The Washington herald., 1910-08-13
A MIX-UP IN THE FOUR-OARED EVENT
Mound City OarSmen Are Rescued by Launch as Their
Shell Sinks in Collision Crowds Line the
Course at All Vantage Points

II lliClC " d dll llllllS " MAJ IlAN
opening Of the thiry-eighth annual
championship regatta on the Poto-
mac River yesterday afternoon, the
general public was not cOgnizant
of it.
It was the greatest and most sue
.cessful sporting event ever held in
the National Capital-an event that.
more than justified all the pains and
care that had been expended by
those who brought the event to
Washington.
And for Washingtonians there
was cause for pride and congratula-
ton in the fact that in one Of the
important races Of the day, the sec
.ond Junior eight-oared shell, the
Potomac Boat Club, which is large
ly responsible for bringing the re-
gatta to Washington, finished sec
ond, after hard-fought struggle.
That race was the classic Of the
afternoon. The Potomacs got off
with slight advantage in the lead,
due to the perfect harmony of the
blades. For the first quarter Of a
mile the Potomacs and the Detroit
Boat Club battled neck and neck,
both rowing sturdily, without
splash, gripping the water deeply
and recovering beautifully. Up to
the mile it was anybody's race, as
far as these two crews were con
cerned, the others being in the
ruck.
POTOMACS FINISH SECOND.
But the Detroit coxswain called on his
crew for a spurt, to which the Potomacs
tried vainly 10 respond, although the inn
nense crowd that thronged the Speedway
near the finish line spurred the home
crew on with its cheers. The Potomacs'
stroke increased the clip that made the
shell seem to fly over the water, but il
was too late
The Detroits' lead could not be over
come, and the best that the home crew
could do was to finish a good second,
with the others trailing. 1t was the most
grueling contest Of the day
That the regatta was in every way a
big success was testified 10 by the public
interest. There never was more ideal
course than that staked out for yester-
days races. There was no tide 70 speak
Of and the course was clearly defined.
Every sixteenth OF mile was marked
by buoys bearing white flags. and the
United states Revenue-cutter Service
which had undertaken the policing Of the
course. saw 10 it that the course was
kept clear Not single boat was allow
ed inside the lane marked Off by white
flags, and twice when the police patrol
boat ventured on the course the smart
little revenue cutter went after it and
made il behave
In the start for the international four
cared race the Mound City Clubs shell
sank about twenty yards from the start
but launches were quickly at hand 70
\ take the crew aboard and tow the shell
to shore In the singles, Knapp, of New
York. hopelessly beaten. ran into one OF
the stakes and was capsized, but he was
pulled from the river with nothing worse
than a ducking.
Gathering OF Experts.
In the early part Of the day the center
Of interest was the Potomac Boat Club
with its hospitable quarters under tho
shadow Of the Aqueduct Bridge. 1t was
here the enthusiasts and the rowing ex-
perts gathered. The start OF the races
was only a little way from the boat.
house. just about opposite the Nava
Hospital. and when the first race wa.
called, The intermediate four-Oared shells
at o'clock, a large crowd had gathered
From the start TO the finish line, hard by
the Highway Bridge. the course was idea
for spectators.
Along here the river banks are line,
with stone wall. and thence. along IN,
4 Speedway. the green turf rises with Z
gentle slope. Along the whole mile an,
one-quarter of the course this bank wal
crowded with spectators. who cheered en-
Enthusiastically as the racers passed. root
]
n.--.-I.- r,..,.-.,n,. r,nI.i-..l-. ! o.