The New York herald., 1872-03-24

the Swan at Cnesea. These ana intermediate hos
telries OF the same name have since passed away,
but This contest continues annually over the same
course, ana one OF the leading regulations OF the
match Is still retained such being that the start
SHAH take place when the tide Is strongest against
the r0wers, so lhat the strength and endurance OF
the Jolly Young waermen are rather severely tested.
Dbden maze this annual the subject OF one
OF his ballad operas. The prize IS presented TO the
winner with some ceremonies at FiShmOngerS'
Hail. that company being trustees OF the same. In
connection with 1t interesting to state that
"a banquet given Dy the Fishmongers' Company some
few years ago to the Prince OF Wales a score or so
oil winners OF this race, In their quaint orange coats
with plated skirts and with fright badges on their
rght arms, acted as guard OF honor III lieu OF the
The next important incident, in chronological
order, IN the aquatic history OF the great metro
polls, IS
A REGATTA ON A GRAND SCALE
winch took place IN the year 1875. Lady Wortiey
Montague having written glowing account or u
regatta sne had witnessed at Venice In 1540. III
duced The leaders OF fashion IN London 10 atempG
similar aquatic spectacle bnt tne nesife 10 I'M,
grew slowly INTO action that 1t was not TIL the
dare named that the London regatta actually took
place; ana then IL was not attempted on scale OF
grandeur Ike tnat which nad Oeen carried into
effect at Venice There were not, as at the latter
place, any chariots OF night drawn by sea
norses. changing TO cnarlots OF Aurora. nor
trlumphal cars nor mytholOgica and Synioolical
galleys, with pasteDoard temples and plaster
OF Paris deites: nor even the crowning Of
the vlctors In the races with laurel wreaths. The
.show,' consisted of procession OF boats in three
divisions, with the rOwers dressed respectively IN
the three marine coors, red white and blue, aud
each division led oy grand marshal. lhe pageant
moved on Midsummer Eve ron Westminster
bridge to the then noted Ranelagn Gardens, amid
the booming OF cannons and iDe cheers ol quarter
OF a million OF spectators VINO lined the rivers
banks or were seated on Darges or IN boats paylng
dearly for the privilege. Az Ranelagh q Temple Of
Neptune had been erected, which soon became
crowded with revellerS. few boat races TOOK
place In lr0lt OF this temple but the great business
ol the evening and night was dancing and supper
ing and carousng. 1t was broad day before the
revels terminated and then gay cavaliers and their
fair partners, nomeward bound trusted themselves
III boats propelled by tipsy rowers, ana the result
was that seven persons met death beneath the sur
face OF the river.
THE FIRST STUDENTS RACE ON THE THAMES
OF an Importance tnat at all approaches the present
contests seems to nave taken place IN 1913, wnen
the best rowers OF Westminster school challenged
the students OF the Temple 10 trial OF strength
ana skill. Much interest was excited by the match,
winch was bravey won by the Westminster lads
From this match the golden era OF boating may De
sad TO date Some ten or dozen years later there
was acnleved upon the Thames remarkable leat
of rowing, the story OF which old oarsInen SUI re
late with interest. boats crew or gentlemen
rOwed from oxford to London IN one day, the dls-
tance owing TO the winding OF the river, belng near
upon II fully one hundred and forty miles, anu
the tde being strong against them during part CT
the day. The crew had ltle time for rest and when
tney mad ACCOMPLISHED their feat were so exhausted
that some OF them had to be carried ashore. But
one OF the party Captain Douglas, now Lord
Penryn. survives. The same feat las since been
performed with SOULS 10y Captain Nlsbet.
THE WESTMINSTER AND ErON MATCHES.
The interest which The Westminster boys took IN
tury ago increased as one generation succeeded an
other on the academic forms. In The second quar-
ter OF the present century we find them ana the
Eton lads occupying a position III the boating
world not unlike though less important than tlat
at present filed py the students OF the Two great
Universities. Before their annual matches and
those OF the London cubs became events OF mpor-
ance few contests on the RIVER attracted so mucn
attention as those between the boys oi the Two
public schools which we nave named. the
matches were rowed on various parts OF Inc
river between London ana Windsor ana the
rtvn is n
OF the Goddess Of victory. In 1916 IL was conSid-
cred great leat for Westminster to row 1--WE miles
IN twenty -eigh minutes; but there was no hprna-
ton Etons defeat, for Its boat was close TO thlt
OF the vlctors at the end Of the race. Sometimes
one crew would leave their opponents eight ten
boats engths Denind them, and the next year the
luck would be reversed 80 That neither school had
much occasion 10 crow over te oLler. one OF the
May day IN 1887, for the lads who hdd just rowed III
the matcn OF that year from Datchat to Windsor TO
and come To the castle see hIn when lie cOnyerSed
freely with his young visitors, asking and answering
questions in his usual saOrhke fashion. In tue
following month haf dozen tars carried the sailor
King TO his maven OF rest.
ROWING CLUBS OF THE PRESENT. DAY.
But 1t is within the last dozen years, as we have
previously remarked That rowing matches have at
traced the people al large IN Great Britain Before
that time only the wellto people and those VINO
Piled their oars as "a trade took much interest III
tEem. Ana certainly The international race between
Harvard ana oxford has vastly assisted IN making
boat races popular sport. We speak more % e'Pe, ',
cially OF London and other large cities. wheie VIC
great bulk OF the population are engrOsse4 ia u.s., vS
ness. AT the Universities and IN the sinae. e'tes
that line the banks OF broad streams VIC ioV.,t ~
gattls have for many years been events Oh tnc yeal
that all the innaDltantS feel III lncuiiDci,s upOh ,
tncm 10 witness. There are few CUES III ,1
maj nave a hetter stream for boating than ONlOrd,
ana tnat 1t Is appreciated Is oDserVaoe @ 10y M every
person VINO wanders along the banks u & ,g G sis % o
a pleasant evening IN carry suinlnv. ihv a'i9 anu aia
tbe Tnames we may STATE. constitute the same
strcam. II is called by the former name at OXFORD
ai nv inc latter from snort distance below oxford
70 mo month OF the river wnle from ITS source 10
snort Instance above oxford 1t Is known as the
ITplv Ia
"a Inc Cannon which Cambridge Is situated-wul