Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/499

490 This item shows a tendency at throwing off the stodginess which has characterized all sports articles thus far and to introduce a little of the gusto that came to characterize later sport-writing.

Rowing received frequent notice in those early days, but each item was disappointingly bare, exhibiting also the anonymity associated with much of the news of those days. The reporters had not yet had it dinned into their ears by city editors and publishers that local names add life to local items, and add to the popularity and prosperity of the paper. In the issue of March 7, the Oregonian promoted the "movement to organize a regatta club," emphasizing in a brief item that "there is certainly no better way to develop the muscles than a jolly good pull at the oars. Let us have one, by all means; then another; and then we will have some competition; which will heighten the interest in the sport."

Three days later the paper was able to announce the organization of "the Regatta club." And this is what the newswriter did with his opportunity to chronicle a pioneer movement in Portland sport:

"The Regatta Club.—On Friday evening last, the members of the Regatta Club held their first meeting and organized. Twelve gentlemen have joined the society."

Promotion of sport was combined with encouragement of home industry in another item on boat-racing which was run a few days later (April 3, 1861 ):

"Still Another. —The Pioneer Boat Club of Portland has sent to Victoria for a race-boat, and some other young men in town have determined to invest their spare cash in building a boat of Oregon materials to compete with it. The spirit of rivalry produced by boating, causes the development of talent for boat-building. . . . We should have been better pleased if the Pioneer Club had employed Oregon skill in the construction of a boat. . .."

Soon afterward the paper was obliged to sound an unpleasant note in connection with water sport, and (April 13, 1861) appeared a 300-word article commenting on a story published in another newspaper accusing young men of the Regatta Club of stealing a "boathouse." The Oregonian says no official charges have been made. This affair, however, cleared up, and soon the paper was able to confine its boating items to sport rather than the police type of news. Three days later it was possible to run an item recording that the Regatta Club's boat had arrived. The item had the usual 1861 lack of names and detail but was full of editorial enthusiasm.

Finally, after six weeks, the paper got around to mentioning names in connection with the heretofore highly anonymous boat club.

The horse race here mentioned by the Oregonian, March 7,