Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19
VIM. B. LAUB, R.

VIM. B. LAUB, JR.
The fact that three knock-down boat
manufacturing concerns recently stated
that they have sold more disassembled
craft in Washington during the past year
than in any other city points to but one
thing: The season of 1912 will show
phenomenal increase in the NUMBER OF
motor boats on the river.
In every section of the city, and no"
and then way out I'm the suburbs amateur
shipwrights are setting up keeis and TIM
bers and. 1t is strongly suspected, often
wondering whether their creations VIII
ever float But they generally do. how
ever. though only because expert calkers
are invariably given the job of remedying
planking defects with the aid of cotton
and calking iron. Perhaps the most am
bilious amateur builder in town is Harry
f.. CIophfer, residing at Cleveland Park.
In the rear of Mr.. Clophfer's residence
fiftv-foot motor yacht Is receiving her
finishing touches. and when she Isl COM
pleted the craft will be hauled to u local
shipyard to await the opening or the
season The Meteorite will be her name
when commissioned. and she Will be the
first local pleasure boat to be equipped
with wireless. Her outfit will be similar
10 one recently described in a boating
magazine, though the aerial is of the
four-wire sridiron type strung between
two yards on a single military mast.
The expense of installing such an OUTFIT
is small. and it is believed more would
lie in use if yachtsmEn knew just what
materials are required.
The entire equipment on the Meteorite
cost less than $50, and when used on the
water, where the ''wavs" are much more
intense than on land, the owner will be
able 70 send from one to two miles and
o.iya a
conditions.
The northwest gale which swept the
river last Sunday night will be good
example of the saying, tbs an III
wind that blows nobody goo4,' for those
who were so unfortunate as to be blown
ashore will probably never again be
raught out in such a storm, poorly equip
ned to fight It, and the trade VIII SHORTY
do q record business In anchors ana
chain. There was excuse for single
accident in that blow, though the wind
did reach a velocity of forty miles an
hour In puffs, and in summing up the
causes of the majority of TIE wrecks one
can only come to the conclusion that the
Lord loveth the amateur mariner, other
wise-well. none of us like TO thlnk
OF what might have happened Ihose
boats that were beached below the city
were all without anchors OF suitable
weight or proper length of rope or chain.
and in three instances were without any
means OF anchoring.
All had practically the same expert,
ences Engines failed. anchors, slowed
away in some un-get- at-able place. when
finally located refused TO hold, and the
beach TO leeward soon had keels IN lts
grasp WIFI the terrible surf finished the
lob OF destruc ion. OF course 1t WASH
as bad as that, but shipwrecks on the
raging Potomac must be enlarged upon.
y
Vice Commodore Chandee of the Capt.
rt-f ln n
tai Yacht club reported mat whlie an an
,uoTed IL Red House cove during the
height OF the gale an unidentified launch
an down on { &c Wanderer and apparent
Il sustained considerable damage.
TIE Wanderers anchor light had blown
out, and an effort was made TO warn the
little craft By blowing the whistle, but
she crashed into the big cruiser DOW
and caught by the anchor chain, renamed
there pounding and smashing for about
live minutes. finally backing of and con-
tiuuInr down stream
Mr. Chandice lost his dinghie during the
ght.
%.st Thursday night the Old Dominion
I.oat Club of Alexandria will give a
smoker at the clubhouse, and big pro-
eram las been provided by Joe Rich
..rdson, in charge of the affair, for the
entertainment of the guests.
Joe Tu ner and his partner Will give
wrestling exhibition. and several scraps
between ring artists IN the club will fol-
".
musical talent in the Alexandria club.
several members Of the Washington
CsrDe Club have bsen requested 10 as
sist and IT is the intention of the enter
show. lasting about fifteen minutes. in
which the best of the Old Dominions and
the Canoe Club fellows will take part
Aside from occasional dances and the
regular monthly meetings, there is little
doing in Alexandria at present In the
way of boating and all that club boadns
stands for. but the officials OF the down
stream organization are already making
plans for the far-on season.
AS the house has been heightened &c
ninety-four feet, 1t can now accommo'
date an eight-oared shell. and before
spring such q boat will be purchased
Local rowing has been gradually COINS
into such alarming decline Of late
that the coming of the Old Domtnlons
into the big boat field will be more than
pleasing TO followers of the sport. The
club has as many good men In Ns ranks
as have the Potomacs and should b
able TO attain the rank Of Dangerous
rival OF the Georgetown outfit before
the summer OF 1912 slips by. The Alex
andrians are very much handicapped BY
having TO train on water either wind
ruffied or chewed into maelstrom by
steamboats, almost all the time wherea,
the Potomacs have the best course IL
the country on which to practice. There
times, however. when the river of
Alexandria is even better than the uppe,
course for rowing Often when the Pc
tomac crews are lodging driftwood and
pigpens above the Aquednct bridge tn,
water below the city Is as placid and
clean as a lake. The reason Tor that 1.
that the broad flats below the Lopf
bridge. extending all the way down Il
the forks of the channel, catch a ouan
tity of snags that otherwise would cruis,
on down past Alexandria. Then. again
when swift currents hold SWAY ir
Georgetown the flood tide will maste,
them long enough to permit uninterruptet
practice below the city.
- Il =
The Potomac Club Is still Determine
to get the Middle States regatta mex
year. and this means that the regattf
Of the season will undoubtedly be pulled
off in Washington. The officials OF tn,
Middle States Association have AWAY
favored the Potomac course for the even
and il would be held there every yea
were II not for the fact that other clubs
In the organization have 10 be Above,
the privilege OF running it off on thei
waters from time to time. The onl,
handicap in securing the regatta mex
season may prove to be that the govern