The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-29
AQUATIC.
The Amateur Championship Of Harlem
River for FOur-0ar Shells.
NASSAU VS.. GRAMERCY
The Nassau Crew Win by Twenty Lengths
Time, IS Minutes and 81 Seconds.

The championship of the Harlem River Ii an honor
much coveted by the members OF the different cfubd
whose boat houses line the southern bank Of Ind
river between Harlem Bridge and the r8flrosd
bridge. The rivalry has been mainly between the
Nassau, the Gramercy and the Athletic ctubGj
and for some time past there appears "a
have been desire the part Of the two former ID
test the respective merits OF their fouroar orowa
and decide to which properly belonged the MASTER
nag. Yesterday was charming day for q h0a4
race, as towards afternoon there was hardly q
breath OF wind to rufie the surface Of thdl
water, and the clear blue sky above gavat
promise that rain would mar the busines4
OF the occasion. The gathering crowds OF aquatic
gentlemen that filed the barrooms adjacent to tho
waters betokened that there was something lively
afoot, and conversation generally was devoted td
feats OF skill and endurance on the wsteri
Marvellous tales were told OF the won1
derfal time that had been made on the
Harlem River by the Biglins, Blue, Kyle and other
aquatic celebrities. One individual, OF decidedly
seedy appearance, attired In pair Of brown pantsG
patched in the seat with blue flannel, and gray
Jersey that was minus IN arm, was
descantlng loudly on the great race at Sara
toga last year, when he saw" the Ward boys
wild Hank Ward, who was sixty-eght last year,
bate thin Canada's crews" How many more
aquatic truths this gentleman might have produced
1t is hard to say; but while in the height OF his
glory, and with his audience aghast at his
aquatic knowledge bystander reminded
him that he was on the Island when
the Saratoga race came of. All hands
went to take drink and the individual with the
blue patch sloped. There did not appear to be
much betting on the event, as offers of to and s.
to on the Nassau crew went begging.
ri
the East River with the members OF the Nassau
Club and their guests. After stopping to take
few more OF their friends on board
the Tittamer passed through the bridge and took
up a position on the High Bridge side OF the rail-
road bridge. The Rattier, small steam team tug that
the East River shortly afterwards
HEAVILY LADEN
with passengers, and made landing before arriv-,
ing at Harlem Bridge to take on some more. A,
steamboat inspector with an eye to business hap
pened to be close at hand, and seeing the crowd
came on board and said that rs the RATHER was
only licensed to carry. ,seventy-fve passengers
about two hundred would have to get of before she
could leave the dock. This mandate created q
slight confusion and finally ended In the Rather
not going any further.
In the meanwhile the Nassau crew were getting
inpatient, as the tide was about to turn and they.
wanted to get Off. They were looking well and 1ti
they sat in front Of their boatho1se clad IN row.
drawers cut short below the knees. BabcOck was
there as substitute for Jones, who had gone amiss
in his training IL would have been hard to pick.
| four finer specimen OF the
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANITY
| of Young America than were there represented.
The Grainercy boys were up at their boathouse, .
little nearer the railroad bridge, anxiously await
the s Of ns SSs croas
out their shell, and taking their
seats padded out in the stream at about 10 The
gave them hearty cheer as they settled down to
their stroke and took abreather to open their piping
valves The Gramercy crew were attired IN blue
| shirts und red drawers. AZ soon al
THE NASSAU GREW
saw their antagonists they got their shell In the
water and padded down easily to the starting
point. The course was three miles straight away,
ern shore of the river, about four hundred yards
above the railroad bridge under Macomb's Dam
Ras' and H m E BSss to Mpss SSs
was on beard the Tittamer, and at about harpast
four IN, crews were ordered to their positions.
was noticed that the Nassau stake boat lad Ssea
some Ave or six yards astern; and Mr.: Engehardt
ordered the latter to pull up and finally get
ting them In line gave eth. the word
caught the water first, and, as they take good
hold when they Dip they shot ahead at the start,
and before dozen strokes had been pulled the
Nassau crew were evidently determined to-
have f3a ana Bacon pulling bow
selecting the southern shore for their water.
THE GRAMERCY
crew were pulling q fast stroke OF about fOrty-fOur
covery was good, but they had not the graceful
although they dd not pun is%t to the
minute, made every stroke tell by longer sweep
The river was covered with single Shells four
oars, six and eight-Oar gigs, and rowboats OF every
description but. with praiseworthy intelligence,
barges OF the different clubs also out includ-
ing those Of the Nautilus Gramercy and Athletic
Clubs; The Nassaus were steadily forging ahead,
and they shot under
M'COOMB's DAM BRIDGE,
WIN clear iead OF ABOUT ,onr lengths, pulling
working away at fOrtyfour out 1t was evident they
were beaten, and although they hung to their work
like tough men they must alter their style OF rowing
before they can expect to beat the crew that waa
giving them the lead. The crews passed M'Coomb's
Dam Bridge as foll0ws:-
The Nassau crew. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS II 10
AS the crews came into the bend leading to High
Bridge the river presented very charming pic
ture with its southern banks densely wooded and
throwing shadow over the water that formed a
pleasant resting place for some twenty or thirty
boats and their occupants who had taken this posi-
Tittamer were intensely delighted with the success
OF their friends and the prospect OF half dozen or
JouviHs best that they had wagered on the result
crew we're evidently having the race all their own
way, and had dropped into steady thirty-eight,
which, however was quite sufficient to keep In
creasing their lead. The Gramcrcy crew we're still
hanging 10 about forty-three to the minute, and
kept inside the stakes on the northern shore.
High Bridge was lined with spectators, and they
gave the Nassau crew hearty cheer, and nuttered
their handkerchiefs in the evening breeze
they shot beneath the first arch from the southern
shore and sped on towards the goal OF victory.
The Gramerces followed some ten lengths behind,
through the second arch. The crews passed under
High Bridge as fOllws:
H. NJ s.
Nassau Crew ..........................4 ~ 10
The boats had now entered the last mile, and the
Gramercy crew made a last struggle to close the
gap, squirting about f0rtyhve to the minute, and at
| one moment 1t looked as II they might nave
! chance, the Nassau boat fouled pair-0ar
shell which had capsized In their track. The
| delay was, however, only momentary, as they
| quickly resumed their stroke and shot by Morris
j dock winning by twenty lengths Time, Ism. Bis.