New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-01
THE HALIFAX REGATTA.
THE TAYLOR-WINsHIP CREW THE vICrORS.
A CLosELY-CoNTEsTED RACE-rHE PRIOR CREW
OF HALIFAX SECOND, AND THE AMERICANS
TuIRD-ACCIDENT TO THE AMERICAN BOAT.

| CLOSELY-COSTEsTED RACE-THE PRIOR CREW
OF HALIFAX SECOND, AND THE AMERICANS
TuIRD-ACCIDENT TO THE AMERICAN BOAT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBuHEI
HALIFAX, Aug. 81.-There probably never
finer four-Oared race than that which took place
I'm Halifax harbor to-day The unusually large number
Of competing boats the spirited start the almost
contest down to the stakeboats between five the
struggle narrowing down to four and then to three
the homestretch and the final tremendous effort Of
English, an American, and Nova Scotia crew. ending
by the narrowly gained victory Of the former oontrved
to make the of the most brilliant events In the
annals Of aquatic sports.
COURSE.
The course three nautical miles in length COM
mencing at the piers OF the Halifax Yacht Club at tho
extreme north end Of the city extending past the
wharves and town to stakeboats placed at intervals
the eastern entrance to the harbor between
high fortified island and the shore and as the compel
ing boats required TO double the course the dis
lance they rowed nearly seven common miles. 1t
bright clear morning and the surface Of the water
smooth except for the usual long ground swell.
Great crowds Of excited people poured Of the
city about Q O'Clock, and gathered upon numerous
stands erected the Clubhouse the green banks
Of the Basin opposite In countless small boats the
water and upon docks, ships, and housetops all along
the city front The advertised for 10 O'clock
gale the night previous had blown away the stake
boats at the lower end Of the and the Committee
with the elaboration which characerzes these provin
Gals took until o'clock to get them in place again. and
1t nearly before the impatient crowd ratAed
by seeing the swarm Of small boats cleared away from
the starting point, aud the final preparations completed
BY this time a breeze had sprung up, the sky
was overcast and the water quito rough, especially
on the lower part OF the course.
THE START.
In drawing for positions the Taylor got No 1,
giving them place the piers The Renforth crew
came next; then the three Nova Scotia crews Roche,
Prior, and Barton; while the Biger American crew got
the position the outside, and near the Eastern
shore Of the harbor After deal OF halong and ussng
the nterlopng small boats finally induced to keep
of the course and at 1854 the signal gun fred and
the swift gigs eaped away nearly together that it
was impossible to say which got the water first.
The Roche boat fell behind after q few minutes.
but the other Eve kept together pretty steadily
for the first two miles. The members Of the Press
were given a stcam-tug in which 20 follow the race.
which proved to be little better tan tub, tho swift
strokes OF the competing leaving her 80 far be-
hind that to the sraning eyes OF the eager journalists
upon her decks the distant crews looked after few
minutes like many pink and white specks upon the
blue water and 1t not possible to time the stroke or
tell with certainty which ahead until the stake
boats were reached
Away went the swift frail rowing boats, past largo
black British manofwar, upon whose decks shrouds.
and yardsrms the cheering sailors swarmed Ike hes
past shouting crowds on grand btanus, HItie
wharves docks, houseOps, and in every description OF
water craft while close after them gded trim steam
yacht that carried OF the judges and away In the
pulled and wheezed the newspaper tug The adyan-
tace the two English had gained by getting inside
positions proved be considerable for 1t them the
smooth water nshOro, along tho wharves while the
Americans being ont in the stream got the jul force OF
thawind and rough water in mid-channel To every
body's surprise, two Of tue Nova Scotia crew pulled
spenddly clear down to the sakeboa the third falling
badly III the and not regaining lost distance
The Americans think their boat led little all the way
down. 1t difficult to tell which was ahead for the
boats we're apart the distance between the
two outermost being d good half mile The Renrorth
boat turned FIRST then the Taylor boat then the PrOf
crew next the Americans and last the Barton crew. the
sixth boat being now good as out OF the race The
Americans lost two bOaengths In turning by the stu
pidy OF Judge other official, who was lying in
long black boat fastened to the stern OF their stakeb0a
which considerably increased the distance they had 10
make In turning. Coultcr's tremendous stroke soon
gained our boys a part 'Nis lose the Barton crew
were shaken off and left bchnC 4ew minutes, and
an exciting struggle began between the two Tyne crews
the Prior Nova Scotia crew, and the BiSn crew. The
TAYLOR crew led the Renorth next, about boats
length behind, was the Nova Scotians; and last, the
Americana but when they had oil settled down to the
hard pull of the homestretch, 1t soon became plain
that the Renforth crew. deprived OF the powerful stroke
of their leader chance for victory They steadily
lost the three boats drawing away from them per-
ceptiby at stroke They continued to pull stead
fly but far behind for the last two miles that no
paid any attention to thcm all eyes being n1ed on
the three leading boats. The pressing waited ON the
inside of the harbor until AL the boats had passed. and
WAS soon 80 far behind them that the reporters had no
more chance than before to observe the race closely
The Nova Scotians thin merino shirts, while the
TAYLOR and Bigin stripped to the waist the
skin Of the Englishnen being much farer than that
OF the saOw Americans.
The Americans wo had been perhaps four boatlenGths
behind the two Others when they commenced to get out
OF the rough water gained rapidly az soon as they got
the vantage OF smooth as that on which the
Englshmen rowing. There was general astohlSh-
ment to see the Prior also pulling up on the Tyne
boat crew from which nothing had been expected by
sporting mcn and which had been almost given
away In the pool-selng. The contest between
the three leading boats intensely exciting Tor
the last mile OF the race. The crews strained
every muscle. Now one would gam rev
wards and row another. At times 1t would ne Impossible
to tell which ahead. All pulled quick s'roke OF
A 70 "A TO the minute the Americans and Provinclals
annearng 70 mt more power In stroke but not pull
inc tocetber with the admirable mechanical precision
which long practice together had given the Engshen
The elated crowd upon the stands ana "narNes near
the Yacht Club House had all their laculues
concentrated In an intense stare when the DoatS
shot y and up the winning line, and ala not raise
cheer and for some minutes after the gun was hea 10
announce the close few among the thousands assembled
were certain which had won. The judges nhaiIy an
nounced that the TaylorWnship crew was VICTORIOUS n
AZ o,nues and as seconds winning the 5000 prize The
Prior crow was eight seconds behind the vlctors, ana
the Americans came up five seconds Later Inc hehorth
boat WAS "a or Is lengths behind and the othef TWO Doa
were away off in the rear, but 40 one "aVeu W soo
whether they got H. . r
There was little enthusiasm over the result The Hall
hanffh he