The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-08-05
THEY'LL WRITE AQUATIC HISTORY At BELLE ISLE
WHEN MANY AMATEUR 0ARsMEN ROW FOR PRIZES

DEThOlT, Mich, Aug. D.
Imagine stretch of placid water
a mile in width, stretching north
and south as far as the eye can
see, blue as a turquoise. dotted
with thousands of pleasure craft,
from big lake steamers with tier
after tier of decks, to the saucy
benzine launches and graceful
canoes.
The sun is shining brightly. The
west bank of the river is alive with
people; thousand upon thousand
crowd to the waters edge. Flags,
pennants, banners are everywhere.
II is gala sight.
Suddenly, far up the river, per-
haps a mile away. appear two or
three or perhaps four slender OBJ
jects. At first Just observable,
they rapidly materialize and soon
you know they are water craft OF
peculiar design.
How long and narrow they are;
veritable needles they seem, yet
each contains nine hard working
men, eight Of whom WELD long
sweeps which move backward and
forward with the steadiness of a
pendulum, driving the slender
craft through the limpid water
with the speed of race horse.
AS they approach, 1t is evident
these are racing shells and the in
creasing roar from river bank and
craft along the course rings en-
enlargement, as with every muscle
stretched to the highest tension
and nerves tingling with excite
ment. the rivals tear toward the
finish, white water curling over
bows and leaving wake of ever
increasing width to mark their
course.
Yes, it's a boat race. One of the
many scheduled to occur on the
beautiful Detroit river, off pictur-
esque Belle Isle, Aug. and z. 1t
is the thirty-seventh annual re-
gatta of the National Association
If Amateur Ooarsmen, to be held
lnder the auspices of the Detroit
Boat club and the Detroit Board
Il Commerce.
Interest in the regatta the
argest in the United States, by
the way-is intense this year, and
rowing enthusiasts from all Sec
lions of this country are here for
their favorite sport. 1t is believed
fully 1000 oarsmen will attend the
races.
Last summer the water carnival
ATTRACTED 100000 to Belle Isle,
and the committee on arrange
ments is this year planning on
caring for double this number.
Entries have been received and
accepted from boat clubs as far
east as the New England states
and as far west as Vancouver,
while nearly every rowing organi-
zation in the central states Will
send crews. Such is the interest
manifested that the 1909 regatta
promises to be the greatest ever
held in this country.
The race program is in charge
of Coach Vivian Nickalls of the D.
b. G. Nickalls is an Oxford grad
uate, and an oarsman of interna-
tional reputation, having won the
diamond SOULS, emblematic of the
worlds amateur championship.
The d. B. G. is the oldest row.
ing organization in the United
States, having been organized in
1899. The present club house,
where the oarsmen will be enter
tanned, was erected in 1902, and
is commodious enough to care for
the visitors.
The Board of Commerce has
designated Aug. 8 as the day of
the water carnival in honor of the
and Belle Isle will again
be the center of a brilliant gath
ering, outnumbering last years
enormous crowd.
The perpetual trophies, some of
which have been going the rounds
for 40 years, will be on exhibition,
and with the new trophies hung up
will make the finest prize list ever
for.