Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-22
BoATH0UsE GOSSIP.

The impression is gaining ground daily
that the promoters OF the Potomac river
regatta have made rather bad blunder
in changing the regular regatta course
from the harbor of Georgetown down to
the inaccessible one for pedestrians along
side CT the driveway of Potomac Park.
The up-river course which skirts along
from the famous Three Sisters" down
to tie foot of 31st street, affords thou
sands the chance to gather and see the
races within easy reach of the car iires
of the city. The wharves, the Aqueduct
bridge, under which the contestants get
In their best work; the numerous club
houses. private and public, and the Vir-
ginia shore afford vantage spots for TIE
whole population OF the city to gather
in comfort and peace to view the regatta
the best testimony OF which IS the numer-
Gus regattas held on It's course since 1875.
Down at Potomac Park the situation is
different, for overhanging trees destroy
the view of the races at the most interest
ing part, the last quarter and half; 1t is
two miles from the Pennsylvania avenue
cars and double fare if one wants to
come out on the Mount Vernon road. and
these drawbacks operate against draw
ing spectators to the place to see what
really promises TO be first-class regatta.
The finish Is two and one-half miles from
the Potomac boathouse. so crews sta
toned there. either locally or guests, will
have a huge task before them, especially,
which is most likely, II some Of the men
take part In one or more of the races, as
they all have to return to the clubhouse
to see that the boat is properly rugged
each time.
The great argument advanced by those
;,, no, hot
the motor boats could not use the upper
river course for their trials, that there
would MOI be room enough to start and
make the bend at Analostan Island in
safety, but this is answered by the fact
that all the really speedy boats of the
country think nothing OF speeding in the
narrow and crooked Harlem river OF New
York, without any nlshaps, and il would
be easy to arrange lanes at the turns
OF both Analcstan Island and Easby's
point 10 prevent any crowdin3 al those
places. Then, too, 1t is a good argument
that tine motor boat races should be
started to the east OF the Long bridge, fer
at this point alone Is the Danger spot
If. for instance, five or six fast racing
models should start in the twenty miie
race. o. six or seven in the cruiser class,
the small draw space in this bridge will
make il difficult and extremely dan
serous place for them all to rush peil-
Nell through ltlc tedu, lOf every one
knows that for the first mile in such races
the boats are all clustered very close to-
gesher and few OF the fe!msmen viii give
an inch to an adversary.
The general consensus Of opinion, ex
cept among few Interested parties, is
that The rowing regatta should be on the
established course 81 the up-river. while
the motor boat races should take course
east OF tie Long bridge.
i
The prospects fer a grand regatta are
growing daily. and President Bennett OF
the joint regatta and carnival commit
tee is convinced that the citizens of
Washington are soing TO have the great
est spectacle ever seen on any body of
water In America. At the recent national
regatta at Detroit. the first night of the
affair. fete and illuminated carnival
were held on the river In the vicinity of
the Detroit bcathouse on Belle Isle. and
officers of the Potomac river regatta. who
were present. state tNat TIE sight
was an inspiring one, there being over
3,cGO decorated and illuminated crafts on
tie river. President Benefits plan will
eclipse this. and With a reproduction OF
..Old King Cole within the tidal basin
the famed MavGi Gras of New Orleans
viii sink into iIssniScance. Every ac-
tive members of the various clubs which
his boat the prettiest ard most elaborate,
and when 1t Is automatically stated that
there are IL; canoes in the District
one can form an idea what a slgiii they
will create in the basin when perform
ing evolutions and drills before the throne
OF "Old King Cole"
That big regatta is on tap is best
evidenced at the Analostan Boat Club, an
Organization that for several years has
been on the que.Ts shelf. but this year.
under the railyins cry of al active and
dp-to-date oarsman as captain, II Is
really making the hest showing on the
river. eripsing its rivals farther up
stream TO fragile. Capt. Don y Ed
monds apparently seems TO be the most
ideal man the .Analcstans have had at the
head of their float officers in years, as