The Portland daily press., 1867-05-24
THE PITTsBURG sCULL RACE.
Return Of Walter Brown.
HIS ACCOUNT OF THE RACE.

Walter Brown, the champion in the great
scull race, at Pittsburg on Tuesday, over Ham
i'll, returned home yesterday, having left Pitts
burg Tuesday night. He was greeted and con-
graduated by his friends and fellow-citizens on
the triumph he had won after SO many obsta-
Giles were thrown in his path. His health is
excellent, though his weight is reduced from
1S9 pounds, what it was when he began train
ing for the race, to 157 pounds. The editor of
the Star, who had an interview with him, OBJ
tanned some particulars that are not published
in the New York account of the race, which
we copy. Says the STAR
He informs us that he found himself as the
time for the race approached, working against
heavy opposition. Hamill was everywhere the
favorite. The DOwn-Easter was sneered at,
and bets were offered and freely taxen on
Hamill, four to one, and in some cases six to
one, that Brown would not show an inch
ahead at any time of the race, and that Hamiil
would lead from the start. The treatment he
received from the sporting community gener-
ally was disgraceful, but he acknowledges the
fidelity of his trainer, Fred Deirst, and Messrs
Fred and Dan Wolff, all German turner's who
stuck to him nobly.
A long and severe training, added to the fact
that he was battling against heavy Odds over
a difficult and tortuous course, somewhat
dampened our champions courage as the time
for the race approached, and he had become
tired and disguised, and longed for the trial to
be over. The start commenced at the bridge
across the Monongahela, three-9uarters of
mile above the mouth of the Allegheny, across
the mouth of that river, which is half a mile
wide, down the Ohio to the stake boat-the
longest two and and a half miles, Mr.. Brown
says, that he ever rowed. The strong and con-
fiictiug currents of the two rivers, and the
croOka.lnasS of tho ,aI-a tha
of the most difficult ones that could have been
chosen in the country.
The race was called for between and 3
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, but was post
poned until o'clock on account on the severe
storm. Immediately after the contestants got
into their boats, the storm, which had lulled
began again with redoubled vigor. Hamill
was the first on the line, and sat muffled in an
overcoat, while Brown, who was lesurely pull
ling up, was exposed to the rain and got COM
pietely saturated. The judges were Robert
Elliot and Daniel Golfer for Hamill, and Jacob
Kenzie and David Lewis for Brown. MIR. p.
Galley referee.
The agreed signal was the words "Are you
ready, followed by pistol shot from one of
Hamills judges. An attempt was made to
give Hamill a stroke advantage by discharging
the pistol after the word "Are," but Brown
anticipated the trick, and both parties took the
water at the same moment. Browns first
stroke put his stern even with HamilPs outrig-
Il,
quickly widened two lengths, when Brown took
Hamill's water. The rowers kept in this posi-
ton until they reached the Allegheny water,
which Brown did not understand. Here Ham
ill came up and Tapped his bow on Brown 5
stern, hanging there until within quarter of O
mile of the stake boat, Hamill trying to crowd
Brown against canal boat ON the Temper
anceville shore.
AS they approached the stake boat Brown
saw that Hamill had tapped in such manner
la fInp Er,Nr
and so deprive him of the right to turn; SO
Brown pulled away two lengths, and when he
was turning, Hamill ran his bow on Browns
stern. Both headed toward the bridge with
the boats locked in the manner described; but
as soon as they were fairly on their course,
HamilPs boat unlocked and Brown pulled
away smartly. Hamll made brush and
brought his bow on Browns stern again, and
both went to the Glass Works in this position;
mile and a half from the bridge.
When the boats separated, one of the crew
drew revolver ON EGO Doa. sa a!RPreatened to
shout him, puI the latter paid no heed, and
when he struck the Monongahela water again
Rrnwn began to widen the gap, and soon left
an opening of six lengths Just then Hamil's
brother hailed him and told him to stop, as
Brown had fouled him, and he was entitled to
the race. Hamill pulled few strokes and
stopped, half mile from the bridge. Brown
then pulled leisurely to the stand and came in
in So IN. 40 sec. He was greeted with tumul-
tuous applause; the feeling which had been so
strong against HIM at the start quickly turning
IN his favor. Mr.. Brown started for home that
night, at 1920, and up TO that time neither
Hamill nor his friends had made any claim
for foul. Whatever TRANSFERRED afterwards
between the representatives of the parties is
not known, only that the award was finally
given where it belonged-to Mr. Brown. He
was appraised of the award Wednesday night,
in New York, by telegraph
The distance from the starting To the stalk q
boat measured two and half miles, in an air
line; but the rapid and strong current, and
the tortuous winding of the channel made a
distance pulled of at least six miles.