The New York herald., 1871-10-07
A Q y A r I o s..
An Exciting Boat Race in the Har-
bor Of Spezzia, Italy.
The Boats Of Two American Vessels-of- War the
Victory Declared for
the Guerriere's Barge.
UNITED STATES SHIP SHENANDOAH, |
SPEZZIA, Italy, Sept. IL, 1871 \


UNITED STATES SHIP SHENANDOAH
SPEzzIA. Italy. Sept IL, 1871.
competition among men to acquire particular
excellence. whether II be in trade, at games or in
professions ts one Of the ruling characteristics OF
the human race, and within due bounds and under
proper restraints 1t deserves to be encouraged
all the more 80 when the struggle for the mastery
can injure no one, can impovertsh no 0ne aud, in
certain respects improves the competing parties.
About the time the news reached Europe OF the
making and maturing OF the great international
race on the Kennebecass, which had such melan-
choly ending for the Tyne crew, the European
squadron OF American war vessels rendezvoused at
Spezzia, In Italy, The ships were the flagship Frank
lin the Richmond. the Guerriere, the Shenandoah
the Plymouth and the Saco. With the collection to.
gether Of as many as perhaps eighteen hundred
sailor men. whose natural tastes incline them to
aquatic sports, Is not at ali singular that strong
interest was felt IN the proceedings and that imIta
ton should be attempted. The Saco arrived in the
squadron nushed with q recent victory achieved at
Malaga over the boat OF the British man war Lea
and brought the living trophy-a live chicken cock
with her, the race having been between the launches
OF the respective ships. she owned, IN addition a
very fast whale boat. pulling twelve oars. AMI Of
which the crew were Justly proud. 1t is astonishing
knowledge of the men Of the different ships and no
sooner does the intelligence spread and have time
to be duly commented upon in the rorecaste than
they debate among themselves the possibility OF
race. Soon there viii appear small deputation at
the mast who will, through spokesman, respect.
fully request permission from the proper authority
to contend with the boat under consideration.
In most cases this permission Is granted, partly
as most excellent way to encourage and keep up
the vim of the crew, and partly as the easiest mode
OF settling the dniculty; for the men will never rest
quietly until the superiority OF one OF other boat be
decided.
It's somewhat amusing to note the peculiar be-
bavior Of the crew Of the rival and OF the other
ships when the terms of race are about to be ar
ranged, or when one Ia trying to be got on For
the men 1t Is one Of the great events Of the cruise
equal to pay day. and almost equal to the hosting
OF the homeward bound pennant The merits or
the boats are subjected to sal0r-llKe criticism;
wise and sententious opinions are welghtily deilv'
cred from the orecastle as the practising boats take
In hand, to gain some idea OF their time. Nor are
subterfuges wanting on the other Side to defeat
this cunning man9uvre Slnguarly enough, the
most important part OF the whole arrange
ment-namely. The lasting powers OF the crew
is entirely overlooked by the sailor man. The idea
of exhaustion on race about the last calculation
on the result that engrosses MS attention, and 1t Is
on tnis account that the termination OF a race is
more so than among the professional crews VINO,
whether % yanquishers or vanquishcd generally pull
The Guerrero, since she has been 10 dock for re.
pairs has allowed considerable liberty to her men;
an 0ltering occasionally at the landing these were
not long IN picking up these crumbs OF news con.
corning this formidable boat and crew OF the SacO
they mad an idea they could contend with the Sacos
boat and perhaps, II well drilled, successfully The
squadron and Dy this means reached the ears OF the
- 5000 ,t,rs a~,r,, 49,
fruit and before many days the terms Of race were
arranged and agreed upon between the boats and
first not very large but the excitement increased
and as the men acquired greater conf
their favorltes, each one who had sum Of money
at ms disposal-and this meant nearly every one
And as perhaps as many as five hundred men were
betting the rapidly Increased, 80 that the com
blned amount the day before the races reached the
the sacos whale boat Is a beauty, and dances as
feet inches in beam feet inches and in weight
about 500 pounds. sne pulls twelve oars, double
banked and carries eoxswan Tne names Of her
maintop; Thomas g. Lyons boats wain's mate;
August Burraid, George Thompson Louis Williams,
Edward Lienes, seamen; James Farrell, extra;
Hans Johnson and Edward Hammond, ordinary
The coxswaln Is VIM. q. King, chief boatswain's
mate, who enjoys the envable reputation OF having
steered and won twenty-one races out OF twenty
the Guerrere,s barge is larger boat, pulling
sHa nanra oars double banked IN weight about
81 feet. The names OF her crew are as foIlows:-
EdHd
Ham, captain. captain HoIa; Edward ROBINS Robinson, 'usaH ses
Kelly, seaman; Robert Adair, oraInary sea.
man; Paul Saenger, Alfred Brooks Peter Smith
and Charles W. George, seamen.
She had tor her coxswain John Turner chief boats.
waln's mate whose former exploits in this line are
crew is y inches forward and Is inches att The
distance to be rowed was straight race OF four
me ans nsa wss 9 ii e ana
Navy, attached to the nagship. was selected as
plre.
The day Of the race was beautiful, and the water
was IN mat fine condition which always ap-
pears when there is little or no wind to disturb It's
smoothness. But such was the excitement and
enthusiasm OF the that Is likely that the race
would have come of mad rain fallen In torrents
.. e N se aS
the event. than the crews OF the rival SHIPS and the
injection spread rapidly through the squadron. BY |
permission, about Two hundred OF the Guerriere5 |
men were allowed to go on board OF the Richmond |
(Which was anchored well QUIT to witness the race |
tops OF every American war vessel in the harbor |
were thronged with the men who had climbed aoft |
To save the race crews the boats were towed |
70, 10 TN, ,ne starting buoy, four miles out the bay,
saa he s me as
alter the lug lug had lett ali 'f was au,ier @ nSSi sna
the ships, similar to tnat made by
swarm or bees subsilng gradually to profound |
silence. The excitement mad now become partially
fer the distance was great that no one
could distinguish when the boats got into position
and started But those at that end OF the
ranged everything satisfactorily, and at exactly
ha-past four r. M. the boats got away, followed at
. proper distance By the steam launches
The start was evcn good and fair, but in few
minutes the barge drew slowly ahead with q tire.
stroke OF forty to the minute and this rate
v rad svftl fha fnto 1nn
Sacos crew laDored under the disadvantage OF
having OF their number just from the sick list
day or Two previous, he having been admitted with
an attack OF diarrn9a. Another one also was not
well; rom what cause Is not known. This must
m acn. nj III thori in n.