The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-08
AQUATIC.



scullins Match on the Klysian Fields-John A.
Bfgitn vs.. William II. Hayes-Biglin the
Winner.
For several days the aquatic boys of that dreary
part Of Long Island known as Greenpoint and the
same element about the boating district OF New York,
OF which Christopher street is the centre have been
more than usually excited In consequence OF match
race made between the professional oarsmen william
H. Hayes OF the former place. and John A. Biglin OF
the latter These men had rowed together upon two
occasions when the renowned Biglin crew were tn 10
champions OF the North river, and much to the dis
comnture OF Hayes he was beaten In both races.
thinking his skill now was OF a superior nature.
Hayes, with commendabe pluck, desired to meet
Biglin again and thus the race that was rowed yes
terday on the Elysan Fields was the result. The dis
lance was about three miles; the stakes $3.50 aside
Had 1t not been that existed in
the great world OF outdoor pastimes elsewhere,
the Elysian Fieds-which yesterday never better
deserved their nomenclature-would have been
swarmed with dense throng that would have done
the heart OF an old Battery boatman good. AS it
was the group OF old trees that there form pleasant
shady grove sheltered about four hundred persons,
VINO were SO knowing about oars and boats OF all
Shapes and fashions that their explanations to
landsman, when rendered in their favorite verna.
cular was lust as ineligible as II given In Choctaw.
Among this number were several ladies,
Who selecting spots away from the jargon OF
the crowd, looked calmly on the svery sheen
OF dt the water before them, with its many white
sails, It's wherries, sculls and barges, applauding
merr1ly all that deserved recognition.
Az last an excursion boat arrived having hun.
dred or TWO upon Its deck and then the word came
Tor readiness. The judges were selected being
James Biglin for his brother and William. Mosher
io p Hayes, while James Mckay, veteran oarsman,
was asked to fll the position of referee which he
accepted. The toss for places IN starting was won
by Blgn's representative, and the choice Of turn
ing the upper stake boat, situated about twenty
yards south OF Gutenberg DOCK was extended to
tne hayes party, which they accepted, deciding TO
'u AZ .ae Jersey 70 tne New YORK snore
testants appeared on The course Biglin being
dressed in white pants, red shirt and his head
clad in an entire white Dress The boat Of the for
mer was seventeen feet four inches long, had no
three inches in length and bore the of Frances
Ellison. The crowd began to bray as the uplifted
handkerchief hand dropped for them to be away, and
time, pull, pull, you rascal" with other shouts not
In even such choice expressions, mingled with 30
HAYES, remember Staten Island and fix him. The
friends Of Bglin were more sanguine than those OF
his opponent and bets were freely offered with but few
takers Of s2S to 80 that Big would win" The start
were pulled Bigin, with grand, graceful stroke
shot slightly ahead of Hayes and continued it, with
ing between them, by the stupidity OF the crew Of
six-oared boat, Hayes collided with Bgin but this
continued without a word, Biglin coolly pulling
away from his opponent, he seeming nervous and
"waddng about" as Denis Leary, the Yale crew
trainer said In referring to his movements. Pass
ing the dock above the Fields Hayes attempted to
catch favorng eddy near the shore, but lost seve-
raj lengths by this manGuvre.
AS the distance made the men and the boats like
specks on the glowing water the crowd on shore
left the river side, INDUCED in little more betting
but very little drank lager and ate vOracousy OF
sandwiches. 1t was but few minutes when enthu-
siastic shouts the utter OF hats, the shouting OF
men that "Bigs ahead" aroused the more lazy por
ton, and he was seen pulling with the same quiet,
yet graceful sweep, his body well bent to his work,
dashing the clear water in a svery shower from the
delicate Prov OF his boat, fully ten lengths In
advance OF Hayes. IL was palpabe to every
man in the crowd that the race must
be Blglin's, and in another minute with the same
unearthy shouts, the same huggng, he quietly
stopped beside the stakebOat and was officially
claimed the winner; but Hayes, ten lengths behind,
did not flag nor cease his assiduity soon rowing up
to his side. The time as announced was twenty
three minutes and fortynine seconds and the
adjudged three miles, but there is but little unison
In the minds OF boatmen regarding this Christie
pher street slept well last night but Greenpont
tired disappointed, as It's people thought Hayes in