The Sun.
London, England, 1845-11-27 00:00:00

GREAT SKIFF RACE ON

TYNE—VICTORY OF CLASPER. ent'
The feat skiff race between Harry Clasper, of Paolo
haugh, and Pocock of London, for 100/. a-side, cone soil
which an unusual degree of interest has been excited Ors'
of
time among the lovers of aquatic sports, c'art3e
0, of
on Tuesday on the Tyne, and resulted in fe-c°
Clasper, who won by a distance of several hundred Y5O
The occasion, as might be expected, caused an 10ti
turn-out of spectators, both on land and water. Tbsoll
bridge, long before the expected time of starting, was yet for
crowded, while multitudes lined both sides of the fil'theta
several miles upwards. The steamers, too, of whii.:l2 spr
was about a dozen, were filled, even to inconvenience"-
toted
cial trains, carrying hundreds of passengers, also sii,lstr'
from both the Gateshead and the Forth stations of tine
castle and Carlisle Railways. bigh
The time fixed for starting was half-an-hour before:tor
water, and the distance agreed on was four and three- Berk
miles—from the Tyne Bridge to Leamington Glass-,hicb
The weather was favourable, if we except the wind' 01 a
blew rather strongly from the north-west, and Ca ,dais
heavy swell in the river. Shortly after twelve 'riser,
Clasper entered his skiff from the south side of the t for
at the east end of Pipewellgate, and rowed eib°oottsleA
fifteen or twenty minutes, till Pocock, whose skiff was Li% titeas
in front of the Mansion-house, followed. At tutcitielk
the river and the bridge presented a most e'
and interesting scene. Clasper's boat, which witsresea
more than twenty-nine feet in length, and el":cji a
light, seemed to dance on the water hic, ,sh-- fest!
manner as to excite fears for its safety. °II' roig'
however, proved groundless, for the brave fora
and ingenious builder had so covered it, h°i'Doceli
and aft, and even where he was seated, that scorlf
any water entered. The London boat sroakaitifal„
two feet longer than Clasper's, and of exceedinglYl;sset;
mould and construction ; but, owing to its not being eu"-t off'
well covered to prevent the ingress of water, it WO cool'
seen to occupy a disadvantageous position Ifbeicost of
pared with its rival. Both men, on rowing ineio'
the bridge, seemed in excellent condition, and efltia';'seiek
prepared for the contest. On the previous eLere t°
they had " tossed " for the side of the river theY.Z. side;
occupy, when Clasper fortunately gained the north or 7-„d se'
This circumstance, coupled with the state of the gat°
weather, effected a material change in the betting, liodsi
the odds in favour of Clasper. Parties who on Oast
night had backed Pocock freely gave five to four on 0 mil
on the following morning; and the latter may be said t I
been the general rate of betting previous to the start., so.
The referees were—John Rayne, Esq., for Pococ%rsior
David Gaddy, Esq., for Clasper, and the umpire, Johnla/sort
Esq. These gentlemen were on board the Twilight sis
which followed the boats the entire distance. roct'ci
About half-past twelve o'clock, both Clasper and vide,
rowed alongside each other, a few yards above the isoeb
and without any signal, made a fair start amid tie
deafening shouting and cheering of their respect/14A of
Pocock at once shot a-head about a boat's length, aP"itoe°
tained his position till near the Mansion:de
when Clasper advaneed, and, after keeping sib's!) °
side with his opponent for a few minutes, distanced t 001
the Shot-tower, by several yards. The race It of
time was the finest possible. Both men pullet. toots
fully and skilfully ; and contrary to c
is'lseist
a
Pocock again gained on Clasper, and kept up vst,,'"„-e cio'
a little, till, unhappily, the boats, which were- rutin.'"
to the river. side, "fouled." it
On re-starting, Pocock took the lead and maintaine- ()self
the Herd's-house, where Clasper overtook him, and I°o'
"fouling" took place among some wooden piles. obi
was the leader once more, followed hard by Cla.sper,Wlicitr,
displayed his extraordinary powers in a manner that e_de
one universal shout of applause from the thoptssa
witnessing the scene. Here, indeed, the }orb
of both men seemed to be better tested than at gl took
part of the race. Pocock, as we have already star ea' gt;
the lead after the second "fouling ;" but Clasper, hates. a".;
his mettle fairly to the test, 'gradually lessened Os;
tance between himself and his opponent, et"flstery
near Elswick-house, darted before him in the most toe
and beautiful style imaginable. This sudden cheollosllt
the position of the boats may be said to have vin
decided the contest. Pocock's boat was evidently fi,,;
water, and moved less swiftly, although he pulled wit' jowls'
power and skill for which the Thames boatmen are
celebrated. Clasper was now fully fifty or sixty las? %.
advance, and slowly, but surely, increasing the: o,
between him and his opponent. Pocock, see'lls'sre op'
and fearing he might be swamped, pulled on 0".-t ott,'
posite Elswick-house, and, after emptying his b° d' Ate
almost filled with water, again resumed the oars, anal, )71
r
indomitable perseverance and ability, struggled Wlll4O/0,
effort, however, was a hopeless one. Clasper mats Watt
his advanced position, and, for a long part of trot-
was about a quarter of a mile beyond his un,iog 4
opponent. Both pulled energetically • but, 0- rasa
the distance between them, the interest in ttblaeo7,o
seemed now to have materially lessened, and 110
heard but loud and enthusiastic congratulations on .th tef
success. The keelmen in their boats floating downer flitle,sej
tide cheered and shouted lustily ; while, from eitilrob
the river loud prolonged applause rose from the vice:
multitudes, who appeared in ecstaeies at the 005,
of the worthy son of old father Tyne• o'cloess
reached Leamington at five minutes past 00 ilereio'g
running the entire distance in thirty-five minutes. case
turned and rowed back to meet Pocock, and en eat"
alongside the two rivals shook hands. Pocock then stet*
board one of the steamers which had sailed afternteseseS;
and returned to Newcastle. Clasper rowed home t° Me°
}laugh, whither he was followed by his enthusiastic
and admirers. t 0 Aie
The result of this contest, it is almost unnecessary is
excited the most lively feelings of joyous satisfactitiin
town and neighbourhood. Young and old seemed "s;sioe
with the victory achieved by this now unrivalled chinecet,
aquatic sports. The fact of the Tyne having' es slrt.
time vanquished the hitherto unconquerable 1"8 sesse
peered to afford an unusual degree of pleasure to treat
ing circles of our "canny" town. The amount .derlv.
changed hands in betting is said to be very croito Itsee
We heard of one stake, probably the highest, of irv-
in favour of Clasper. We are certainly within the insil oe
we say that from 3,000/. to 4,0004 changed bows
occasion.
4A

last
ibe
FLOATING BREAKWATER.-013 Monday for a.
African (Government steamer) arrived off Brigh,tn,,, brerof
purpose of removing the sections of Captain Taylor ooreu
water, which for the last twelve months has beenincater. c,
Aldrington, by way of testing its merits as a brea,'„est
the afternoon of Monday the steamer towed the iit'g apt
tion of the three to the mouth of Shoreham 118,hr 07 ;flap,
owing to a vessel having become jammed iet ryes
0' ;be
obliged to leave the section for the night tied OA 'joke, the
piers. During the night a gale sprang up, :00 °_,`'°o;
section away, and on Tuesday afternoon it oun"„,d du.:ted
opposite Bedford-square, where it was left high
led
the beach. On Wednesday thousands of spelling coire-i•e
the spot. The section is but slightly injured, but es• for
with a variety of sea-weeds, muscles, and WO-
40,tw0 . bar-
understand that a company is in the process of fth
the purpose of applying the principle to the nuddrit,
bour at Brighton.

.........w,mm,.................,
_------
WV
BIRTHS. 1000
On the 10th inst., at Wirkworth, the wile of the Re/' tree'
bersty, M.A., of a daughter. gaunt.'
On the 22d inst., the lady of Thomas Peregrine, E°4" Botha'
Grosvenor-square, of a daughter. el de P
Lion
On the 22d inst., In Piccadilly, the lady of Baron
JoU'
child, of a son 30°'
On the 22d inst., in Montague-place, Russell-siltlore,
~..ktef,
Scargill, of a daughter. 0.1.
re, °f 8 dY °I.
On the 25th inst., Mrs. C. Rivington, Queen-sclu,,k the 111
,)(
On the 25th inst., at Sussex House, Hammeronutb.
net'
Forbes Winslow, of a son. arch
On the 1
25th inst., the lady of Mr. dames CsP°
Dyer's-buildings, Holborn, of a daughter u

9 •
DIED. aged 6 ips
On the 23d inst., at Battersea-rise, Charles Wix, ~E..",„.' of 14
On the 23d inst., at Dalston, J. L. Woodhouse, .-,'' oe,'
jesty's Customs, London. Oreee, On juts the 12tb inst., at Fern Hous, Wilts, Thomas
narlett• '''' e
On the 15th inst., at Detmolde, in GermanY, --„„ aryl
Baroness von Donato, widow of G. W. Baron von pone' v,ifc ,
On the 18th inst., at Wirksworth. Margaret Emma, or,
Rev. Nathan Hubbersty, M.A. ._,,g,
.‘"ro-r,..-
On the 2lst inst., at GrandJunction-teraace, Edge - OF
Hester Hannah Reynolds, aged 88. uff Stee-Or,
~. of
On the 22d inst., in Oxford-terrace, Hyde-park, ' Impel..
On the 23d inst., John Burnell, jun., Esq., of liniltec „no ,
ar3f Y,
..• 0,
On the 23d inst., at Westwood Hall, near Leeds,
Benjamin Gaskell, Esq., aged 63.
,Toi o°w' f
f 9
On the 23d inst., Adeliza, eldest daughter of Mr.- -in • roc,
King-street, St. James's-square. moy, tti
On the 24th inst., in Upper Koanington-lane, re'
the late Jonathan Young, Esq. t-g° IV'
, "ingto Pi .r.l'
On the 24th inst., W. Windle, Esq., of Upper n-e" t Pr' 119'
On the 24th inst., at Hastings, Henry, the infant sOVIOIIIO s
On the 24th inst., at Newington-place, Kennington. flit
lug, Esq., aged 68. lA"'
On the 24th inst., in Surrey-place, Old Kent-road I
Bastow, widow of T. Bestow, Esq.
On the 25th inst., C. A. Sturgeon, Esq. gl4'
On the 25th inst., at Turnhatn•green, Frederick Gibso,l, /6,
On the 25th inst., at Turnham-green. Mr. T. Bul a
; gv"
At North Brixton, Henry Brandon, Esq., aged 5'
o.l°. lit
...................... eifSl
rtirela, Fre ntr
London : Printed anal Published by MURDO Y""Thstlll„yeit''
Strand, Printer, at The Sus Office, No. 112, Strand9i P.'"
of the Savoy, In the County Of Mlddleees, Thutili w'
27, 1846.