The Washington herald., 1916-02-20

pions Of the Potomac Boat Club. In 1881
there was held on the Potomac a scuII-
ing regatta, the winner of which was
to be declared the champion sculIer of
the District The regatta had twelve
entries and was rowed in three boats.
The winner of the finale in this event
was w. c. Mckinney. Of the Potomac
Boat Club, and he was named as the
only real champion sculler of the Po-
tomac. He held that honor until 1886.
There is no man living today who had
better record as an oarsman than
Mckinney had in the eighties and early
nineties.
He was known nationally and as Cham
pion Ed. Hanlon once said of him, Give
Mckinney ten pounds more weight and
he will be champion of the world" Not
only did he make a name for himself
as sculler but he also was a member
of number of victorious four-oared
crews. He has kept in touch with the
rowing game to date, Is now a member
Of the board of governors of the Potomac
Boat Club and is considered as one of
the leading authorities on the local end
Of the game.
After Mckinney came Steve
kearney as a noted local scuner,
then William Britt, who rowed second
IN the junior event of the National
regatta OF lSN Later in the sCulling
game came Clarence Hecox. who with
Sam Edmonston, won the intermediate
Double SOULS In the National Regatta
at Worcester, Mass. in 1906. Heco1
has been coach of the Analostan Boat
Club since 1911 and during that time
has made a wonderful record in turn
ing out winners.
In telling the history of local scuIler.
have gone ahead of my story, for
many great events happened in the row.
Ing game in the eighties and nineties.
In 1879 a number OF members became
dissatisfied with conditions In the Potomac
Columbia Boat Club.
In 1880, when the great HanIon-
Courtney race was rowed on the Potomac
the members of the Columbia club built
a large grand stand and sold admission
tickets TO those who cared to witness the
race. From the money received from
this they built the Columbia Boat Club
and took very active interest in local
athletics from that time until the late
nineties.
The same year OF the Hanlon-Courtney
race. 1850, the memorable citizens re-
gatta was held on the Potomac. in which
the newly organized Colunbias partici-
pated, together with the Analostans and
the Potomacs.
The race was declared a flzzle. The
Columbus were beaten at the start,
with the Anelostans leading and the
Potomacs close behind. In a nip-and-
tuck finish between the AnalostSns
and Potomacs the two boats fouled-
The referee first stated the race would
have to be rowed over the next day,
but some time during the night he
changed his mind and declared the
Columbias the winner.
His decision caused much dssatisfac-
ton and many heated wrangles took
place. but the race was allowed to stand
with the Columbus as winners.
The Potomac River Regatta Associa-
ton was formed in 1881 and held its first
annual regatta in October, 1852.
In 1881 the Potomacs sent a crew to
Richmond TO take part in the annual
regatta of the Virginia Association.
The crew consisted of T. l.. Cropley,
Morgan. Bailey and Mckinney. The
crew came out a winner.
The ninth annual regatta of the Ma
uonal Association for Amateur Oarsmen
was held in Washington IN 1881.
In 1883 the Potomac Club sent a crack
four to LYnchburg and snatched vic
tory from the Columbias, of Washington.
and Elizabeths. of Norfolk. The men in
the Potomac boat were Fraser, stroke;
Bayer, 3; Ryan, .. and Mckinney. bow.
The Potomac River regatta Of Septem-
Der 26, 1855. was a memorable event for
the Potomac Boat Club. Its senior four
was victorious over the Eurekas, of
Newark, n. j.; Crescents, Of Philadel-
MIN, and the Columbies, of Washing
ton.
The Eurekas had but a week before
won the championship of the United
States, and by winning from them the
Potomacs were entitled to be named
champions OF the country.
In 1884 the Potomac seniors again cap
tured the four-oared race, winning the
Star and Post cups and handsome medals
offered for the crew winning the event
three years in succession