The New York herald., 1871-02-05
LONDON, Jan. II. 1871,

LONDON Jan. II, 1871.
Yesterday morning the great pair-oared boat race
between Kelley and Renforth on the one side and
Taylor and Winship on the other, which has Tor
some time past excited extraordinary interest in
aquatic and general sporting circles, was rowed Oh
the river Tyne. 1t may be known to your readers
that not even excepting the Thames that river is
more devoted to boating than any other In Great
Britain, and Is the birthplace of some OF the most
splendid sculers or past times and or the greatest
OF the present day. After its coal, aquatcs In.
deed the feature OF the district and the excitement
that is caused throughout It's whole extent by any
event OF this description. and especially by one OF
the magnitude OF that OF Yesterday, Is wonderful
II need scarcely be said that the banks OF the river
where they border the course were lined with tens
OF thousands OF Spectators or that the enthusiasm
around was Of the most intense description.
THE MEN.
Few who care about aquatlcs need be Informed
that for many years Harry Kelley, or Putney, held
the championship or the Thames-that Is to say OF
England-or that he was one OF the most splendid
oarsmen this country has ever produced. lie has
for long time been considered somewhat "stalsu
and as he has in his day done an immense amount
OF work, and is now thlrty-nne years OF age 1t Is
not astonishing that he should not display The
'form" which woa him mis- laurels. Renforth the
Tynesider, is no more than twenty-eight and Is not
only magnificent sculler, but grand specimen or
an athlete. lie holds the championship. which he
wresed from Kelley, and Is likely to hold 1t against
all comers for good while longer; but he is man
who takes but little OF himself and In tnat re.
spect is in strong contrast to Kelley whose manner
besides is such as TO render him far more popular.
Taylor and Winship. II less famous than their for
midabIe opponents, are accomplished oarsmen and
have long played prominent part In connection
with the sport
ORIGIN or TIE MATCH.
Renforth, Taylor and Wlnship formed, with
another man named Martin, the celebrated Tyne
cham pOn four which was founded In 1867 by the
late Robert Chambers and had from that time such
great career OF success that at last IL was chal
lenged by the St. John (Canada) crew, and In pur-
suance OF Its acceptance went out last summer to
the St. Lawrence, where, as American readers VIII
well remember, 1t achieved a signal triumph. That
triumph was, however, the dissolution OF the crew
Many hold that the other members had for some
TIME been dlsgusted with the 0verbearing tone and
manner OF Renforth, ana eagerly sought Tor cause
OF quarrel; but, however that may be- 1t Is certain
that they found one in very trivial incident They
had taken with them TO Canada two boats the
Duns,on-onT Tyne and the Jarrow-on-Tyne. and Rem
former for the match with the ST. John crew, while
Taylor as strongly insisted on first having
trial OF she latter. Renforth carried his point
and they rowed and won in the Dunston, but the
controversy had sowed the seeds OF great bitterness
Nothing transpred 70 indicate that there was any
prospect OF u disruption OF the crew until several
weeks alter they had returned to England; but at
length IN consequence OF certain reports which had
come 10 his cara, Renforth issued challenge Offering
with another man whom he should find. 10 row an
PAIR III the world This challenge, though Couched
In general terms was really directed against Taylor
and Wlnship, and II was at once taken up by or
their hackers, Mr.. Blakey, who asked Renforth to
name his partner. At the moment he was Unable to
do so bus shortly afterwards he, at @ venture se-
lected Harry Kelley, not knowing whether he would
confirm the arrangement or not. The eX-champion,
however, came forward with a manliness quite I'M
keeping with MS character ana at once signlcd his
readiness TO take part In the contest The articles OF
agreement, which were then drawn up, stipulated
that the stake should be G2Oo slde that tue course
should be from the High Level Bridge to ScotswoOd
suspension Bridge, on The Tyne, and that The race
should be rowed ON Monday. January l6.
PREPARATION FOR THE RACE.
The first thought OF the two crews was to provide
buiit, and remembering the cause OF quarrel, Rem
forth called his the Funston, while Taylor named
his the Jarrow The former IS model OF a racing
boat, 35 feet long: extreme breadth amdshtps, ID
inches; depth amdshps, 61 incnes; height for
ward, IA inches; height ATT 31s inches: weight,
when fitted, 81 pounds. The latter Is built on very
fine lines and requires careful handling; length,
81 feet; extreme breadth amldshlps, Is inches:
breadth at water line amldsips. 1874 inches; depth
height aft, inches. Kelley and Renforth, who had
never rowed together have different styles, and
once but were hampercd at first by u boil, which
prevented KenfOtn from sitting, and afterwards by
the ice wach @ 1tsa oSGxea up 'he higher waters Of
Its mouth. Taylor and Wlnship had often
rowed IN the same b at. and had acquired 80 fine q
style that they did not require so much practice as
their opponents; out they too, had 10 go to u part
of the river which was less encountered with Ice
Wagering, as rule was at 8 to on Kelley and
"a oil -hut
latterly to to 4. Kelley 10 thirty nine years OF
age and weighed 1919 pounds; Renlorth. age
twentyeght weighed l5o pounds Taylor age thirty
four, weighed AZ pounds; WlnshiD, age twenty
seven, weighed 154 pounds.
THE RACE-NARROw ESCAPE OF KELLEY AND REM
FORTH THEIR VICTORY.
The race was liked TO commence at ten O'Clock,
and shortly before that hour the umpres steamer.
The Walker, appeared, amid storms Of wind aud
rain, at the starring place. Taylor and Winshp won
the toss for choice OF side the south is always pre-
had been al to on the 'old 'uns, decreased to
TO 4. The men were quarter Of an hour late,
and some more time was cut to waste In moor
agreed TO start by mutual consent and at the third
attempt they went or BY the superior address 0.
Kelley he and his partner managed 10 get about four
feet the best OF IL; but their opponents rowing with
their sharp, quick stroke at once brought up their
to their grand, steady, long swing. and, drawing
easily away from the lightweIghts, were length in
advance before they reached Davidsons MIL and.
the advantage at every stroke were able
TO take the other boats water opposite the Skinner
Burn. 1t may be sad that from this point the race
was at an end, for the old men never afterwards,
except by accident, allowed their adversarles to get
near them, and; al Rednaugh bridge in particular,
they shot three lengths In front, which they made
into six lengths at Percy's boat house. Here, how
ever, they were nearly the victims Of a calamity |
that might have cost them not only the race,
but their lives. just opposite the gas works !
they came In contact, without seeing II, with |
great mass Of floating blocks OF ice that stretched
right across the stream. and they ran against the
sharp masses with such violence that ior time |
there was great danger OF their fra boat being |
sunk, and as it was, Il was turned completely round
The accident allowed Taylor ana Winsnip TO get |
close up with them, but, fortunately, Kelley and !
Renfortn In the nick OF time discovered the open.
ing, and, sklrtipg the blocks without further
cldent, darted through. This accomplished, they |