The New York herald., 1870-09-07
MAIDEHS on THEIR MUSCLE.
Tho Empire Rowing Club Regatta-Ths Led,es'
Race Amelia sheehan tho winnsr-De-
scription Of the Victorious Nymph
and Her Defeated Sisters
Good Days Sport


weather was bright and sunny and clear witiiont
being hot; The attendance was at least three times
AZ numerous in any previous year; the racing,
VIII be seen from the report below, was ami
mated and exciting; and lastly, the entire day passed
on without single mshap. The good attendance
was no doubt due, In great part to the announce.
ment made that the regatta would have the novel
feature OF q ladies' race. Nearly all the local
boat CLUBS, including the Nautilus, Gramercy,
Free College, Asarte and stephen Roberts
turned out, many Of them in uniform,
while there was IN addition miscellaneous neet Of
small craft OF every conceivable description, from
the huge Noahs ark, dirty. clumsy ana ugly beyond
the power OF verbal expression used for ferrying
over the conyicts and paupers to the island,
down to the delica.ely fashioned little out
rlgger, just Sufficient to hold single
rover, and kept straight in the water only
by the skin fits owner and the balance OF the oars.
fne steamers and cars continually brought fresh
additions to the crowd fspectators until late In the
mrable. taking into account the small force OF
police boats at the disposal OF the committee Of
Hath street TO Nlnety-eighth street.
THR RACING
began with four mile stretch In seventeen feet
alone being allowed to enter There were six
starters and at FIVE minutes past three the report
closely followed by Riley though the 10.
naming four Were nowhere. AZ the nrst
having compile ed just one half the distance. Ford
and Riley were only about three boats lengths
apart and, though they r0wed the remaining two
miles ut their hardest speed each 'doDg his pref
t!est to tire out his antagonist by tho severity OF
same distance untll the finish. Ford reached
the goal at $3.50 and Riley ten seconds after
wards. The thrd prize was gained by Joe Brown,
closely followed by Dave Field. THIS race, though
1t dld not seem TO rouse the spectators into very
wild state OF enthusiasm, was very pretty one.
THE SECOND EVENT
was double scull race IN nineteen feet working
boats, four miles, with three turus open to all
ers. There were originally only three entries, but
fourth couple OF stalwart rowcrs appeared at the
last moment and by the payment OF a double fee
start at 3:6a, all the boats leaving well
together with pretty clear course. The last
. entered e % boat rowed by Deely and Cannon, soon
al Niney-eighth street. Its crew returned and
claimed to have been fOuled by OF the other
boats. The claim was not allowed by tho judges,
as the f0uling did not appear to ha We been wfu and
would not have materially injured the chances Of the
claimants. AT the turn rOundl tho judges boat at
the end of the first two miles, the leading boat was
the Mat I. Brennan, rowed by couple OF sturdy
athletes. whose bare shoulders had been bronzed q
deep brown by constant exposure TO the sun ana air.
But the Julia was but short distance IN the rear
and tho Roberts boat made o good third.
did greatly ater the relative positions OF the con-
testants at the first turn. The Mat r. Brennan came
.
mlnyte afterwards, aud Roberts boat four minutes
later
The third or
was. OF course, the great sensation OF the day.
Hitherto the spectators had been interested, but that
was all. Now they brghtenea into almost frantic
pulled gracefully from the shore to the judges boat
she was hailed with rapturous volleys OF
again. This was Miss Amelia sleehan. who
subsequently proved the victor She was a
handsome, wclldevelOped blonde, with firm, rcsO-
lnte features, that said as plainly as possible that
she fully meant to win the gold watch aud the FIRST
place OF honor. She was dressed in a sinsalary
med with blue, pair of red blooner inexpressblea
ana jaunty little white rred cap. re:
blue. ribbon Her har,. extremely Iaxurianr,
was bound up IN couple OF simple paits, fastened
ana blue ribbons. 10 complete the description Of
ss athletic nymph It. is necessary to ada that shc
rIgldly careful course Of training by her brother
Gradually, one by one, with The proyerbial
timdty OF the gentle sex, the four other contesting
maidens took their positions Miss Kyle an cx-
sponse to the loud trumpecaIl OF Alderman Roberts,
She wore light colored dress with red flannel
jacket tng closely ely to her shape. tiny
Miss Roberts, the third to put In an appearance,
was younger and sisbter tnan at least three
out Of her four antagonists. Her dress was
Miss Walton and Miss Annie Williams both
o o sns ,bsy n to nSv s ss point
ness were both attired In dark dresses, with simple
straw hats The boats used by the fair contestants
were as light as consistent with safety, but the
course two miles In length was pretty severe task
for the delicate frames OF 'loveW women"
e as Ssvne bes at got az poe e o
line the gun gave them their start. 1t was at once
evident who was to be the
WINNING MAIDEN.
as Miss Amelia Sheehan, sweeping along with firm.
regular steady and strong strokes ar oFce LEFT her
was, indeed, altogether different from the jerkyr,
bent forward with the precision and reso,
whole body well back, keeping the blade Of her
oar steadily pressing the water Just below the
feather. In short, her rowing was perfection. II
combined strength with ease and precision with
grace. the other M ladies' showed fair familiarity
turning their boats, and rOwed In a decidedly
feminine style. The whole progress OF the
by the spectators, aud 1t was with extreme DIM
cilty that the course was kept clear The order In
which the ladies ultimately passed the goal was as
fonows:-Miss sheehan, half a dozen boat lengths
ahead; Miss Walton, Miss Roberts, Miss KYLE and
Miss Williams. Each lady as she came In was
greeted with hearty applause. They all seemed TO
be but ilhtly exhausted by the severe exercise
they had taken
TWO OTHER RACES.
each OF which was well contested The FIRST was for
seventeen feet orklng boats. four miles TO all.
There were four starters. but IL was clear the
first that the race really lay between GIanny
and Sheeban, both Of whom belong TO
Wards Island. Glanny led all through the
first two miles, Dut unluckily inistoOk thf
proper side for tnrnng the judges boat, and thus
LOST at least minute OF precious time and the race
with It. He pulled on, however, to The end anu
came IN only four or five boat leugths Ia The rear
good second. The last race was for snell boats no
restrictions, To row four milei. Each OF
the four men VINO started was a
rover Of some local reputation, ana the
struggle was very hardly fought Unfortunately it
had no definite result as Blue and Biplin. the Two
leading men, came In 50 closely together that the
Judges were unable to decide to whom the palm
should be awarded. 1t was therefore decided 10 be
q dead heat
Al the close of the regatta Alderman Roberts made
short speech 10 the craft that lay the Judges'
boat. He congratulated The Empire Club on the
immense success that had attended this years