Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-09
BLUEJACKETS BET EN- HIGH
As Much as $4,000 Has Been wag.
cred on a Cutter Race.
SAILORS LOYAL AND DEAD GAME
FiVe Thousand-DoIIsr side Bet be-
tween the salem and the
birmingham Fer from BE-
ting n Record AMOUNT.

WORT, r. l.. May 2.-For dead
ea0lcaess in a sporting proposition. con-
side the United States sailor. out Of
what he had saved from HE pay Of s13 a
month or Whereabouts he had $1,000 up on
the merits Of his ship when the scout
cruisers Birmingham, Salem and Chester
Jteamed out OF this harbor the other day
on their twenty four-hcur full speed test.
This wager was made on the Invitation
OF the Salem, whose mon believed that in
spite OF previous performances, Il could
beat either OF the others IN the speed and
distance for coal contest. That was why
It's crew. when the three were coaling at
Portsmouth. passed words with the sailors
from the other vessels and intimate that
they had 5000 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 giittering pile.
and before the test started the whole
amount was in safe hands. ready for pay
ment after tho tumult and the shouting
had died.
Ten thousand dollars looks like a lot of
money when taken from the earnings of
United States sailors, but it is not 60 much
beside the sums wagered IN the cutter
races In which the sailors indulge when
opportunity offers. There is hardly e port
Of consequence in the world which has not
served at one time or another as a race
course for navy cutters, and frequently
Vhttle fortunes have changed hands on the
results.
Famous Race Involving $4,000.
One OF the most memorable Of the races
was that between the Illinois and the
Kearsarge in Guantanamo bay e. 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. Looking
for more worlds to conquer, it's sailors OK
rerienoed highly Joyful sensations when
they heard that the Kearsarge had a cutter
crew It thought pretty we'll 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 %latters bow
The challenge thus delivered, representa-
tives of the crews met and arranged de-
tails and the petty officers Of each ship
opened 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 it looked good,
and could be relied upon to deliver every
ounce It possessed, and. anyway, they were
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 che payraster's hands, drawing
on the 18th Of the month only enough for
his immediate needs. one of the men on
tho Illinois had 5000 due him. He stsked
that and his next months ray. 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 gsmbled on the prowess OF
their cutter crew $751; 600, 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,
Were only Il crowd of poor tackles
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.
Inc llllIlOlS crew ItuttiItu lbtit' nov
ever, at an early opportunity. Tile chance
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 eight crews
engaged,
The start was at 2 o'clock in the after
noon. There was n little sea running. but
not enough to make bad going. The Kesr-
sarge and the Missouri made a fine get
~ Uau
nois at the start. The latter spurted, cam
abreast. and for two miles the three were
bow and bow.
As the Illinois drew abreast OF its own
slip near the finish line the members Of
tie crew felt a sinking OF the heart DO
@6ause no cheer came across the water to
greet them. The oarsmen dared not look
10 the right or left to see the position Of
the other boats, but bent d~oggedly TO their
oars for the final burst Of speed.
Half a mile from the finish two OF the
Illinois crew we're all in, having Just
strength enough left TO keep the stroke,
But as the cutter shot across the line
deafening cheers and wells from their ship
brought 10 the contestants the glad It'd
ings that they had avenged the defeat OF
Guantanamo bay. and all feelings OF bitter
ness were buried when on board the flag
ship they received the Battenberg cup and
listened TO words OF congratulation from
their Admiral and Miss GLADYS Deacon,
The Battenherg cup is the gift OF the
British sailors who were entertained by
the sailors OF the American navy In New
York in 1906. II is ~ gold and stands more
than two feet high, 1t remained In pos
session OF the Illinois until expiratlons Of
enllstments scattered It's famous crew, and
now is the property Of the Louisiana, which
In the recent world girdling voyage won all
the races,
The training candidates for a cutter crew
in the navy undergo is along the lines OF
that followed by college arsmen. but far
more severe. The sailors. mature men.
whose bones and muscles have hardened,
stand work which would kill a college
student. The coxswain takes charge Of the
training. undertaking to see that the can