them rowed as junior
crew are Messrs. Butler. Couitry. Key
hoe, Clagett. Birney, Allen, Borgas
Evans. Babcoek, Poles, Spransy. Herber,
Harveycutter, Dyer and kengla. Will,
for the regatta in September there will b
| almost as many more, so the field o
| juniors Is a large one. 1t Is expected
that quite a large crowd will so down t,
Richmond to see the race. a gOodly mum
Der being from among the Old Dominion
Boat Club.
II Durando Miller of the New Yorl
| Athletics wins the champion senior SOUL.
at Detroit this week he will enter tn,
/ Henley at London next year. hoping L
! win the Diamond SOULS. Luckily. tn,
| English can lodge no objection agains
/ Miller, as his status is beyond question
4 and his people. being wealthy and not /,
| trade. brings him within the definition o
| what a gentleman is In the English row
1 ing ethics Mr. Miller won his 6rst rac