At a signal given by Referee McKenney yesterday afternoon five enthusiastic canoeists upset themselves in the river opposite the Analostan boat-house. Mr. Frank Moore almost immediately righted his canoe and clambered into it, reaching the winning line first. Mr. J. B. McQueen was next successful, and paddled in a close second. Mr. J. R. Lake experienced a little more difficulty, and was a bad third, while Mr. Arthur Dodge only succeeded in climbing into his canoe after several strenuous efforts, and was a very bad fourth. All this time Rev. Mr. Wynkoop had been floundering in the river, making energetic but vain attempts to recover his place in the cock-pit of his canoe. When Mr. Dodge reached the winning line the interested group of spectators had time to observe Mr. Wynkoop. At that moment he was astride the bow of his canoe, looking wistfully at the Analostan shore. A few seconds were spent in apparent contemplation of the surrounding scenery, and then he laid himself flat on his face, his feet on the surface of the water, his body stretched along the boat, and his hands grasping the cock-pit sides. Carefully, ever so carefully, Mr. Wynkoop edged his full-length way toward the seat which he had left so unceremoniously. But the best laid plans of the most expert canoeist will sometimes "gang agley," and presently the canoe, with that total depravity which sometimes actuates inanimate things, turned a mischievous somersault, and Mr. Wynkoop was once more in the water. The situation was now interesting. To wrestle with a canoe in its own element is no easy matter, and Mr. Wynkoop became the centre of attraction. The pleasure boats in the river flanked by an eight-oared barge, formed a circle around him, while the crowd on the boat house balcony applauded and laughed at each unsuccessful effort. At last, however, fortune and the setting sun smiled upon him, and he paddled in triumph to the shore, escorted by a fleet of boats.
    Besides this upset race, only one other event on the programme of the canoe club's first annual regatta was carried out. This was the tandem paddling race and was won by Messrs. Dodge and Moore, Messrs. Wynkoop and Lake being a close second. The other entries were Messrs. Witherbee and Maxswin, in the Bola; Messrs. Cody and Cole, in the Belle, and Messrs. McQueen and Culvert, in the Herald.

Source:

Unknown, "Wrestling With a Canoe, An Incident of the Canoe Club's Annual Regatta Yesterday," The Washington Post, Washington, D.C., Thursday, 18 September 1884, p. 2.