The Portland daily press., 1871-09-02

The FOur.Oared Race at Halifax.
The following interesting account of the four
cared race is taken from the special of the Bos-
ton Ad0ertiser:
After the first fifty yards the Renforth crew
spurted up to forty and dashed 10 the front,
gaining in the first two hundred yards a lead
OF half length. The American and Taylor
crews were first, and the Prior was about two
lengths behind the Roche, and Barton being
still further in the rear. So the first quarter
mile was rowed very fast, the American pull
ing forty two and the Tyne doing its best at
thirty eight. The Renforth kept right on un
til it had to make a beud, the Royal Alfred ly-
ing across the course. The Tyne then spurted
ahead The American crew was behind, the
Prior was close astern, and the Roche crew al
ready hopelessly lying in the rear Fhe Rem
forth and Tyn: rowed mile alternately lead
ing, never more than by few feet, and gradu-
ally nearing each other as they threaded to-
gether course among the yachts and sailing
vessels lying directly in their way. The
American crew was drawing away to the other
shore, Prior alone keeping to straight course.
Renforth then spurted for the lead, and got
three quarters of a length. This distance they
kept for nearly two miles. The race between
them and the Tyne was wonderfully close and
exciting. The American crew was now six
lengths in the rear, having, a mile from the
start, struck alog OF wood, a splinter OF which
pierced her bow about IN inch above the water
line, letting The water into the forward COM
ment, and stuck to the boat all the way home
The Prior crew. meanwhile, was rowing steadi-
ly at thirty-two, reaching away forward over
the toes, spreading the knees a little apart
keeping firm seat and making about thirty.
two to the minute. The Renforth crew had
settled down to about thirty eight, and the
race was warm against Tyne down to the
rough water below Georges Island, when both
crews swung toward the Halifax shore. To
those in the Doat Renlorth seemed eight or ten
lengths ahead when it was only length
ahead. The tide now began 10 flow, and Tyne
and Renforth were driven together until it was
evident they must foul. The bow of TYNE
touched Chambefss oar, and Tay lor claimed a
foul. Both cleared aud RenfOrth got a slight
lead IL was then seen 10 be long way abreast
OF its buoy, and lost about fifty yards IN turn
ing. The American crew was in the same po-
sition, the Prior and Tyne crews alone having
kept straight course. The turn was made as
follows: Tyne, % Al; RenforIh, % 81; Prior,
% Is 1 2; American, "a 80; Barton, "a 43. The
ReBiorth and Tyne crews made a mistake in
in taking the westward course, thus losing all
the advantages OF the tide. The others came
up nearer together, the Prior crew rowing at
thirty like clock work, Barton a trifle quicker,
and the American crew doing torty-two, evil
IDENTITY and efficiently, and now aud then max
ing tremendous spurts. Both EnglIsh crews
now carried dead weight. Bright was hang
ing over the side OF The Queen Victoria and
Bagnall was almost fainting. The Prior and
American crews were now making tremen-
dous efforts against each other, Prior having a
lead of a length. until their boat was crossed
by the yacht, Intentionally it seemed, and they
lost couple of lengths. The Type was now
three lengths ahead, Renforth and the Ameri-
can being asout even, the Prior crew close be-
tween: The struggle from this point homo was
terribly hard and exciting. The American
crew was all doubled up and out of shape, vet
time and again coming up with wonderful
squirt, and one time putting their boat about
hall length ahead of all, but Immediately
giving in tc the Prior crew, who, when within
200 yards of the flush, looked like winning.
The Tyne crew, however, had rowed as straip bt
as an arrow and when within one hundred
yards was even. tremendous squirt brought
them up again like shot, and they crossed
the line length and half ahead in As min
utes and As seconds. The Prior crew was eight
seconds later, and close together Renforth and
the Americans crossed the line. Coulter being
completely exhausted. Some claimeJ the third
place for one and some for the other, NO official
time being taken.