Champion Rowers, Milwaukee
SOLD October 2008 |
CDV-sized tintype of four proud, bare-armed rowing champions wrapped in a sheet, perhaps symbolizing their boat. With period inscription in stylus verso identifying the sitters and describing their feat: "...M.R.C. crew, St. John Milw. race 6-5/97 / Milw. River 1/2 mi. straightwy 4 oared Gigs / Time 9 M. 15 S."
The inscription on reverse of this tintype refers to a victory of the Milwaukee Rowing Club, fortuitously described in a "flashback" published by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, June 5, 1997 (100 years after the event):
"June 5, 1897 The Milwaukee Rowing Club beats the Delafield St. John's crew, avenging its defeat of 1896, by a length and a half. The race takes place on the Milwaukee River between the dam and the North Avenue bridge. St. John's leads most of the way until Thomas Folger, rowing stroke, develops cramps and becomes unable to slide his seat."
(retrieved 9/1/08 from "http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6528620.html")
Overall very nice. Shallow bends across image, nail hole top center, some fingerprints in emulsion.
