The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-02 00:00:00

CHAMPIONSHLP OF THE THAMES.

The duty of a public writer is a most unpleasant
oae when he has to comment in terms of censure
upon the conduct of public men, but it is impossible
to write in any other manner concerning the referee
of the late sculling match for the championship be-
tween Kelley and Sadler. A very strong opinion
was expressed by many parties that Sadler was clearly
entitled to the stakes on the first day, but we are dis-
posed to make every allowance for Mr. Biffen's de-
cision on Wednesday last, because he probably acted
from a laudable desire to give Kelley another chance
under the impr,,ssion that he did not foul his op-
ponent's boat wilfully. Under any circumstances,
the fault was entirely on Kelley's side, as Sadler had
only two alternatives, either to come in contact with
his boat or go ashore.
The next day's proceedings, however, place the
referee's conduct in a very objectionable light, and the
best construction to put upon it is his incompetency
for the official character he occupied in the match.
Some considerable time was wasted owing to sundry
steamers and tugboats getting in the track of
the men, and also by futile attempts on their part to
obtain a satisfactory start, which, it appears, was
left to their mutual agreement. Sadler, who had
made two attempts, eventually removed from the
starting place to his cutter and put on his Jersey,
feeling, as he has since stated to us chilled, and
with the intention of rowing in it. Kelley then
proceeded to the umpire's steamer, in which Mr.
Biffen was placed, and on being asked by Mr. Bush,
his umpire, what was the matter, stated that Sad-
ler would not start, and was instructed by the re-
feree to go back, and if his antagonist did not start
to row over the course, which, so far as the latter
part of the order was concerned, the champion cer-
tainly lost no time in doing. This appears to us an
unauthorised proceeding and the most unjustifiable
course the referee could possibly have taken. Could
it be right, or just, or proper for the person to whose
experience the interests of both sides were entrusted
to decide, when he was nearly a quarter of a mile
from the place of start, and, on the ipse dixit of
Kelley himself, without communication with Sadler
in any shape or way until after this ridiculous order
had been carried out. The proper course was, for
Mr. Biffen to have at once proceeded in the steamer
to the starting point, or in a boat, of which there
were plenty available, and having cautioned each
man of his intention, had them placed in a suitable
position for starting, and judged for himself where
the fault lay. Sadler had certainly one good
cause of complaint against Kelley, who chose the
Middlesex side of the river, but insisted on placing
himself in such a position near the centre, that
Sadler would have received the wash from the
steamers, which, contrary to the articles, were in
front of him. However, the grievances between
the men would, doubtless, have been overcome
by proper tact on the part of the referee, which,
unfortunately, he did not exercise, and a more un-
toward catastrophe never occurred in the annals
of boat-racing.
Notices have been served on the stakeholder not
to pay over the stakes on the award of the referee,
and legal proceedings are threatened on behalf of
Sadler, who, if law and common sense go together,
will have no difficulty insetting aside the one-sided
decision of the referee.—. Racing Times.