The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-09
AQUATlCS.

Dashing Race ON tho Hudson River Course
Between John Bislin and Nickel for $500
q Side-Bigiin tho Victor.
An event which has for some time kept the boat
ing fraternity on the gut uiue came OF yesterday at
HobOken. The contestants were John Btglin and
John McKel both eld hands at the and the agree
ment was to row nom the Eysan Fields pier to the
ferry pier ct Weehawken. and back, for $500 side In
seventeen foot working boats.
The weather yesterday afternoon was anything
but propitlous Indeed. many '.sports" fsncied the
race OF and did not put IN An appearance. The
steamer Fort Lee, however. started ct four P. NJ.
from the Christopher street pier. having about 400
boating ana betting men on board, with . fair
sprtnkling of the s'rowdy" element. After call at
the Thirty-fOurth street pier the boats head was
turned towards the Elysian Fields. On arriving
there scene OF excitement and disorder rarely
witnessed except at boat races, met the view. The
pier was occupied BY some Loo persons Of all
grades from the broker in Wall street 20 the "bea"
ali hurryng scurrying TO and fro, some trying to get
on BETS others intent on seeing the contestants,
while the majority made the days pleasure and the
occasion o good excuse Tor LOAF The number OF
rowing men present was, however, not up to the
average from the reason Just given that the weather
induced many to believe that the race would be
At q quarter to I'VE. however, the wind dropped
medlsteiy made for the race McKiel's judges were
Blue and Joe Murray. the referee being Mr. r. Eli
OFT. The poats were got out-McKieps being the
mems Of the boat builders art, and the men pre-
pared to strip.
ty.seven years Old, weighs 100 pounds and Is as
straight and strapping an oarsnan as one would
wish to see OF mis- victories on the water column
would DO required to treat on them with justice.
suffce 1t to say that he has never been whipped Is
one of the famous "Biglin Four' and has I'VE
he nS nearly equal ns nO~ed as in
with his brother Barney and Nc Nickel, and passed
the ass w@ es Sasrs
claim Of sfoui,i being sustained Nickel got the
stakes. Barney trained HIM for the present race,
and for the last fortnight John has been doing some
work When stripped he looked well drawn, and
his shoulders and arms were models but his SKIN
% saa asaS many woq%
OF confidence however in the result Of the race and
looked determined and hard.
nine years old, weighs within couple OF pounds OF
Biglin, and has had an experience OF ten years as
boating man, with varied success, having de-
and has received punishment from sew
eral notabilltles in the aquatic world: When
able. he had been trained so fine that the usually
supposed benefits Of training were entirely lost and
aud chest wind. He was, moreover, by no means
confident and seemed reluctant to venture an
At twenty minutes to I'VE O'Clock the men got
into their boats and padded to the starting post,
and at twelve minutes to fve
THE START
was brilliantly erected, McKiel getting away nrst
but In his third stroke nearly lost an oar BY
graceful and artistic. WITH however. defectivs re-
covery. He rows the beau ideal OF Thames stroke,
sweeping the water lightly, featherins ADMIRABLY.
rover, does not feather AZ all, ana 81 the
water and in catching the water lets hts drop
with a. mop very Distressing 70 the dteitan1 oars
and a. as as :.
degrees over the thwart, Taken together McKiei's
style Is that OF the oarsman possessing
Stamina 'n %n. ssin has Wind and c muscle
enough 70 make up for any denciency IN grace Tne
sseam wa was Tot on before the hswss were cast
and roars OF abuse and 0bsceny drowned the cheers
Of the rival partisans AZ last knife applied 70 the
pier and tins boat and we were Oh, and full view Of
va. obtained. p,vn roved In a red and Nickel in
a white guernsey, ana for some minutes it was
doubtful who would take nrst lead MoKtel speedily
s~ a. sns ss SSs S %. al III
ssnss'' and fii 10 'ssn ssssss HIM with
nearly foued Blglin ana McRiel drew three lengths
:u S Su sS on 70 Be
tanced by Mcxiel who Was steadily holding his own
on the coal wharf both men padded for squirt ana
q length Of McKiel, who laid himself out,
| self and hts rival. Time 5h. 5m, with
| betting 20 to as on Bigltn. From the Union HUI
cable crossing and along the marsh 70 he stakeDoa.
ensued seriea OF spurts, Nickel having the best or
IL. although Biglin, who was rowing rather wide,
| left the inside course and took McMiers wa,er'
bringing the boats together but he was again
shaken on and McKel's prospects looked good:
| AT the stone dock Bigltn actually drew ahead
| Of Nickel, but the latter MADE what was
| his last EFFORT and after splendi q
spurt which he ned the lead the two lad out lor
the stakcbOat Biglin leading by half length, winch
he Increased e. he nsared itO three lengths. At the
stakob0at the time was I'm, 1es.. but In rounding