The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-08
SBURG VICTORIOUS.
The BOstOnian Beaten by a Hun
dred Yards.
MISERABLE WEATHER AND FEW SPECTATORS
Time-The Five Miles in Thirty Minutes
and Seven Seconds.

Convention the men Of muscle literally ''put their
oar inn and demonstrated in their own wny the
eventual triumph OF matter over mind-this being
one of the final sensations OF Phiadclnhia's big
week. The principals in this contest, unknown to
national fame, are, nevertheless, local celebrities
OF standing and SO Euch notice has the rivalry at
t-acted during the past three months that large
'aumber OF the sporting fraternity have been pres
ent in this city for some days past, the alert to
witness the struggle. Tom Butler and three other
crack scullists of the Hub published proposal as
early as February to row against any four other
in New England; also, In addition TO the above
defiance to any man OF BEEler's weight
In the country to engage in single
scull race. Butler, when IN condition, tips the
beam at 143 pounds, and this was'stipulaed in the
challenge. This sweeping challenge was gossiped
over and went the round OF the boating fraternity.
The result was that when 1t reached the smoky pre-
cncts OF Pttsburg thu pulers OF that vicinity can
vassed the matter carefully and proposed TO pit
man against the Bestonlan provided he would
allow three pounds ia the weight, the match to be
for $500 side, and to be rGwed on the nve-mile
course on the Schuylkill-the same rowed over by
Hanil and Ward in their last contest, and later by
the Biglips, Coulter and Cavitt. This answer came
from the Mckee Barge Club of Pittsburg. Butler
evidently meant business, and was prompt
in his reply. A communication signed "West
End Boat Club has forwarded from Boston to the
sporting Journals in which the desired concession
was refused and which stated that Buffers rowing
weight was 40 pounds, and three pounds had al
ready been given when the challenge was issued.
The match thus seemed to hang fire. and the water
dogs were surprised to see an
AcCEPTANCE OF THE CHALLENGE PUBLISHED
from the Mckee Club, under the date of March j.
From the circumstances attending the negota-
tons it was rather generally known that Buffers
opponent was to be Billy Scharff, expert OF the
smoky city, although his name had not as yet
been mentioned In connection with the matter.
scharn had good local reputation, having
won many contests but up to this time had
not appeared prominently before the public, ex-
cept in the Buffalo regatta OF 1871, in which he
pulled stroke oar for the Mckee Barge Club, and
helped them to win a creditable victory. The Nc
Kec men claimed the right of choosing the course,
and named the Schuylkill. Articles were mt once
forwarded by the West End Club, and were signed
Immediately the agreement being 10 row the
9TH OF June between the hours OF three and four in
the afternoon, for $500 side; not to weigh over
one hundred and forty-three pounds.
AN INAUSPICIoUs MORNING.
The morning of the 9TH looked though the
remainder of the day might have toss up
between clear and rainy. duh thin cloud covered
| the sky, and at intervals slight rain fell The
atmosphere was dun, warm and deadeuing, and the
surface Of the water was smooth and almost un-
RULED. save when the soft rain gently dimped its
! surface.
past week, accompanied by Jim liami, his precep-
tor tn training, beside number OF other
ing about seventydve persons. The state
ment that his weight was 1l6 pounds was
TO some extent inaccurate, as sufficient allow
ance was not made tor the weight OF his apparel.
He had been kept hard at work from The time OF his
arrival here, being quartered at lie ons Hotel inst
below the falls OF the Schuylkill and almost within
a stones throw of the starting point. We found
HIM in quiet, easy sleep, and were informed by
Mr.. Hamiil that he had been weighed that morning
no eli ntnI
weight, or at l37 pounds. His friends were conf
dent Of his victory and were freely taking odds,
offered up to yesterday and still retained this
idence when the betting became even.
THE EXCAVATIONS CREDITABLE LABOR
Hamill was fatter and jollier than ever, although
ne complained of recent sickness, In badly sns-
tanned doefulness. He spoke ailectionatey OF his
charge and was not behind his ncighbors in hopes
or his success The eX-champion had chaperoned
his charge very nicely through his exercise; he
was spare, heavy boned man, weighing in ordinary
nearly one hundred and sixty pounds, the task TO
bring him to the required weight was very deli
cate one.
Butter was domiciled at the vesper Boat House
under the charge of Messrs. J. ii. Carroll and his
brother, J. II. Butler The boat house is almost
adjacent TO the course.
BILLY SCHARFF.
Scharf Is just OF age and weighs when out Of
training 100 pounds. He is glassblower by trade
and up TO few weeks OF the race was steadily at
work. He has been zealously subsidized by his
club, the Mckee Barge Club, until the present &C.
cason, when his wonderful rowing has Amounted
him as the genuine aquatic wonder"
his BOAT
was OF the finest ] have ever SEEN and was
built by Mr.. Espy, OF Birmingham. Pittsburg being
the second that gentleman has ever made II is OF
superhne Spanish cedar thirty feet and six inches
in length, and eleven and q half inches WIDE to
pun with q sliding seat. His oars were OF Cork
pine, and weighed but six and q half pounds to-
gcther. His boat was named the Minnie Garlic
TOM BUTLER.
Butler has rowed some twenty races. mostly on
the ST. Charles and Mystic rivers. and at Ingle.
excellent. He has taken second souls In a race
with Walter Brown. at Boston. ana ranks with the
best oarsmen OF that city, With his brother he has
pulled some fine double SOUL contests
his CRAFT.
There is a melancholy Renaissance in connection
with his boat, the j. ID. Salmond, Jr, which was
built by the late Walter Brown. She is thirty-two
feet in length, eleven inches wide, and is over three
years old.
The men arrived here during the past week
and continued their training, Mr.. Philip
Honnger OF Philadelphia. selected
as referee and final stakeholder Scharr was
represented by Messrs. Coates and Carroll
Judges, and Mr. Butler by two gentlemen OF good
standing, but no appeal was made 10 them The
Pittsburgers made their bets little too freely just
before the race, and gave odds Of sixty to thirty,
the circumstance not warranting that course
large number OF bets made, the amount OF
money changing hands being estimated at some
ten thousand dollars. When the men appeared on
the course the rain was falling heavily. and
BUT FEW SPECTATORS APPEARED
on the shore although the tugs accompanying the
had discarded duster and patent feathers for pea
Jacket and raw hide. and did not
Hllnu nrcnchnu sCharU Had on PINK
SHIRT, blue nannel trousers ana purple
stockings. Butler was In bun above the waist with
blue nannel drawers and bare ankles, The lattcr's
development was superb, the muscles standing out
hafd aud firm, while his shoulders were covered
WIN Jumps of lenh. Scharfi, on the other hand,
looked like mere STRIPPING and hardly of sufficient
stamina 10 give battle TO ms antagonist.
TUE SIGNAL FOR STARTING
VA gwen, and beautiful start was effected. For
me nIst quarter OF vile the men rowed as though
LOT me- thelr stroke not falling short OF forty-wo
10 ,ne n,ihu.e. scharn then went slowly ahead,
Ihey neared the Columbia bridge: SchayiY
was increasing the distance. ana striking
for shore took his opponents water mass.
ing the bridge some Ave lengths ahead From
this point he seemed to have the race in hand and
slowly but surely Increased his distancn ana I'm rned
the lower stakcboat some iwcnty lengthy i'm nd.
vance. On the return ne was scventy.dye wards in
advance when on the fourth mile and rested ON his
oars to return the salute given him from the tugs
which had laid aside TO allow them to pass.