The New York herald., 1873-09-25
THE BROWN-BIGLM RACE.
A Splendid Aquatic Contest
at Halifax.
BROWN THE WINNER.
The Race Won in Thirty y-eight Minutes and
Forty-tiVe Seconds.
Enthusiasm of the Nova
Scoti;Sns.

ScOti;1nS.
HALIFAX, Sept. "a, 1873.
The single scul match between John A. Biglin, OF
New York. and George Brown, Of Halifax took
place to-day at Bedford basin, three miles from the
city. The course was one OF five miles, with one
turn and the stakes 81, 900 side, Bglin receiving
$3.50 expenses. 1t win be remembered that after
Biglin defeared Ward and became champion OF
America, he inquired OF Brown II challenge
standing from the latter against Sader, champion
OF England might be considered as extending to
him also, Brown sent an affirmative reply, and
alter negotiations had been carried on for
q short time, match was about
TO be settled upon for August %, when
the arrangements fell through, owing to the alb
sence from New York Of the gentleman who had
undertaken to bring on the affair. The match was
however, only temporarily delayed, and about a
fortnight ago it finally arranged to take place
,hree days after the ST. John regatta. That event
being postponed from wednesday until Thursday
last rendered it necessary to delay the present
event until last Monday. Biglin, after losing the
Bt. John regatta scull race, came to Halifax.
and after meeting Browns representatives 1t was
mutually agreed to postpone the contest until yes
terday, in order TO afford Biglin an opportunity to
become somewhat familiar with the course. The
water on which the contest took place is not in
appropriately named basin, being six miles long
and some four miles wide, with from six to eighty
fatLoms Of water all over 1t and rise and fall of
six feet Of tide.
THE COURSE
s on Its western side from what is known the
Three Mile House to the Princes Lodge, structure
In which the Duke Of Kent, Queen vict0ria's
father, nsed to hold high carnival in the earlier
days OF the history OF Halifax. The wind
from the eastward OF any point between north and
south renders the course rough, but a race in the
finest boats may be rowed with five or six knot
westerly breeze from the start the turning buoys
and home again. The course is commanded by
sites from which more than the whole city's popu.
latiOn could view a race over it. There has been
little to render the whole arrangements connected
with this match anything but agreeable to Biglin.
However, his defeat in st. John, when 1t seemed
that he had the race in his hands, was quite blow
as his friends had laid their money him at two
and three to one in his avor and they eel that he
made a great mistake in rowing a waiting race, as
they believe II was. When he came here there
was -
LITTLE DISPUTE
IN reference to the money in which the stakes were
to be put up. Biglin was allowed to have his way.
however, and the race was made Tor $1,000 Ameri-
allowed in kind. The friends OF both parties, as
well as the public generally, were annoyed by the
delay OF yesterday, when the event might have
been decided had those managing 1t been a little
more experienced in such matters. AS it was,
tueTe was SuOOtu water, WaltinK referee, Dut
neither the oarsmen nor their friends on the
course. Disappointed Halifax went home last night
one had nna this sha at
o'clock some two or three thousand persons were
again obliged to leave the shores OF the basin
account OF another postponement. At that time
the wind was SOUTH blowing six knot breeze up
the course. and the fog came in very thickly.
Three O'Clock was the hour appointed for the
tussle, should the water be smooth, and at half
past two Sheriff Harding, OF st. John. referee with
Barney Bign and J. scryven, judges for the men
boat, their official boat having got ashore.
THE CONTESTANTS ON THE COURSE
Brown, whose boat was kept about quarter of
. mile from the starting point, came out few
minutes past three. He wore drawers and.shoes
only. Biglin. with his boat blackleaded, came out
just after. He wore drawers shoes and thin
white shirt trimmed with blue. Brown ad won
being nearest the referees boat. At nine minutes
and ten seconds past three the word ''Go'' was
the quickest, and sent his boat to leading posi-
ton SO rapidly that although the odds OF
two and three to one had been against INN, MS
For quarter OF q mile his rowing was most mag
nihcent Brown meantime bowled alCng with
somewhat slower stroke than the champion, but 1t
was q clean one close observers realized that he
was padding his own canoe In has own way, re-
THE RACE WAS LONG ONE.
Alter half q mile had oeen covered Brown's
beend was Sat Sa o
seat and squirting IN manner calculated TO tell on
him before the turn. At the Fourmne House, mile
and. nnder the influence OF cheers from the
crowd ashore, spurted and passed him hand.
the lead. TWO miles up the course Biglin
dashed towards Brown with an effort which
to those the boat Wac Se
that a foul would result, but he fell short OF the
stern Of the Haligonian's boat and went in shore
very considerably. Barney Bigin, from the judges
boat, now signaled John to keep of shore. and Mr.:
Scryvcn objected, but sheriff Harding said he could
not prevent any such action on the part OF the
THREE LENGTHS AHEAD
but did not make so good turn as Bglin, VINO on
1t was now that Browns steady swing told. Inch
by inch his shell left that OF the American cham
piOn, who rowed his level best In a stern chase.
Within mile OF the home line Brown appeared TO
row at his ease, some twelve lengths ahead bignn
kept too far out and had more rough wafer tnan a
his opponent; for the wind, now blowing hve-
knot breeze up the course, drew little on shore.
When within 2e0 yards OF the home line Brown
made the prettiest exhibition oirowlng that ne had
WINNING IN THIRTy-EIGHT MINUTES FoHrf-F's
followed by gir,in lust thirty seconds afer, or cal
culating boats lengths by the length OF the course
and time, made between eleven and twelve lengths
behind. When Biglin r0wed up to the judges boat
and was asked II the race had been fair one, he
said II had, but that the water was rough, when
od h he Sas won tSe race 70 when Bs
Iowed TO the shore and was asked II he was fairly
beaten he replied that George Brown always beat
an opponent lairly. Biglin has just told me
that Brown is the best oarsman he ever rowed
against and that this is the first match race that
he has lost out Of fourteen he has contested.
THE ENTHUSIASM
OF the people was great during the last ten minutes
and u continues up TO the present. A careful estl
mate places the amount OF money at stake on the
event at about $4,000, averaging two to one in
favor OF Brown. Blgln and his friends leave for
home in the morning. Some OF Browns hackers
are now talking OF sending him to Eng a nd to row
Sadler. He may, at all events, now be considered
champion OF America.
THE RACE
In giving the necessary voucher 10 enable Brown
H<d ho fol arl6 If-.c
marked that, In an experience in boating extend
ing over thirty years he had learned that a long
race could not be won by q crew or single oaysman
unless extraordinary care was bestowed on prac
tice and training. He hoped Bgiin would pardon
linn tor the observation, but, In his Judgment, he
snond have been in preparing for the contest.
Bigin said, in reply, that should he again en-
account of himself