The Whole Lake Turns Out: Seattle's 1894 Rowing Championship

The regatta is the one absorbing topic of conversation in sporting circles, and an immense crowd will undoubtedly be present at the races today. Every available craft on Lake Washington has been engaged for the occasion, and the youth and beauty of Seattle will be present, sporting the colors of their favorites. The crews were all out yesterday, both in the forenoon and afternoon, and all say they are in condition to row for their lives.

Johnson and Quackinbush, the contestants for the singles championship, were out practicing. Both showed up finely. Betting is expected to be very lively on this event, and McLean says if his protege, Johnson, does not win it will not be owing to lack of condition. Both the senior and junior crews of the Burrard Inlets showed up well in practice and will undoubtedly be favorites in the betting. The Portlands and Willamettes were out, but disappointed their friends. They say it was owing to the roughness of the water, and promise to give a good account of themselves today and tomorrow.

The senior and junior fours of the Burrard Inlet Club attracted the most attention, but as regards appearances the S. A. C. crew is far superior to any crew that will start. One of the Burrard Inlet crew remarked to a Post-Intelligencer reporter last night that they were the finest looking crew of four that he had ever seen. The water yesterday morning was very smooth, but in the afternoon became rough and choppy, making it difficult to row.

What might have been a serious accident to the Burrard Inlet crew happened as they finished their afternoon spin. They were lifting the shell out of the water, and one of the seats in some way got loose and fell into the water. H. W. Kent, No. 2 of the crew, took in the situation at a glance, and dived after the seat, coming up in a short time with it in his hand, much to the surprise and satisfaction of the crew. If the seat had not been recovered the crew would have been badly handicapped.

The association held its annual meeting last night at the Rainier and elected officers for the ensuing year, and also perfected the arrangements for the regatta. J. S. Goldsmith, of Seattle, was elected president; John Gill, of the Willamette club, vice president, and H. E. Judge, of the Portland club, secretary and treasurer. The association recognized and indorsed the action of the Canadian association in reinstating R. N. Johnson as an amateur. George R. Carter of the Seattle Athletic Club was selected as umpire and starter, and he chose Charles Watson and D. B. Porter to respectively fire the pistols at the start and finish. Mr. Carter says that if any crew attempts to beat the pistol, that crew will be put back ten feet, and if a second attempt is made, it will be put back a long distance.

Positions were drawn for and resulted as follows: Senior race Saturday, counting from the shore, Portland No. 1, S. A. C. 2, Burrard Inlet 3, and either Willamettes or Vancouvers 4; junior race to take place today, Portland 1, Willamettes 2, Vancouver 3, Burrard Inlet 4. The winner of the junior race today will be allowed to compete in the senior race tomorrow without making a previous entry.

The first meet under the auspices of the present association was held in 1892 at Vancouver, and the cup for the senior championship was won by the Portland Rowing Club on a protest made by the Willamette club against the Burrard Inlet club on the ground that Johnson, who rowed No. 3 in the crew, was a professional. The claim was allowed and the race given to the Portland club, which was second to the Inlet club by two feet. The Burrard Inlet juniors won the medal for this class this year from the Portland club, with the Willamettes third. Quackinbush won the singles from Johnson by several lengths, although it was not a fair test of what Johnson can do, as he had just finished rowing in the senior race, which was an exceedingly hard one throughout.

Last year the regatta was held at Portland, and was very largely attended. The cup for the senior championship was won by the Burrard Inlet crew by half a length from the Portland crew. The Portland juniors were first in their race, the Willamettes second and the Burrard Inlets third. In the singles Johnson did not enter and Quackinbush easily beat Bush of the Portland club. The Portland club and Burrard Inlet club have each won the cup once, and it becomes the sole property of the winners Saturday.

The start will be made off Madrona park and the finish will be at the foot of Madison street. The first race will be called at 2 o'clock, and if the water is too rough will be postponed till Saturday morning. In the betting the Burrard Inlet crew is favorite for the senior fours, Quackinbush for the singles and even money on the Portland and Burrard Inlets in the junior fours.