The New York herald., 1869-07-04
Working and Shell Boat Races Columbia
County Wins the W orixing Boat Race and
Nickel the Shell.

uckAIei the smell.
HUDSON July 8, 1860.
The regatta here to-day attracted a fair attend
ance from points along the Hudson. though not so
many as were promised by the hlgh-sounding bills.
The fact s, Hudson does not amount TO much so far
as boat racing is concerned. few get together
talk boats and boating, drink bad whskey and offer
TO bet dollars which they don't possess and that's
about all. The affair had been advertised for over
two weeks, but the people looked upon it with sus-
picion; hence 1t was not extensively patronized.
The first was put down as the
Greene and Columbia county race persons from no
other county being allowed to enter. The only en-
tries for that affair John alias Jockey, Best
OF Hudson, Columbia county, and John L. Myers
Jr., OF Coxsackie Greene county. The competitors
were to row in working boats distance of two miles
and half north, turn buoy and return. As the dis
tance included a detOr around what is known as
the Middle Ground 1t was increased nearly three
quarters OF mile. Well, at eleven A. M. "Jockeyu
Best appeared in his boat, fine looking craft he
thick necked, swarthy appearing individual, middle
aged. ana wearing deyll-may-eare look Mus.
to make a good rover. he sat his boat well
however, and Columbia county backed him heavily
with advice, but no dollars. John l.. Myers, his
rival, halls from CoXsackie where darkes grow to
seven feet some inches IN height. He Is very puny
in appearance, and like the boys Of this last age
already bears the marks OF hard usage in "crows'
feec' upon his haggard countenance. He is all
pluck, however: but at the first strip" his general
lack OF muscular development prejddged the race.
His boat, too, was not 10 be compared with "Jock
ey's" the latter handling trim-looking craft. Soon
alter eleven A. NJ. the judges-Frank Pierce OF Iud-
son, and John M. Van Loan OF Coxsacke-were in
their boats, while BENJAMIN Ray, him who had much
to do with the hanging or Joseph Brown, the Ca
naan child murderer. acting as referee, also occu-
pied prominent position. AS soon as the
rival rowers were we'll IN line they got
the word nicely "Jockev Best,n as was Anticipated
jumping right away from the Greene county boy at
the start, when II was Immediately discovered he
must win. HIS friends cheered HIM wildly, but your
correspondent did not consider the race worthy a
cheer 1t was all onessided The CoXsackie lad,
heroicany plucky, pulled with all his might, but
winning the race In forty-siX minutes and ffty-two
seconds, Myers coming In long way behind in ffty-
five minutes and thirty seconds. There was iaint
cheering for Jockey, which should have been sup
pressed; 1t was no victory: simply great big over
grown man saughterlng an infant Drinks
TWO p NJ, when the second race OF the day came on
the tapis- This was open TO all comers, ana, az The
Hudson Register expressed II, IN single ''skull,
smell boats over the same course of the morning.
There were only two entries and they both from
down the river, VIZ: John McKiel OF Cold Spring,
and William stevens, OF Poughkeepse. Both were
In excellent trim, but stevens boat was twice as
heavy McKiel's, while the fral craft OF the latter
looked as II pun from small pair OF bellows
would blow 1t over. stevens, however, powerful
and muscular indeed, kept an eye TO the windward
before ne got into his boat, and Observing that the
WIND was breeZlng up took heart, knowing that his
boat was better In sea than McKiel's.
AT quarter past TWO Tue Judges, all rom HUDSON,
together with the referee, In position and the
contestants IN line, when a pistol shot from the
Judges boat started them. Away tney new stevens
pulling strongly ana going 10 the lead right Off with
MS rival rowing vigorously. On they went like
frightened deers TO the upper stakeboat Mckiel
hanging on his opponent like leech Stevcns round
ing the upper buoy two lengths advance In twenty
minutes. Coming down the river the WIND blew
freshly, totally prohibiting good time being
made. For two miles did Stevens vainly
endeaver 10 increase the gap between bIs
and McKie's boat, but the wiry hero OF the
Highlands hung 70 HIM persistently and when
they turned the lower buoy Stevens careiessly
made WIDER detoor than was SAFE when McKiei
taking the advantage in at glance, made a rafting
dash and, amid cheers, passed 10 the lead. Then ne
had hia man. All hope for Stevens was gone, Nc.
kie winning by four lengths In forty-three minutes
aud ten seconds stevens time being forty min
ues and 1fy seconds. But very little money changed
hands, Detters generally looking with suspicion on
the affair. Taking the strong wind into consIdera-
ton the time was certainly good. McKiel left here
at four p. NJ, with James DE Laney for Bos-
ton, taking his boat with him shell
boat race is on the tapis between Fearon
of Yonkers and LIE Roy, OF New Hamburg
lie Roy, It win be remembered, beat Amelung at
Poughkeepsie, and has received second challenge
from the latter, which he has accepted. lie Is also
very anxious to row Fearon and Fearon him. II 1t
comes on LIE Roy will be backed by the Sbstemuc
Boat Club, Of Ponghkeepsc, Of which he IL y mem.
Der, and the race VIII probably take place at