Evening star., 1928-09-04
RIVER RESCUE HOAX
VERCES ON REALITY
Firemen Arrive Just in Time
to QuenCh Fire on SIN
dian Canoe"

The big mock rescue staged by men,
bers of the Sycamore Island Canoe Club
as a climactic event OF its Labor day
regatta on the upper Potomac yester-
day evening proved to be highly effec-
tive--from comedy standpoint.
A Caretully-worked-ou surprise"
stunt had been arranged for the edifica-
tion of all campers in the Broadwater
section by a committee headed by Rod
ger GeSsford. local attorney It called
for a sensational dash down the river of
war canoe" filed with whooping In
dianS and Of daring rescue" of the
redskins by Scagoing tiremen after the
canoe had been set ablaZe by "gunfirs" d"
Everything worked splendidly until the
time came for the thrl,aAg rescue. The
dancing and haWling men in the canoe
succeeded in kindling fire in one end
of the boat, and all eyes Of the Specta-
tors turned TO the rescue boat. with
changing eowbell. about to set out from
shore. In the boat were half a dozen
red-helmeted firefghters in bathing
suits, armed with buckets.
Hawscr Holds Boat.
Two firemen at the oars began to pull
furiously. Fire Chief Francis G. Cole.
otherwise local patent attorney, stood
in a WaShington-crossi Delaware
pose in the prov of the boat urging his
men on, But the more the oarsmen
bent TO their task. the less the boat
moved forward. Finally it was dis
covered that the anchor man had for
gotten to cast off the haWser.
The small oversight hastily corrected.
the flreboat began its noisy dash toward
the blazing canoe in midstream. BY
TINS time the flames, created by gum
powder in can, really were beginning
10 lick the sides of the canoe. An
anxious expression that was not wholly
affected appeared on the faces of the
Injuns
Reaching the canoe in record time,
considering unforeseen difficulties, sew
eral tremen began pouring water on the
blaze. while others, in accordance with
prearranged plans, laid a gangplank
from the rescue boat to the canoe. Two
Of the Indians started across the plank
at the same time. 1t broke in two. up
setting the canoe with all its cargo and
effectually quenching the fire. The
fioundering victims were pulled into the
boat and brought ashore, amid the
hilarious plaudits Of the crowds or
shore.
Sycamore Club Wins.
Inc regatta was one OF the most eX-
citing ever held at Sycamore Island
Half dozen camps participated in the
canoe races, the Sycamore Club win
ming the silver cup donated for the an
nual championship of the Broadwater
area. The results:
Junior singles--Richard Ackad. first;
Jack Stodder. second: both Of Sycamore
Junior doubles-Richard Ackad and
Kali Ackad both of Sycamore. first
Buster Whipple and Don Conner, both
of Sycamore, second.
Mixed doubles-Kail Ackad and Su-
zanne Bradley of Sycamore. first: John
Hesse and Ruth Perkins, Yeomo Camp,
second. and Francis and Esther Cole.
Syca-,, ore, third
Glib fours - Rodger GeSsford. Jack
Stodder, Buster Whipple and Don Con-
ner Of Sycamore, first: Kali Ackad,
Richard Ackad Francis Cole and Reese
Thompson Of Sycamore, second.
Kangaroo race - Burden Hastings,
Sycamore, first; Harry Lowenstein.
Sycamore. second
Tall-end race-Edward Wilcox, Syc-
amore. first: Harry Lowenstein, Syca-
more, second
Tilting contest-Buster Whipple and
Jack Stodder, Sycamore. first. Eddie
Smell and j. McAuliffe, Ycomo Camp,
second.
The Judges were A. McKibben, w. H.
Collins and A. P Hastings. Carl Stod-
der was starter and Odell Whipple was
referee.