Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
BLUEJACKETS BET EN- HIGH
As Much as $4,000 Has Been wag-
cred on a Cutter Race.
SAILORS LOYAL AND DEAD GAME
Five Thousand-DOIIar STA BET ne
tween the salem and the
B~irmiaEhans Far from ne
ina y Record Amount.

slider the United states sailor. Out Of
what he had saved from his pay Of SIS q
month or thereabouts he had $40, 400 up on
tho merits of his shin when the scout
cruisers Birmine hsin. salem and Chester
steamed out Of this hsrbor the other day
on their twenty-four-hour full speed test.
This wager was made on the invitation
OF the Salem. whose mon believed that In
spite OF previous performances. It could
beat either OF the others In the speed ana
distance for coal contest. Tha was whS
It's crew. when the three were ooalins at
Portsmouth. passed words with the sailors
from the other vessels and intimated that
they had $500 round iron men to back up
their belief.
The iron men did not speak in vain TO the
boys Of the Birmingham. Presently there
was an equal number OF iron men from the
Birmingham in the large glittering pile
and before the test started the whole
amount was In safe hands. ready for pay
ment after the tumult ana the shouting
had died.
Ten thousand dollsrs looks like a lot Of
money when taken from the earnings Of
Tinted States sailors. but it IL not 30 much
beside the sums wagered In the cutter
races in which the sailors indulge when
opportunity offers. There ls hardly a port
of consequence in the world which has not
served at one time or another as a race
course for navy cutters. and frequently
little fortunes have changed hands on the
results.
Famous Race IHvOIvinR $4,000.
One OF the most memorable Of the races
was that between the Illinois and the
Kearsarge in Guantanamo bay IN the sum-
mer Of 1906. At that time the Illinois crew
vas the cock Of the walk, having cleaned
up the best the navy afforded. Locking
for more worlds to conquer, its sailors ex-
perienced highly joyful sensations when
they heard that the Kesrssrge had a cutter
crew II thought pretty well of.
As soon as the chance came, therefore,
the Illinois boys got into their cutter and
rowing across to where Kearsarge lay,
tossed their oars across the ~lstter's bow.
The challenge thus delivered. representa-
tives OF the crews met and arranged de-
tails and the petty officers NJ each ship
opene ed sets Of books in which to register
bets.
There was no trouble in getting money
on either ship. To the men of the Kear-
sarge their cutter crew was something of
an unknown quantity, but 1t looked good,
and could be relied upon to deliver every
ounce it possessed, and, anyway. they we're
not going to back down after the little in
cident OF the tossed oars.
On the other vessel money came freely.
After Jack has been aboard ship for a
time he usually has some money TO his
credit in the paymaster's hands, drawing
on the 18th of the month only enough for
his immediate needs. One OF the men on
the Illinois had 500 due him, He staked
that and his next months pay. Another
was the proud possessor OF $500. He
staked that. borrowed $500 more and after
the race was over, enlisted again.
For, contrary to their expectations, the
men Of the Illinois did not win. They had
collected and gambled OF the prowess OF
their cutter crew 81. 900, and their feelings
after it was all over, were expressed in a
song written by one of the crew:
Losers sing Their Woes.
We're more to be pitied than censured,
We're more to be helped than despisd,
We're only a crowd of poor tackies
On a race bet, though badly advised.
They took away all Of our money,
They are living in elegant style.
And the race boat lies up on the skid
beams
You bet she'll stay there for a while.
The Illinois crew redeemed itself, how
ever, al an carry opportunity. lne cnance
came when the Atlantic fleet. under Ad-
miral Evans, was lying off Bar .Harbor. |
A race was arranged over a three-mile
~straightaway course. in which light crews
Engaged.
The start was at 2 o'clock in the after |
noon. There was a little sea running. bat
not enough to make bad going. The Kear-
sarge and the Missouri made a fine get
away, gaining three lengths over the Ill-
rois at the start. The latter spurted, came
abreast, and for two miles the three were
bow and bow.
As the Illinois drew abreast Of its own
snip near the finish line the members Of
the crew felt a sinking OF the heart be-
cause no cheer came across the water TO
greet them. The oarsmeu dared not look
10 the right or left TO see the position of
the other boats, but bent dosgedly TO their
oars for the final burst OF speed.
Half a mile from the finish two OF the
Illinois crew were all In. having just
strength enough left TO keep the stroke,
But as The cutter shot across the line
desfenlng cheers and yells from their ship
brought to the contestants the glad It'd
ines that they had avenged the defeat OF
GUANTANAMO bay, and all feelings OF bitter
ness were buried when on board the flag
sun Nh'9 iNNfiNFh ~ DattNitDNt6 cup ITO
listened to words of congratulation from
their Admira and Miss Gladys Deacon.
The Battenberg cup IL the gift OF the
British sailors who were entertained by
the sailors Of the American navy in New
York in 1906, II is Of gold and stands more
than two feet high, II remained In pos
session of the Illinois until expirations Of
scattered it's famous crew. and
now is the property Of the Louisiana. which
in the recent world sirdling voyage won all
the races.
The training candidates for . cutter crew
in the navy undergo is along the lines OF
that followed by college oarsmen but far
more severe. The sailors, mature men,
whose bones and muscles have hardened.
stand work which would kill a college
student. The coxswai takes charge OF the
training, undertaking to see that the can
didstes do ak hours OF work a day, divided
into three instruments,
In the early morning there Is two hours
OF rowing with a repetition OF the dose late
In the afternoon. The cutters In which the
training and racing take place are as un,
like a college racing shell as an ocean tug
is unlike a cup defending yacht. They are
heavy service boats six oars 10 a side, and
IN f. 49,