The New York herald., 1869-04-28
AQUATIC.
inauguration Of the Boating SensOn-Scuilirg
Match on the EIysian Fieids-Wm. Ii. Hayes
VS.. James Shenn-Hayes nm Easy Winner.
APRIL 81, 1869.

Inauguration Of the Boating Senson-Scuilire
Match on the Elysan Fieids-Wm. III. Hayes
VS.. James Shenn-Hayes nm Easy Winner.
boat race between VIM. II. Hayes, OF the Green
point locality, and James Shean OF Harlem, took
place yesterday in the North river, off the Elysan
Fields. The distance was five miles and the stakes
were 5000 side
At three O'Clock two excursion boats almost I'M
comfortably filled with the respective friends OF the
principals, came wheeling to the battle ground,
when the word came for READINGS. The
judges were soon selected, being John Blue
OF the west side. and Billy Rives for
Hayes, and James Mckay and John Shean for
Harem's favorite Dennis Leary consented to
act as referee. The toss for positions in starting
was won by Hayes representative, and'the manner
Of turning the upper stakeboat, situated about q
quarter Of a mile above the dock at Guttenburg was
decided to be from west to east.
Shean is quite veteran oarsman twenty three
years of age, five feet eleven inches height, and
weighs about 155 pounds He was provided with q
boat seventeen feet three inches in length four feet
four inches In breadth and in weight thirty pounds
Hayes OF similar renOwn with the ashen blades,
differs but little from his defeated antagonist being
five leet ten lncnes In height, and Weighing 1853
pounds He is twenty-eight years Of age and most
OF this period has been passed upon the water His
boat, the Janette, skif, in winch he has won as
well as lost several ln Is seventeen feet five
inches long, four feet i've inches wide and weighs
AT five O'Clock the boats shot into position oppo-
site the lower stake boat, anchored the Morris
and Essex Railroad dock.
AT twelve minutes past five O'Clock the CHEEKY ref
cree cried CO." and four ashen oars bent double
and the crowd Drayed aloud at the sight The friends
Of Hayes were very enthusiastic as they saw him
gradually leave his opponent, and became wild as
that lead was increased perceDtibly before half
mile was passed over. Bets were freely offered
on him at 500 to $40. Both contestants
pulled with grand, graceful stroke, and continued
boat OF Shean's, it was clearly to he seen, not
fit for him to pull in, and would prove his defeat,
which 1t did The wind was from the souths south
east. favOring, as was the nOOd tide, In pulling up
the river, but both OF these elements told feariuy
against them upon the return, although the fresh
breeze moderated as the sun went down, Passing
the upper stakeboat, Hayes led his antagonist fully
twelve seconds, and increased it every time his
blades entered the water.
AS the distance to the irst turning point made the
men and boats appear ike spccks the water, the
land party left the side and ndulged in little
more bautering drank lager, AMI ate voraciousy OF
H0boken sandwiches. 1t was but few minutes,
when the quieter ones, who were strainlnQ their
eyes to detect the first glimpse Of the incoming
rowers, shouted "Hayes aheadn which aroused
them, and, rushing TO convenient standponts,
enough there was the red Shirt pulling quiet,
graceful sweep, and his body bent to his wOrS, the
tiny craft dashing the clear water sllvery shower
from its delicate PROV, fully quarter of q mile in
that Hays must win the race; and then in a second
there was more unearthly shouting, more hugging
more coarse laughter as he passed the stake boat ana
was officially announced as the winler. Time-fity-
four minutes and fifty seconds Shean, Keeping up
his s.rose, followed about q minute afterward.