The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1870-11-02
The Great Boat Race.

After considerable dispute and delay, the great
international boat-race came of this afternoon,
at Lachine, in the presence of fully 10000 spec
tators, and resulted in a decided and handsome
victory for the Tyne crew, though the struggle
was necessarily a severe one, so magnif,ently did
the ST. John crew contest the race. The large
number of visitors TO the city, who have poured
into the place during the last two days by train
and boat, suddenly disappeared this morning and,
with an immense throng of residents, set out for
Laehine in order to view the race.
APPEARANCE OF THE TYNE CREW.
At O'Clock the judges fired the two shots
agreed upon as a signal to the rival crews to pre-
on shore announced that one of the crews was
coming. it proved to be the famous Tyne crew.
of England, and it was with a Sudden thrill that
those on the judges boat saw the Englishmen
shoot away from the wharf, and come with rush
toward the starting posts. A faint cheer followed
the men of Tyne as they left the shore, and the
cry was taken up by those on the steamers and
barges, though it was easy to see that they were
not the popular iavorites in the race. The crew
returned the salutaion given them by spon-
taneous wave of their caps as they rested on
their oars, and permitted their trail craft to rap
idly glide over the ripping water. The men
were dressed IN white drawers and sleeveless
shirts, and were the very embodiment of health
and strength. They managed their boat with
careless grace that showed their perfect training,
IL l. =, E.. r.
men.
A vExATIoUs DELAY.
Minute after minute passed by, and yet the St
John crew failed to make lis appearance, and
warm dispute arose on the judges boat between
the umpires relative to the condition of the water
Mr.. Sheriff Harding claimed that the water was
too rough for a race, but Jack Adams, the Tyne
Judge, was willing to let his men make the race
wind or no wind The row grew fast and furious
until the referee, Mr. Nelson, decided to
postpone the race for another day. The news
spread With marvellous rapidity through the feet
and as the Tyne crew rowed back TO the land
ing, the spectators began to be FESTIVE, and were
not easily pac6ed by the appearance of the
Indians and their canoes, the race scarcely at
tracing any attention, as the proceeding was
farcica one in every sense. Meanwhile, Mr..
Adams began grumbling in no amiable mood, and
created good deal of disturbance in his peculiarly
energetic manner, until be was asked TO stop aud
enter into conversation. Considerable discussion
ensued, and the result was that the referee or
dered the race to take place, and fixed the hour
at So P. NJ, blow or no blow.
PREPARING FOR THE CONTEST.
The crews were notified of the decision, and
they made their appearance on the course stimuli
taneously at 5:lO. The ST. John men came up,
looking like ordinary boatmen, in old hats and
clothes. The Tyne men were attred as on their
first appearance, and looked far better. The
necessary prelimiDaHes being arranged the crews
prepared for the race. The St. John men dis
robed themselves in the essence of the spectators
and took their position IN fesh-colored tights of
drab silk with close fitting pink shirts and scarlet
caps. The Tyne men threw their caps into the
attending boat and flung off their shirts also,
thus being almost naked.
THE START.
positions, and. at the word, both leaped forward
in perfect unison, amid the concentrated roar of
thirty thousand human throats uttering the
widest description of cheers. Then commenced
a magnificent struggle. The Tyne crew gave
rapid play to their oars, and started off with
pull of fully forty-two to the minute, the st.
John men being palpably slower in their move
ments, owing to the boat being filed with water
by sudden squall that had sprung up almost at
the moment the race began. The advantage
seconds following the start was seized to enable
them to draw ahead of their opponents. and give
them the swell and Whitewater from their own
boat. Inch by inch the gap increased, until it
reached dozen lengths before the boats we're
ost sight of, causing few of the enthusiasts to
emark that the Englishmen would win by half
nile.
AT THE STAKE.
The boats made rapid Roadway up the river
without accident, the Tyne crew reaching their
hree-mile stake-boat in % minutes and 40
seconds, the St. John men coming up 40 seconds
lthluu DUH crews luiueu lHe sldke-DOdis III
handsome style, though for some reason the Tyne
men seemed to hang fire little in leading down
tream, thus enabling their opponents to lessen
he gap.
THE HoMEsTRETCH AND THE FINISH.
Down stream came the boats with terrific
ush of speed, and when they came in sight the
ar became deafened by the hoarse scream of
he steamboat whistles and the cheers of the
,eople. Those fortunate enough to have glasses
that the Tyne crew were ahead, and
hey passed the winning post in exactly 40 |
minutes and 5924 seconds, the st: John coming
D 80 seconds behind, or distance of eleven !
engths. They were received with enthusiasm in
of the splendid burst of speed they
Iere maintaining at the finish.
AFTER THE VICTORY.
So ended the great race for the championship |
+ the boating world, and the prize and the
onor -o over the sea- with tho Gallant crav that