The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-22
AQUATIC.

|
The International Boas Rare NJ Springfield
Mas.-The Feur-Oared Championship Of tho
World Awarded to the 81. Johns Cres~-The
| Ward Brothers BADLY Beaten.
| SPRINGFIELD. Mass, Oct n, 1863.
| Abiding by the result Of the great international
f0uroared boat race in this city to-day the United
States are obliged 10 yield the championship OF the
world 10 the British provinces. The ward brothers-
those celebrated knights of tho oar-have, strange ~
/ II may seem, been vanquished on American waters
They have seldom before, been defeated; hut
] In the famous ST. Johns New Brunswick men they
have found more than their match. This victorious
crew. it will be recshed is the same one which par
ticipated in the lare International rowing match In
Paris on which OCCASION to an expressive term,
! IL .reas all CREATION and OF course the assumed
title Of the champion fOuroare crew OF the world
Justly belonged them until thew found more than
their equals. The Wards-Josh, Gil, Charley and
Hcn-reJ0cing In the. distinction OF the four-oared
champions or America sought to make themselves
more famous in profession which they have fol-
lowed from boyhood, and they accordingly challenged
the champions OF the globe for six mile race, the
winning honors 10 be purse of $1,000 t$1 500 q
side, and the championship OF the world. The pro-
vlncial crew accepted and the came on on the
Connecticut river, opposite this city. to-day, the
Wards being backed by Charles A. Peverelly and
Charles Moore, OF New York, and the So Johns crew
by Charles 4. Potter and sheriff James A. Harding,
Of st. Johns.
A contest between two crews so celebrated and
each having 80 many c0nfdents, of course excited
great interest among all admirers Of aqnaria eAer
cises, and in fact among the whole sporting ffater
nifty. The citizens Of the distant province secuted
the idea OF having the championship wrested from
them, and the admirers Of the Wards were not less
modest In asserting the certainty of their TRIUMPH
and II that the friends of both the com
petitive crews came in great numbers and from long
distances TO witness the contest and to back their
respective opinions with numerous and liberal
wagers. Both crews arrived here week or more
since and We're accompanied or followed Immediately
after by their hackers and friends. Notwithstanding
the oarsmen had for a couple or months been In
training they have nevertheless made i daily habit
! their brief sojourn here previous to the race
The crowds who came to the city yesterday and TO-
day 10 witness the contest were industri0usly en-
gagged IN pr0caiming their views upon the merits
| and dement's OF the respective crews around the
hotels, but there was very little it. in fact any bet
ting until an hour or TWO before the competitors APP
peared in their boats Tho best explanation OF this
| Is, perhaps, the fact that there was considerable
| Ward crew seemingly beng the stumbling block TO
any selection winch the others interested in the race
could unite upon. This hitch In the arrangements
influenced many to believe that il was possible the
Wards intended to throw the race and there
are many who Lost money on them who still cherish
this belief but II IL but fair the defeated crew
gay that those who profess to know state that the
contest was an honest one and that the race was III
every respect honestly conducted. Wilbur Bacon Of
| New Haven was the first man united upon for a
referee; hut II Was subsequently asceraned that he
was N New York and could not reach here in time,
y,
N Y, the stroke oar Of the Yale University OF
1865, was chosen In his stead. The board OF judges
was then ma lie up ny the selection Of Il. Hashagnau
oil the Union Boat Club OF New York, and TIN bono
hoe, Of Newburg. for the Ward crew, and stephen
h,ng ana Charles 4. Potter, o. St Johns for INC
onicated at the upper stake ana the other gentlemen
| at the starting point.
These and other preliminaries were all completed
at about TWO O'Clock, aud at this moment the clouds
which had been threatening demonstration ali the
day. made good their promise, TO the exceeding dis
the shores OF the river to witness the great inter-
fortified with umbrellas, however, and the unfortu
nate ones who were not preferred drenchng rather
than miss the struggle which they were eager to
| witness without much delay the competing
| appeared. the provincials coming first and the
| Wards soon after and each being loudly cheered
| they passed along the line OF the crowd. The 1t.
Johns crew was by far the most promising looking
! In point of muscle and other qualities which go to
make good oarsmen but when the past achieve.
remained at par in spite OF the superior physical
celience Of their rivals. Their appearance was Of
course the signal for the sporting men along the
! banks 10 announce their opinions and betting
ut once lively all through the crowd. Those VINO
believed in the ability Of The St. Johns to win
formy cautious not to oner any odds on their favo.
rites, and equally shrewd to catch up any man who
offered odds on the Wards. As q general thing,
however, the betting was nearly even until after the
Isbe% nv we hsndnerchas f crew Was hes s ca
ering and the other crew by red ones
The shell used by the Wards was the one in
which they had hall dozen times been victor iOus,
and forty-six feet and four inches in length and
weighed l40 pounds. The st. Johns crew. made mp
of i. Fulton tstroke. Elijah Ross, Samuel Hutton
and George Price, pulled In boat OF fortyeigh
feet In length, nineteen inches in width and weigh
ing la0pounds.
| The competitive crews pulled out upon the course
AZ about quarter TO three and the signal for start
Ing was given five minutes later amid the hurrahs
aud cheering II the multitude The Wards did their
best al the very beginning and during the first
dozen or fifteen strokes seemed almost 10 leap IRON
the surface ~ the river BY such vigorous
application Of the oars they took the
lead OF their competitors nearly boats
length but when they had gone about 900
yards the long, steady and powerful stroke of the
\ provinciais began TO tell on them and the Ward
stock went down and that OF their rivals correspond
lnyly M. The bets were two 10 one against them,
hut there was no lack OF takers until after the st.
/ Johns crew hal gained couple OF lengths or more.
Then the odds about Ave 10 one IN favor of the
metals. aud stl there takers, the hac
Of the Wards taxing the chances OF an accident or
possible foul which might give them victory. In
! turned bend OF the river, which OBJ
| siructed the view ol the spectators until their
arrival at The same point coming down. During all
tins interval the betting wasaciye but the odds were
greatly IN favor Of the ST. Johns crew. When at
length the boats came In sight the return the
tory OF the proyincials was forcgone conclusion,
and there was at intense cheering among their
friends, and brass band stationed the bank
congratulated them with their national air Of 'God
save the Queen" They pulled by the judges
Wards, making the six miles In thirty nine minutes
and twenty-eight and three-quarter seconds, and
were accordingly awarded the championship OF the
world and the purse OF a., 900. The ward Brothers
came IN exactly one minute later, and through Josh
accepted of their defeat gracefully and cougra-
tulated their successful rivals.
Previous 10 the International race there was
single wherry race Of two miles between John Nc
Keel. OF Cold Spring, \. ". and John O'Neil. vi
| Springfield which won by the former In ixteen
| minutes aud i've ana hree-quarter seconds.
|
| DARING pnRpepY AVN