The Day Burrard Inlet Rowed Away With Lake Washington

Burrard Inlet Day.

It Carries Off the Laurels in First Day of Regatta.

The visiting rowing clubs arrived in the city to participate in the Northwest regatta on Lake Washington, and yesterday, before noon, the weather wise were considering the changes for good or ill, and, satisfied by the signs, the crowd took the Madison Street cars to witness the Burrard Inlet junior four cross the line in the fast time of about four lengths ahead of the Portland Rowing Club, which in turn led the Vancouvers by a small margin. The Willamettes, owing to an unfortunate start, did not finish.

It was a sore disappointment, however, to the Willamette Rowing Club and their Portland friends, when R. N. Johnson, the Burrard Inlet champion, showed a mile and a half of rudder to L. Quackenbush, the much-talked-of Willamette sculler, who resides in Whatcom. Quackenbush had complained of not being in good condition for some time, but no one was prepared for the Waterloo that awaited him in that event. The Burrard Inlet men backed their judgment with their usual confidence. The Willamettes are a poorer set than when they reached town.

The junior doubles, being a walk-over for the Portland Rowing Club, was not an exciting event except as a display of seamanship by the members of the crew, for steamers met them about half way down the course and ran so close to them as almost to swamp them by the swell.

There were no entries in the double Whitehall boat race, which was advertised as a free-for-all, and at the conclusion of the senior single race most of the crowd at the finish had dwindled away, and hardly any one was left at the finish when the junior doubles came in.

Taken all in all, yesterday was decidedly Burrard Inlet day, as the crew of that club won the only two contested events, the junior fours and the senior singles, and although both the Portland and Seattle senior fours will make a gallant struggle today, those who are supposed to know are inclined to think that the British Columbia visitors will capture at least one of the two events for which they are entered in today's races.

With a bright sky, smooth water and a fair number of spectators the junior fours took their positions at about ten minutes to 4 yesterday afternoon at the start off Madrona Park. The Aquila, with George R. Carter, the referee, aboard, backed and started until the four crews were in line: the Willamettes next to the shore, the Portlands next, then the Vancouvers, and the Burrard Inlets on the outside. After a few words of direction to the crews Carter gave the word to get ready, and a few moments later, at the crack of the pistol, the oars caught the water and the four shells sprang forward in a bunch. The Burrard Inlets caught the water first and sprang to the front, in which position they remained until the finish, closely followed by the Portland and Vancouver crews.

It was evident that something was the matter at the start in the Willamettes' boat and it fell rapidly astern of the other three. The crew did not seem to get together until so far behind that it was out of the race, and it rowed easily along until about three-fourths up the course, when it decided not to finish.

Of the other crews the Burrard Inlets had secured a good lead before the half-mile stake was reached, but the other two were having a hard struggle for second place, and just after leaving the first half-mile post put on a good burst of speed and materially decreased the distance between themselves and the leaders. They were unable to hold this advantage, however, and the Burrard Inlets finally crossed the line at the finish about four lengths in the lead in the fast time of 9:24 3-5, rowing well within themselves and apparently almost as fresh as when they started. All three of the leaders rowed a quick, snappy stroke, the winners often running over forty to the minute and averaging about that stroke. The Burrard Inlet stroke was quick, but they kept their boat remarkably even, splashed but little and really gave a remarkably fast and clean exhibition for a junior crew. Springer, stroke of the Vancouvers, was overcome at the finish and fainted, remaining insensible for about twenty minutes, but recovered soon after leaving the boathouse.

Although it is doubtful if the Willamettes could have won the race, it was unfortunate that through a misunderstanding they should have lost all chance. As the crew went forward for the very first stroke No. 2, C. N. Du Cette, found his oar jammed in the outrigger, and as he was at full reach at the time he not only could not extricate his own oar, but the projecting shaft prevented W. J. Patton, who rowed No. 3, directly in front of him, from coming back on his stroke. Thus it happened that for the first eight or ten strokes, while the other crews were straining every muscle for the lead, only stroke and bow were able to row in the Willamette boat. If the Willamettes' captain had understood the conditions of the race, by merely raising his arm to the referee he would have stopped the race and recalled the other boats and started the race over again. As it was he gave no signal, and the Willamettes lost all chance in the junior fours. In view of this unfortunate accident Referee Carter wishes it distinctly understood by all the crews entered for today's races that if any accident happens to either a shell or its oars in the first ten strokes, the captain has only to raise his arm and the race will be recalled; further, that the referee will recall the boats in case of accident after a false start will only be made short of the referee's boat.

The senior singles was a surprise to every one, and must have been an especially bitter disappointment to the friends of Quackenbush, for great things were expected of him. While it was true that Johnson was a man in less condition and trained by McLean, than whom a better trainer can be found in the Northwest, it was supposed that while he might be close to Quackenbush he would certainly be at least a shell's first stroke behind. Like everything else in sport, it proved itself uncertain, and Quackenbush met his Waterloo. It is idle to be sorry for Quackenbush on the plea that a man may not be certain of winning a race, especially at the start, and Johnson deserves all the praise that was bestowed upon him and the cheers that greeted him at the finish. In a manner in which he started down the course, it is but just to say that he was not well, and when he started down in earnest to row his left he weakened and he almost jeopardized his chances for the swerve he made in passing Quackenbush from the inside to the outside of the course. Both men started with a fast stroke. Johnson pulled forty strokes to the minute and forged ahead, while Quackenbush rowed about thirty-four. At the mile Johnson had dropped to thirty-eight and was increasing his lead, which already showed clear water between them. At the mile Johnson had increased his lead and had dropped to thirty-eight, while Quackenbush was rowing thirty-four; before the finish Johnson was an easy winner by from eight to ten lengths and rowing easily at thirty-two. Quackenbush still maintained his thirty-four stroke.

The race for the junior doubles was a walk-over for the Portland Rowing Club, and Stowell and Ludlow, stroke and bow respectively of the senior four that will compete in today's race, went over the course without attempting to strain themselves. The conduct of the captains of the steamers was particularly inconsiderate in this race, and it was not their fault that the boat was not either broken or swamped. The fleet of steamers was returning from Madison Street to Madrona as this race was started and met the crew about half way down the course, coming bow on. In spite of Referee Carter's shouts and gestures they continued straight ahead until very near the crew, and then merely swerved far enough aside to pass, running at full speed and leaving a wake large enough for an ocean steamer. This inconsiderate conduct caused much comment, although it was probably due to ignorance. No ignorance, in the opinion of the boating men present, could excuse such culpable negligence as was displayed by the steamer captains, notably of the Winifred, Quickstep, Edith E., and Englebrecht's launch Antic, who by their carelessness almost swamped the Portland double crew by their swell and jeopardized a valuable shell. Referee Carter wishes steamer captains in today's races to be especially careful not only to either keep behind his boat, the Aquila, or to run well on the outside of the course, but also to use the greatest care not to run close to crews that have crossed the finish line, as but a slight cross swell will often break the back of a racing shell.

As there were no entries for the double Whitehall race, that event was called off, and the crowd, which had dwindled considerably, left for home, to reassemble today for the second and last day of the first amateur regatta ever held on Lake Washington.

Summaries: Junior four, mile and a half straight away—First, Burrard Inlet Rowing Club (Dick Sparks bow, C. D. W. Campbell No. 2, C. H. Macauley No. 3, F. Miller stroke), time 9:24 3-5; second, Portland Rowing Club; third, Vancouver Boating Club; fourth, Willamette Rowing Club. Senior singles, mile and a half—First, R. N. Johnson, Burrard Inlet, time 10:32 2-5; second, L. Quackenbush, Willamette. Junior doubles—Portland Rowing Club (S. M. Ludlow bow, P. E. Stowell stroke), rowed over in 10:49 4-5.