1905 Hudson River Water Carnival
Motor Boat Carnival Produces Fast Races
E. R. Thomas, Wearing A Life-Preserver, Wins With Dixie
Veritas Makes Best Time
Government Revenue Cutters Patrol Course On Hudson River--
Many Accidents To The Frail Craft
A fleet of motor boats, unusual for their number, value, and speed properties, was assembled in the Hudson River yesterday, off West Ninety-seventh Street. They competed in six different races, and besides furnishing entertainment to several thousand spectators, exhibited all of the eccentricities for which this type of craft is so well known. No new speed records were made, but considering the hard conditions of tide and wind against which the frail boats had to contend, the results were eminently satisfactory and the officials of the first National Motor Boat Carnival were more than satisfied with the success of the opening day's races.
Alexander Stein's huge 200-horse power, eight cylinder boat Veritas, made the fastest time of the day, running over the thirty-knot course at ana average of a trifle over twenty-five statute Miles an hour, while next in speed capabilities was the Dixie, the new 150-horse power eight cylinder craft owned by E. R. Thomas. The latter went over the course at the rate of a trifle over twenty-two statute miles per hour, and won the first heat for the international trophy. Mr. Thomas, clad in oilskins and wearing a big life preserver, steered the boat assisted by a mechanician. The XPDNC, once owned by the late Frank Croker and purchased a short time ago by J. Siegel and G. Gillig, red Bank yachtsmen, made an average of barely twenty-two statute mile an hour, considerably less than her long distance record, which has never been exceeded on the Hudson, of 26,29 statute miles an hour, made last October when steered by Frank Croker in the run to Poughkeepsie and back.
For the first time in the history of boating on New York waters motor-boat racing virtually had the sanction of the United States government, and three revenue cutters patrolled the course with as much zeal as has ever been seen in the international yacht races. The Mohican, Commander Fryers; the Beldame, Lieut. Ward, and the Manhattan, Capt. Newcomb, were the police officials of the day, and they warned everything from private yachts to slow-moving tugs to keep at least 200 feet away from the racing boats.
The races were started off the dock at the foot of West Ninety-seventh Street. Two triangular courses were laid out, one of ten knots, extending from a point about opposite Sixty-second Street to the foot of Washington Park, while the smaller course of 6½ knots lay within the larger course. The competing boats, according to their classes, went over the course three times. The officials had a space at the end of the dock roped off and covered with awning. A few flags gave to it a particularly festive appearance. For the benefit of the guests and friends of the National Association of Engine and Boat manufacturers, under whose auspices the carnival is held, the iron steamboat Sirius was chartered, and it made two trips out in the river, landing at the dock after the morning events.
The cruising boats and open launches had the morning while the high-powered speed boats were the feature in the afternoon. The two classes of cruising boats were won respectively by La Mascotte, owned by F. B. Havens of the New York Yacht Club, and the Arcadia, owned by John T. Roach of Lake Champlain. The Vitesse, owned by T. W. Dunham of the Metropolitan Yacht Club, was credited with the victory in the open launch class, but a protest was made by W. Ferguson Jr., of Stamford, owner of the White Fox, which, starting from scratch, crossed the line, it is claimed, first. The officials claimed they did not see it. Mr. Ferguson states that the officials had gone to eat and he offers to produce one hundred or more persons who saw his boat finish. The committee will investigate the matter.
The Panhard pulled away from the Shooting Star, but on the way back the Shooting Star was in the lead, and before turning the stakeboat the Panhard broke down and was not seen again. The Six Shooter started so late that she did not try to finish, and the Winton, the big Boston boat, broke down opposite the Columbia Yacht Club, so of the six starters in this class, only the Shooting Star, steered by her owner, H. A. Lozier Jr., and Mr. Thomas's Dixie, finished.
Besides he close race between the Veritas and the XPDNC, the Skeeter, which was the third boat in that chase, added to the excitement by a lively little brush with the Mary Powell and it was noted that the little craft had no trouble in passing the once famous record holder of the Hudson. The Skeeter is one of the fastest motor boats in the New York Athletic Club fleet, and was steered by her owner, E. J. Schroeder.
The Durno, an added entry, with a big handicap, won the race for boats 33 feet and under, beating C. R. Mabley's Simplex III. The steel, beaver-tail boat Rosebud proved a disappointment. The only unusual feature she created was when she was sucked under the dock by the force of the tide, but got out safely.
The summary:
| CRUISING BOATS OVER 50 FEET - 30 nautical miles | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boat | H.P | Start | Finish | Elapsed Time | Handicap |
| La Mascotte | 60 | 10:35:00 | 1:07:50 | 2:32:50 | 0:38:00 |
| Cactus II | 100 | 11:08:41 | 1:36:21 | 2:27:40 | 0:04:19 |
| Argonaut | 11:13:00 | Did not finish | |||
| CRUISING BOATS UNDER 50 FEET - 19½ nautical miles | |||||
| Arcadia | 25 | 11:35:00 | 1:41:58 | 2:06:58 | |
| Hazel | 30 | 11:20:00 | 2:07:15 | 2:47:15 | 0:15:00 |
| Glissando | 15 | 11:30:07 | 2:15:30 | 2:45:23 | 0:04:53 |
| OPEN LAUNCHES - 19½ nautical miles | |||||
| Vitesse | 11:45:00 | 2:56:38 | 3:11:36 | 0:47:27 | |
| August Meitz | 22 | 12:19:20 | 2:58:31 | 2:39:11 | 0:13:07 |
| Traveler | 15 | 2:06:23 | Did not finish | 0:26:04 | |
| White Fox | 15 | 2:32:27 | Not timed | ||
| HIGH-SPEED BOATS 40 FEET AND OVER - 30 nautical miles | |||||
| XPDNC | 75 | 3:46:42 | 5:22:43 | 1:36:02 | 0:14:42 |
| Veritas | 200 | 4:01:23 | 3:24:47 | 1:23:24 | |
| Skeeter | 50 | 3:45:00 | 5:28:09 | 1:43:00 | 0:16:23 |
| HIGH-SPEED BOATS 33 FEET AND UNDER - 30 nautical miles | |||||
| Durno | 3:05:49 | 5:14:51 | 2:09:02 | 1:02:00 | |
| Simplex III | 30 | 4:07:07 | 5:29:44 | 1:22:37 | 0:00:42 |
| Rosebud | 30 | 4:02:45 | Did not finish | 0:05:04 | |
| Vici | 20 | 4:07:40 | Disqualified | 0:39:37 | |
| HIGH-SPEED BOATS 12 METERS, 39.37 FEET AND UNDER - 30 nautical miles | |||||
| Dixie | 150 | 4:15:00 | 5:47:49 | 1:32:10 | |
| Shooting Star II | 51 | 4:15:00 | 5:53:27 | 1:38:27 | |
| Winton | 120 | 4:25:00 | Did not finish | ||
| Panhard II | 65 | 4:15:00 | Did not finish | ||
| Den | 57.8 | 4:15:00 | Did not finish | ||
| Six Shooter | 60 | 4:45:00 | Did not finish | ||
Winners - La Mascotte, Arcadia, Vitesse, XPDNC, Durno , and Dixie
The names of the owners of the competing boats with their clubs are: La Mascotte, F. B. Havens, New York; Cactus II, C. F. Proctor, Larchmont; Argonaut, G. Piel, Columbia; Arcadia, John D. Roach, Lake Champlain; Hazel, T. S. Parvin, Corinthian-Philadelphia; Glissando, F. L. Andrews, Fall River; Vitesse, T. W. Dunham, Metropolitan; August Meitz, E. W. Deming, Columbia; Traveler, C. F. Muller, Columbia; White Fox, W, Ferguson Jr., Stamford; XPDNC, J. Siegel and G. Gillig, Red Bank; Veritas, Alexander Stein, Indian Harbor; Skeeter, E. J. Schroeder, New York Athletic; Durno, J. H. Durno, Rochester; Simplex III, C. R. Mabley, Columbia; Rosebud, W. G. Titcomb, Rhode Island; Vici, A. Lippencott, Oceanport; Dixie, E. R. Thomas, Seawanhaka; Shooting Star II, H. A. Lozier Jr., Manhasset; Winton, A. Winton and C. R. Speare, Boston; Panhard II, Andre Nasserat, Columbia; Den, J. H. Hoadley, New York; Six Shooter, F. L. Smith, Detroit. |
The event today will be the 115-mile race to Poughkeepsie and back, in which there are twenty-five entries.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, Sep. 15, 1905, p. 7.)