The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-02
ROWING.
The Race for the Championship Of Enginnd.

James Renf0rth OF Newcastle, VINO was unnearu Vi
in rowing circles until the present year. is now the
champion OF the Tyne. OF the Thames OF all Eng
land and OF the world. The decisive race took place
to-day over the course from Putney to Mortlake,
and the time made was the fastest on record.
1t Is not too much to say that the future OF pro-
fessional rowing in England depended upon the
manner in which this race was conducted. The fact
that Sader and Kelley had gone into the courts to
decide the result Of their match in 1857 threw
gloom over all rowing races Men did not care to
train nor to bet nor to hold stakes when 1t was
probable that the losers would 60 to law Conse-
quently the noble sport which had been raised TO
such popularity by Robert Chambers was fast falling
into something IKE contempt This race has re-
deemed 1t, however 1t was fair race, fairly con-
tested, fairly won, fairly lost and there will ne no
appeal from the decision OF the referee.
The crowd at Putney to-day was not SO great as Is
usual at such first class races, on account Of the
elections which In progress all over the country
Nevertheless, about twenty thousand persons as
sembled on the banks OF the river, and there were
eight steamers, loaded down to the waters edge with
spectators that followed the rowers. The race was
for EGO side and the Championship, and was
rowed over what is called the University course,
distance OF about four miles. The tide was at It's
hood when the men started and materially assisted
them in making their extraordinary time. The day
was cold and chceress, with dull, leaden sky and
slight fog, but with high wind interfere with the
rowing. Both Renforth and Kelley had been prac-
Using over the course for week past, and had
taken gentle exercise pull early in the morning.
The betting before the start was nve 20 Tour on
Kelley, the sporting men having been deceived by
the short stroke which Reniorth Aad assumed III
training.
/. At the bow Of the umpire's steamer, or Putney
pier found Mr.. j. Ireland, OF the London Rowing
Club, who had been selected to act as referee, and
In whom had been vested despotc power as regards
the management OF the race. stout, stern gentle
man, with face strongly resembling that OF Louis
Napoleon Mr.. lreland's character and appearance
gave additional emphasis to ms declaration that
unless everything was conducted fairly he
would at once stop the race. Presently MIR. Busch,
quiet, gentlemanly looking man and the principal
hacker OF Kelley, sided through the crowd to the
and towering above the crowd came Mr.. James
Taylor, tall, rough, ungainy Northcountryman,
cane. This was the principal hacker OF Renforth.
Taylor took out shilling and threw It into the air
.Heads" called Mr.. Busch. The coin turned up
'tails." "Renfortn has won the toss, aud that's
another point for us, boysn shouted Mr.. Taylor az
he retired to signal for his man.
The river was now alive with all sorts Of craft,
from rowboats to steamers; but clear course for
the rowers was Kept, the police having threatened
the captains with heavy penalties they inerfered
low the racers and, In technical phrase, 'show
upn the course, now came alongside the steamer.
Harry ClaSper, OF the best rowers ana best pilots
the river kneit In the bow OF Renoth's boat and
Drewitt appeared as the pilot OF Kelley. The duty
OF these men was TO follow tne racers very closely
avoid oDstructiOns and make the best OF the Tide
and currents. When the result OF the toss was
known Harry Clasper ut once chose the Mddlesex
side for Renlorth Then, amid great cheering the
contestants for the championship were seen putting
Off from the shore and rowing leisurely up TO the
referee.
Rcnlorth came first, wearing req cap, which he oc
casionaly waved In response to the sautatons ofhs
friends short thickset man, with broad nat face,
he looked more ike pugilist than rover He Is only
twenty-seyen years OF age and ~ Newcastle man by
birth and pnddler or lronionnder, by trade. Until
some small matches on the Tyne. Then he was
brought up to take part In the Thames regatta, and;
TO eyerybody's surprise, ne beat Perry who mad
beaten Kelley In the trial heat and Sader who had
been regarded az Aeileys only rival. Evidently he
had extraordinary strength but tho critics found
guised during training, and they also doubted his
staying powers. lie sat low down in his boat took
the water with quick, nrm stroke, but rounded
stead OF squaring his back as he bent forward. Still,
nobody could doubt that he would prove formd-
ders, splenddly deyeloped muscles aud easy, conf
dent or raised the betting to even.
When Kelley came out there was n loud shout OF
welcome KELLEY wore a blue cap and seemed tho
very picture or u rover. Nothing could BIO more
lection OF rowing. Kelley Is thrty-seyen years OF
are, ten years older than Renforth. Until nine years
ago he held the championship undisputed Then
Robert Chambers, who, ike Renforth, was u Tyne
man and pIddler by trade defeated Kelley over the
Putney course. In 1865, however, Kelley defeated
Chambers and won back the laures he had lost. In
1866 Hamiil, of Pittsburg - the Newcastle OF
America--crossed the ocean 10 meet Kelley, but was
easily beaten "a two matches: Then Kelley an
nounced his retirement from sthc river, but after
Chambers had defeated Sadler and again claimed
the championship Kelley resumed the oars and
gave Chambers another beating. In 1867 Sadler
challenged Kelley, and the race was marred by d
foul The referee ordered II TO be rowed again, but
sadler did not start owing TO some mislnderstand.
ing and the matter cast In the courts, where IL
Is still undecided. In personal appearance Kelley
very much resembles General Grant, but differs FROM
him In this ono respect-ne has been defeated.
few minutes after three O'Clock the racers
stripped to their drawers. "iou have lost the Toss,
HarTy,n called out Kelley's hacker. That's
Epnvfs cheerful rrenOnep which
greeted with a shout or approval. The two boats
took their places and were held by the starters,
all the steamers Keeping In the rear Both men bent
their broad, bare backs for the stroke. The pilot
boats assumed their positions. Make rea1yp'
cried the referee. Are you ready" ne asked; Bota
the referee. and OF they went with even start
could be desired. Then the crowd cheered, the bells
through the water the bands struck up and the most
painful excitement prevailed. The racers rowed so
asl ,ne er shsad and BEGAN
shut out the view. After the first two miles Of the
race the referee saw IA little Of the rowing az any
outsider, but he knew that the kept clear
and rom the relative positions Of the men there was
probability Of foul In fact, Renforth was ahead
the whole distance, aud Kelly, In spite OF his utmost
exertons never had chance OF winning Renforth,
rowing within himself and reserving mis- strength
for q anal cash. u necessary, won with the utmost
minutes and forty seconds-a minute less than the
great time made by Chambers. He could have
beaten man Of one.third more speed than Kelley II
Starting even, Renfortn ran his boat foot ahead
IN the rst quarter Of mile. At the end Of the first
mile he showed clear length in advance. Then,
in obedience to his backers he pulled across Keey's
bow, took his water and gave hun the back wash.
Kelley put squirt To prevent this, but Renforth,
waiting patiently till Kelleys steam was gone, In
creased his distance rapidly. Az Hammersmith
bridge Kelley made another enort put win tne SAINT
length to two then to two and half then TO three,
and the word was passed from shore TO steamer,
"Renforth wins, bar accdent.n There was no acci-
dent aud Renforth won. Rowing easily and with
strokes as long and sweeping as kelleys own, he
astonished even his hackers by his wonderful ease
When he made a squirt his speed reached the I'M
paralleled number OF flfty strokes minute, He did
not dip his oars deeply as Kelley aud he put on his
strength at the first part OF the stroke instead OF the
last, as Kelley does. His back seemed rounded, but
perhaps that was the fault OF his prominent muscles.
At any rate II did not detract from his speed. He
did not hold his elbows close to his side az Kelley,
and therefore looked more awkward. But no won.
lt was youth against age, strength against style,
nature against art and Renf0rth passed the winning
post nve clear lengths In front OF ms opponent.