The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-28 00:00:00

THE CHAMPIONSHIP OP THE THAMES.

RACE BETWEEN KELLEY AND RADLER.

These great rivals met yesterday, to contend for
3001. aside and the proud distinction of Champion of the
Thames ; but the race was undecided, and to-day, at
3 o'clock, will see them again striving for the mastery.
The weather was very fine, and attracted a large number
of spectators to Putney, among whom were noticeable
Robert Chambers, exottampion, and James Percy, of
Newcastle, Harry Lang, Barrett, and Addy, of Manchester,
some of the best of our south country oarsmen, and many
gentlemen from Oxford and Cambridge, Mr. Griffith, stroke
of the Cambridge boat, Mr. Tottenham, the Oxford cox-
swain, and Mr. G. B. Michell, of Oxford, the champion
gentleman seedier. No fewer than 10 steamers accompanied
the race, end,,thanks to a recent enactmentof ourlegislature,
30th Viet, cap. 101, by which masters of steamers neglecting
to obey the instructions given by the Commissioners of Police
upon the occasion of regattas, boat races, public processions,
ship launches, or any other occasions where large crowds
of persons may assemble on the river, are liable to a
penalty of 20/., the steamers were kept astern
of the competitors the whole of the way.
Mr. W. Biffen, the beat builder, of Hammersmith, was
referee ; Mr. Charles Bush, umpire for Kelley, and Mr.
Jamie Messenger, an ex-champion, for Sadler. The latter
was piloted by George Hainmerton, and the former by
George Drewitt. John Phelps, the Fulham waterman,
was judge at Mortlake. The men started from oppo-
rite the pier at Putney, and both having stripped and re-
oeived the plaudits of many thousands of admirers, began
the race. Kelley had the Middlesex or beat st►tion,
although Sadler was close to him, and they dashed away
at a tremendous pace, Kelley with the lead; the long
strokes of Sadler, however, soon brought him alongside,
and amidst the wildest excitement Sadler gradually drew
ahead, being half a length in front at the London boat-
house ; Kelley turned and looked at his man, and as they
eyed one another as far as the Dung Wharf it was
very evident that the severe pace was telling, and that
one would soon give in. By this time Kelley
bad drawn up en the inside, and they 0001-
mowed a ding-dong race which lasted to the Crab Tree,
where Kelley increased the pace, and ere they arrived at
the bottom of the Sosp-works.bridge had obtained a lead
of three-quarters of a length. Calculating, no doubt,
that Sadler was more fatigued than he, and relying, per-
haps, too much upon his own strength, he began to sheer
in to take his opponent's water. Sadler had a good spurt
left, and now came the critical moment. Kelley did his
I best, but Sadler came with a terrific rash, and before
Kelley had drawn across they came into collision.
Neither was to blame, and neither had any business to be
where he was, but in the twinkling of an eye almost
I they renewed the race, Sadler going on with
the lead ; he did not hold it long, for Kelley
rowed him down under Hammersmith-bridge, where
we believe another foul occurred, and then the race was
over ; the champion went ahead, and retained the lead,
coming in three lengths in front, confuting the user-
' Mona put forth by a sporting contemporary of the won-
derful trial of one of the men. Of course the referee be-
came the centre of attraction, and many were the varied
opinions, as usual, upon the capacity of that gentleman ;
but referees' decisions are bound to be respected ; and
when that gentleman declared it to be "no race," and
ordered them to row again to-day at three o'clock, he met
with the applause he deserved from the respectable por-
tion of the spectators. The time by Benson's marking
chronograph was 2.1 min. Y.)} seas. The Warrior (London
Rowing Club) will accompany the race again to-day,
and leave London-bridge at 2 o'clock punctually.

THE FERNDALE EIPLOSION.—MIRTHYR, TEES-
DAL—The announcement of her Majesty's most noble
gift to the widows and orphans of Ferndale, as made
known to them in the Express of Monday, has caused
the greatest satisfaction and evoked the strongest expres-
sions of loyalty. The proprietors of the colliery have given
1,0001. to the fund ; Mr. Futhergill, the iroumaster. 3001.,
and from all directions donations are beginning to flow in.
Since our last ether bodies have been exhumed, and the
death list now records the number found at 166. This still
leaves many bodies tinder falls in the extreme pert of the
mine. Considerable feeling has been aroused at Ferndale
and its vicinity by a very current and generally credited
report. As the scene lies in a secluded part of the moon.
tains we have not been able to substantiate it, but we
give it publicity, and only hope the rev, gentleman in
I question will be able to deny it. The statement is that
a day or two ago one of the poor colliers from Ferndale
was taken to Llanvabon churchyard. There the mourn-
ing party were met by the Rev. W. Davies, who
demanded 4s. 6d. as his fee before be would
bury, but none of the relatives had any money
—they were wretchedly poor. Davies ordered the coffin
to Do taken on one side, and in this emergency one
of the friends stepped forward to see what the difficulty
was—he himself a poor collier—and hearing said, " Well,
he was my friend, he worked in the same stall as I did,
and I believe it he had been here instead of me, he would
have paid for rne ;" and forthwith paid the 4s. 6d. and had
the melancholy satisfaction of seeing his old comrade laid
decently in the grave.