The Washington herald., 1916-09-10
Middle States Regatta Most
Successful Ever Held Here.
MATT wGRATH.

IAN is quiet along the Potomac" can be
truthfully said at this time. Where but
a few days ago the smooth waters of
the Upper Potomac were dotted with
shell boats OF all types and perspirins
oarsmen were seen daily working out
under the watchful eye OF their coach,
one can only find the calm, peaceful
lonesomeness Of nature. A quiet canoe
here, or a stray launch there, are the
only signs to remind one that this stretch
of placid water is sometimes used as a
place where Washington's recreation
seekers go to get relief from the tolls of
a hot summer.
No more does one see the long grace
tul shell boats, with their sweeps, pro-
PEELED by the brain and Drawn Of young
Washington athletes, speeding through
the water al II It were a frightened ami
NAL of the waters startled from its slum-
Der. No more is heard the painting of
the coach's speed boat as 1t races after
the crews in their trial spins, nor can one
hear the masterful voice of the stern,
forcfble coach, with his whip-like COM
mands, urging, now pleading, then threat
ening, sometimes swearing. as he tries to
get the men under his charge to reach
out, hit It. drive with the legs and back,
pull It through and then swing for the
next stroke.
The sharp voice Of the ever important
coxswain, with his large vocabulary of
choice invectives, are heard no more. He
Is now only one of the many and his
power Of speech has died with the sea-
son. All these are sounds and sights Of
the summer on the old Potomac. and all
have ceased and will be heard no more
until the call to arms comes again with
the signs Of spring.
As a fitting climax to one Of the most
active yeans ever enjoyed by local row.
ing enthusiasts, the season closed at
exactly 5;33 Monday last, with one of the
greatest and most spectacular boat races
witnessed in this section in years
Those who were fortunate enough to
see tho finish Of the senior eight-oared
shell event in Mondays regatta undoubt-
edly had many a thrill, as the three shell
boats swept down the lane Of launches,
yachts and canoes, thronged with a
cheering multitude, and crossed the fin
ish line with hardly a length separating
the winner from the last crew
The crew that had to be picked to win
had carried of the honors, but not with
out a fight. The Undine eight came to
this regatta with the record OF being
second only to the wonderful oarsmen
OF Duluth. and they went away from the
regatta with the same great record. The
crew was composed mostly OF college
Oarsmen. men who had been trained by
the great Courtney at Cornell or the
noted Joe Wright at Pennsylvania-they
had been whipped into a smooth working
combination by Coach Runth. Of the I'm
dine Club, after a season OF strenuous
EFFORT. They had come to look upon
boat racing as a business and had trained
all season for the national regatta at
Duluth in August. but had found them
selves no match for Ten Eyck's oarsmen.
Other fields were open for them to con-
quer. 50 conquer they would.
The rumor that the Undines were train
Ing for the Middle States regatta undoubt-
edly prevented other eights from making
entries in Mondays races. Philadelphia
could not turn out another eight to COM
pete with them, SO no other crews from
that city entered. New York knew OF the
ability Of the Philadelphia cracks and re-
fused to try their luck against them.
Washington was the only city in the east
that refused to concede them the honor
of being the greatest eight this side Of the
Mississippi. 50 both the Analostans and
the Potomacs entered eights in the senior
events
The Analostan crew had been gotten to-
gether about month. In that time Coach
EdmonstOn had been forced to get his
crew into condition. mold them into a
fighting spirit into them. How well he
succeeded can be realized by those who
witnessed their great fight in the big
race Monday, for, although beaten. they
were within a boats length of the great
Undines. and but a half length behind
the Potomacs. Their showing was ex-
cellent, when the short training period
Is taken into consideration
Potomac's senior eight was a surprise
to its friends. an agreeable surprise, for
the boys far exceeded the fondest hopes
of their supporters when they were barely
nosed out by n quarter of a length by
the star aggregation OF college oarsmen.
The crew had only been together a lit
tie under two weeks, although the men
had been rowing in other boats for sew
cral weeks before. so with the little actual
training they got as a crew their show
ing against such class with far greater
advantages in training, is considered ex-
cellent The judges at the finish line
admitted that IL the race had been ten
strokes longer the Red and White eight
would have been victorious, as they were
gaining with every stroke, while the Tn
dimes seemed to be firing The Potomacs
seemed perfectly content with their
showing in this race. and feel that the
same crew could win from the Phila-
delphians with a few weeks more of
training.
The win Of the Potomac Junior eight
last Monday was no more than was ex-
pected. This crew had been pushing
both the intermediate and senior eigbts
each night in their trials before the re-
gatta, and they were heavily backed bv
their followers to win their race, They
WOn with niantv e. s1oro h,,4 - -,