1908 Palm Beach Mid-Winter Carnival
Power Boat Races
Twenty Events Are to be Decided During Palm Beach Meet
That the fourth annual meet of the Palm Beach Power Boat Association, which will be held on Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Fla., during this week, will be as complete a success as its three predecessors, is the promise held out by the list of entries and prizes announced by the Regatta Committee.
Among the formidable array of medal winners are the Dixie, the boat owned by E. J. Schroeder of Jersey City, which last Summer won the Harmsworth Cup abroad and which was the sensation of the last Palm Beach meet. The Dixie has already arrived at Palm beach. Another crack from which much is expected is the General, owned in Bay City, Mich. The General is credited with making thirty miles an hour and thereby claims the title "Queen of the Great Lakes."
Then there is the Dolphin, owned by Eugene De Kliest of Buffalo; the New York Boat Kitty Sparks, owned by Charles Furthman, which holds the acknowledged championship of the Mississippi River; the Secret, a new boat, owned by J. H. Allen of St. Augustine, which is expected to do better than twenty-five miles an hour, and a new boat, unnamed, built by the Florida designer, George Gingras.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, March 15, 1908. )
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Dixie Makes Fast Time
Jersey City Power Boat Covers Five Miles in 10:56 at Palm Beach
Palm Beach, Fla., March 18.--Six races splendidly contested and marked by spectacular finishes, made the second day of the fourth annual Palm Beach power boat regatta a memorable one. The Dixie, owned by E. J. Schroeder of Jersey City, made the best time, covering five miles in 10 minutes 56 seconds. The General, owned by E. R. Walker of Bay City, Mich., captured three events.
The first event of the day, a five-mile race for boats with less than 30-foot water line, was won by the limit boat, the Irene, in indifferent time. The second event, a five-mile race for larger boats was won by the Dixie, which finished 9 seconds ahead of the General. The ten-mile event, open to all boats, was won by the Dolphin, owned by Eugene De Kliest of Buffalo, the boat finishing 30 seconds ahead of the Dixie which could not overcome the heavy handicap.
The five-mile event for short length boats was won by the Trentesept, a Florida boat, while the General captured the five-mile race for the longer boats, defeating James K. Clarke's Philadelphia boat, C. H. Bruiser, by 20 seconds.
The fifteen-mile free-for-all was won by the General, the first four boats finishing within a minute.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, March 19, 1908. )
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Dolphin Fastest Boat
Close Contest for the Five-Mile Race at Palm Beach, Fla.
Palm Beach, Fla., March 19.--Six events marked the third day of the fourth annual power boat regatta on Lake Worth, and although the Dixie was not running to-day, choosing to save up for to-morrow's time trials for the Sir Thomas Dewar Shield, interest was as high as ever, and the delightful weather made the day ideal for racers and spectators. The first event, five miles for boats at speeds less than eighteen miles an hour, brought out five starters, the scratch boat, the Lamb, finishing first, but, having exceeded her time, first place went to the Irene. The Red Bird finished second.
The second race, five miles for faster boats, brought out four starters and at the finish only eighteen seconds separated the first boat and the last. The Dolphin crossed the line first, with the Trentesept second.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, March 20, 1908. )
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Dixie Breaks Power Boat Record
Palm Beach, Fla. March 20.--Commodore E. J. Schroeder's power boat Dixie of Jersey City to-day captured the Dewar Shield, offered for the fastest mile; established a new record for this course, and lowered the record made on the Hudson River course under the auspices of the Motor Boat Club of America. The Dixie's miles, six in number, and with three runs with the tide and three against it, were 2:18 4-5, 2:20 2-5, 2:19 4-5, 2:19 3-5, 2:18 4-5, and 2:18 3-5. This makes an average of 29.728 miles per hour. It is faster than the record on the Hudson River, which stands at 29.622 miles an hour. The Dixie it to-night a world champion. The twenty-mile endurance run, for laps over the course and with consistency the requirements for victory, was won by the Dixie. The Dixie's time for each lap was 10:57, 10:52, 10:51 and 10:50. The five-mile race for Florida built boats was won by George Gingras' Trentesept. The Bruiser, owned by James K. Clark of Ardmore, Penn., finished second.
(Transcribed from the New York Times, March 21, 1908. )
[Thanks to Greg Calkins for help in preparing this page. — LF]