The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-19
THE GREAT BOAT RACE.
Contest on The Hudson Between New York and
Poughkeepsic Boats for $1,000.
FEW YORK. vIoTo1Ious
SCENES and INCIDENTS At THE Race,
&C., &C., &C.

One OF the most exciting and most sprtedy contested
aquatic races ever witnessed In America took place
yesterday at Poughkeepsie the Hudson between the
New York boat Samuel Colyer and the Poughkeepsie
boat Floyd T. Fields The former was manned by
Dennis Leary stroke; John Bign, James H. Bglin ana
Bernard Bigln, bow. The OF the Fields were william
Stephens stroke; Homer woodin, William Burger and
Ezekiel Beneway bow The race waA for $4,000 q side,
i've miles meeting the night previous to the race,
at the Exchange House, the following gentlemen were
selected as judges For the New York boat c. B. Elliott
and P. H. Pickett; for the Poughkeepsie boat William
Denning and Isaac H Wood Referee, Charles Gausman
Both crews well known in sporting circles and
have generally borne OF the palm from all other compe
tors Odds very much In favor Of the Poughkeep
SIC men, account Of their having beaten the same
crew Qeary excepted), the same course last year.
until the last Fourth of July regaas The victory Of
the Bgns Boston and the defeat Of the others at
Newburg changed opinion, and since then the New
Workers became the favorites Both crews underwent
thorough and rigid Of training and appeared in
splendid condition The boats also were quite new, the
dark color Of the Colyer distinguishing IL from It's oppo
nent They were ploted the course by tho Stranger
Gersch Bancker and two other boats whose names we
could not learn.
Poughkecpsie has probably never such con.
course of visitors assembled within its limits crowded
the high banks near tho Of the contest No less
than ten thousand spectators lined the shore between
the stakeboats, which anchored the middle OF
the stream al distance OF two miles and half from
each other In consequence Of the rued state OF the
water from the smart breeze that blew from the south
east the deferred till past five o'clock During
the interim betting went on quite briskly The friends
on either side seemed equally strong and the bets
were nearly even on both boats, The morning train
from Albany brought down large number Of visitors
from Canada West and the day boat Chauncey Vibbard
that started from New York in the morning. had three
hundred POughkeepse passengers on board The sport
ing celebrities out full force and the light fin
gered gentry numerously represented Some serious
rows took place ON the Poughkeepss police attempting
ceived rough handling. With the exception OF half
dozen bruised physognomies developed bumps and the
splitting Of quantity Of claret other injuries were re-
ceived. It said that one seriously stabbed
In the melee The appearance of reinforcemens restored
order.
At sixteen minutes past five the signal given from
the lower stakeboat pistol fred, and the rival cham
pions shot from the starting point The scene was
sakeboat seemed Of human beings, and the river
swarmed with craft Of every description. Barges pro-
water as far a, the eve could reach. The Collyer
took the lead from the start and never lost It,
The distance between both boats was half q
length until they reached the upper stake boat.
On rounding, however the Colyer had the advantage,
and shot around her homeward course about half
dozen lengths before the boat The latter
struggled hard in the middle OF the stream against wind
and lido TO cut OF the New York crew. but In van The
Coyer by huggng the shore closely met comparatively
smooth water and II was apparent that the Fields
could not recover her lost ground Her crew made a
gallant struggle however and beaten only by two
lengtn3. COyer came IN VlCtOr NJ HJy-iOur
past Ave. having passed tho two and half mile stake
boat at thirty -four minutes past five.
The exact time Of the race was thiry-seven minutes
and twenty seconds
Three deaening rounds Of cheers rent the sky when
the Colyr reached the sakeboat and the pistol shot
announced her victory.
The Poughkecpse crow are all coopers, and in
their trade exercised In rowing the action OF thu
arms being the same
During the race q named Corwin, from Ncwburg
fell overheard from one OF the propeers and was res
cucd, in sinking condition, by fellow citizen Of hi
named Alexander Leslie, who sprang into the water ae
| him. They were both picked up almost ex
hausted by the propeller Nothing of interest occurre
after the race except the clongation Of certain coun
and the Frightening up Of others who had bot
the Issue Our thanks duo tn Captain Richard
the propeller General Sheridan for courteses extended
CHALLENGE.
Mr. Hutchinson Of this city. has given chaleng
70 Mr. HammilI. Of Pittsburg 10 him five OF ter
mile race the Schuylki river for from THOUSAND
TO five thousand dollars SIDE each 10 pay his owl
expenses Hammill IL said TO be the champion boatuar
OF tho Uned States having participated in several hart
contested the Schuyikill river The race II u
believed will DO of the most exciting OF the kn'
ever known on the Schuykill.