The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-10-28
BOATING

In writing Of boating one cannot
heip from bringing Gp long buried In.
ciu' hts n the past history % tn
SIof; that AZ the present time are on.
any story on boating will be found a
we early days when sculling was
the sport OF sports In Wheeling and
when champions nom far and near
came 10 the city 20 pit their strength
and SKIN against local favorites-
thost days during the seventies and
eighties when practically every CT.
izen OF Wheeling. from the yeriest
infant 10 the tottering old man. woui.i
fut aside both work aud pleasure 20
gam favorable position along IN,
Ilks bank TO witness the pick a.
wheeling compete against various as
plfdntS from every section of tho
nited states. In other words in -
viewing boating. we review boatinr
mat was really athletic.
OF course. there Is 20 be found a,
the present time. boats of every de.
Scription and variety. from the power
iul motor boat 10 the hand propelle
canoe. but boating in this day serves
only as diversion for individuals
VINO seek pleasure and recreation by
day spent on the water. there IS
and a race OF any importance is al
most unknown in Wheeling.
Just what contributed to such wide
spread interest in sCulling in this sec
tlon Is beyond our limited knowlodrc
but az any rate IL is certain that TINS
great water sport had a grin on tna
aHectlons OF the local devotees or
SpOI', the Ike OF which has nev-.
neeh seen before nor since Proba Div
me greatest reason for the wonderful
Clsp!ay OF Interest WAS the success ot
ne wheeling watermen who took M
the rowing game for this city couId
nun per among her own citizens a
NUMBER o. sCullers who ranked N
their clasc with the best known Also
many other river cities in this sertIon
OF inc country were enthusiastic over
acQuatc sports Of this nature mar
ucularly Pittsburgh and SteubenvilIe
anu tAere Va5 naturally much IocaI
ptiGe concerning the proWess of tho
athletes from each city.
Local Seullers Successful
There were certainly fun quota o.
great men produced IN Wheeling VII,
Won fame through their ability win
NJ sG,ItIs. II Is unlikely Il any city o
wheeling size anywhere. cuuIt
boast OF so great number of rea
champions. There was an uulimitet
heio who participated in sculIin.
here. but as is the inevitable mi.
there were few who stood out prom
inent among their fellows. iucludin.
former Chief OF Police John Ritz. tn,
crack puller OF the country for hi.
weight. Jimmy" NantCn. at one tim,
city Champion; FelsinE. Corcoran
Weisbercer. Dan Cochran. Denmarsh
Powell. sweeney. and Carpenter. on,
could continue on naming a score who
acquired Well earned fame.
These men were generally withou
exception connected with some boat
Ing club. OF which there were former
ly any number IN Wheeling Not onl,
dld these clubs encourage the expon
ents OF rowing and sCulling, but thu,
played "A not inconsiderable part IN
the social life OF the city and thcI
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meet at Benwood. they coming d
rectly from the west and leaving tn,
train a. that point. were met by
great gathering Who counted on see
ing the champion perform. The crow,
moved from BeuWOod 10 a point sew
eral miles north OF Moundsville
There they boarded large harg.
barge which was flonted down tn,
river south OF that city To poin
where there was formerly located
race track and fairgrounds Their,
they went ashore. by this time it wa.
3 O'Clock in The morning and piic.
dark. but with d bus!ncsslike manner
unknown 20 the pugilists OF the pres
ent day. Mccoy and Welsh mad,
ready for the bout.
\ collection vas taken up for In,
benefit c. tho two contestants prp
vious 20 the starr. and after this hst
been disposed 90 the battle vas DC
gun. In the inlCy darkness. the onIJ
lights available were torches plantc,
around tho ringside and by tho Ugh
furnished from these torches the I'VE
men fought savagely Cor eight rounds
whom Welsh was put 70 sleep bv
well directed punch from the cham
pion
~ tho END Of tho fght the return
trip was made and the entire crow,
succeeded IN avoiding tho authorize.
althoulh warrants were issued for
the arrest Of the principals. rhi,
one instance will demonstrate IN.
great hold boxing had on the loca
populace and 10 what ex'remez they
would 20 20 arrange a.Food battle.
Number % Good Fighters.
Although the Gardner boys her
FIRST place among tho local pullists
I W 'AFIf were a great UUfUUHT n
other good mixers. preCeedIu~ oac'
% tho bouts there were prellmina-ip'
which served 20 develop many young
sters. who had in them the stun q
which boxers are made 4 list OF ri
who fought IN tho city and this VI
cinity would include hundreds ~
names. Several. however. deeorv,
special mention because % tho fac
that they are etill well known % tn,
Wheelinrlfe % today. notably JONI
Finno~an. who participated iu eevcra
interesting battles IN Lis prime
Frank Collier. who has fought man,
tim"s ln Wheeling and throughout %.
country and "Buz' Arhour nrrIim
mary hRhfcr who vas cxceodin~Iy
popular with Tho nrht follower
Th"e" three mon are fuu LIVING .r
tho city