The New York herald., 1874-07-09
The Contest at Springfield Yesterday
Between Scharf and Brown.
The Five-Mile Heat and $4, 900 in
Gold Won by Brown.
PITTsBURG BADLY BEATEN.
The Nova Scotian Rows Over the Course
in 36 Minutes, As Seconds.

ship. George Brown, the Nova Scotian fisherman
and provincial Oarsman, has vanquished william
Scharn the Pittsburg professor Of aquatics and is
now possessor OF not only the champ OF the
Continent on tins side OF the Atlantic, but also the
winner OF the handsome purse Of $4,000 in gold
This contest has been anticpa ed with an interest
unprecedented in the history Of American aquat-
les, and PROBABLY 1t was the occasion OF a larger
assemblage OF professional and amateur boating
men than was ever before gathered together in
this country. New York. PitIsburg, Boston, ST.
John and Halifax were more largely represent ted
than any other localities and among the old
knights OF the oar who were around were such as
the ward brothers, Ten Eyck. Morris, oiPittsburg;
Tom Butler, OF Boston, a host of others OF less
renown. There were also present lew aquatic
collegians, who interrupted their journey to the
Saratoga regatta to witness the event in the
annals of American boating. Besides all these
there was of course, the presence OF the
general public, all of which combined to render the
occasion a perfect gala In every particular.
Springfield people themselves did not 90 wild over
the event, fact which is probably accounted for
by the transferring OF the American College
gatta from this city to Saratoga. The taking away
OF so many greenbacks was more than the prudent
"Yanks'' OF the valley could pleasantly SUBJ
NIT to, and hence their spiteiul indifference
to everything else In the line OF boating. All
the elements OF nature combined to add success
and pleasure TO the occasion. gentle rain early
in the morning disposed Of the dust for the day,
and the cloudess sky and the absence or wind
LETT everything IN a condition near perfection
as was possible at the scene of the race. About
six O'Clock in the evening the Connecticut River
was never more placid, ana the contestants as
well as the SPECTATORS. were in ecstacies over The
brilliant auspices which favored the race from the
beginning to the end.
THE CONDITIONS or THE RACE.
The articles Of agreement which were complied
with In this exciting aquatic contest, have been
adhered to In every particular. They first stipu-
lated that the pull should be for s., 900, in gold
side, making the magnificent little sum Of 81. 900
in the yellow circulating medium which many
OF the older readers OF the HERALD will
remember as once IN general circulation
in the United States. Together with this
since the aquatic championship of the United
States and British Provinces went to the victor.
1t was also agreed that the race should be row ed
over the same course of the Connecticut River
that tne st. John or Paris and Ward Brothers.
crews contested; that 1t should be at an hour to
be mutually agreed upon a couple OF days before
the race; smooth water to be required the condi-
ton of the water to be decided by the referee,
who is also empowered to postpone the
race to the next day, or the first la
New York. to be final stakeholder; the men
to toss for choice of position before starting Tor
the race and started by the word 'go;" the men
TO start from two boats forty yards apart and to
row two and half miles to their respective stake
boats, and return to line OF starting. each man to
turn his own stakebOat from right to left the
boats to be forty yards apart. One of the articles
had special reference to ''coachers," ana provided
that no boat or boats should be allowed to accom-
pany the men over the course. Other articles req
ulated the use OF the water as recognized by all
Oarsmen and to forfeiture for non compliance with
specifications in the articles.
THE COURSE
which is the one speclfed in the articles OF agree
ment, stretches along the entire line of the lower
part OF the city. 1t was rebuoyed last evening by
Mr.. Ellis the City Engineer Of Springfield, and in
the presence and to the satisfaction Oi both Brown
and Scharh. The rebuoying of the course was rem
dered necessary In consequence of the landmarks
on the shore having become obliterated. BY the
timely discovery OF . map OF the original regatta
course, when the Ward and Paris crews rOwed
some years ago, the defining OF the terminating
race therefore, was laid out according to this sur
vey, the starting points being directly opposite
extreme southerly boundary OF the city.
THE COMPETITORS
In American boating circles PROBABLY Scharf.
the Pittsburg 0arsman, ls the best known OF tne
twO His latest appearance in puDilc was at Pougn-
keepse on v the 25 h u where he was vananshed
three mile contest the latter going
over the course in twensj five minutes.
He Is eleven years younger than Brown, and OF
mucn lighter build. His first "bign race was in
1859 with Scott. the English Oarsman, whom he
badly defeated on the Monongahea opposite Pitts
burg. He rOwed in a boat made by Epsey, the
weight of which was about twenty-nine pounds.
Brown, Of whom comparatively little is known
outside Of the lower Provinces OF the Dominion Is
peculiar man and quite study in his looks as
you regard him In the light OF u sculer about 10
a tor a Gfa md thn ntnn rNf
this continent. lie Is the picture OF a Nova Scotia
fisherman, Is thirty-six years OF age aud has iul-
lie Is not very taking fellow for an athletes stands
. leet TO- weighs 100 pounds. His chest is not of
his girtb there is not over IS inches. His muscular
development Is, however, fine. His sinews are hard
as whip cords. In rowing his style Is more with
the arms. He pulls opon-banded, and the slide to
his seat Is not near that OF his opponents. The
great confidence elt IN. his upright, quick
with the arms-is based upon what he
has shown. In the fve-mile race with Btglin
at Halifax last year he pulled it through and
came home as fresh as II only out to draw his
lobster pots. Another act gives his friends con-
hdence. All his rowing has been Tor long distances
and under circumstances calling forth q stamina
that his more youthful looking contestant may
hardly be expected to possess Brown began his
Halliax champion belt, and being defeated by
George Lovett, wnom ne in turn vanquished the
nual victories TO hold IL. Ia 1868 ne was
pronounced the champion Of the harbor.
1874 rowed in a iour-oared boat and also
In single scnll race at The time Of the Halifax
carnival The competitors OF the Pryor-Brown
crew were the Winsnip-TaylOr crew OF Newcastle,
England; the Cnanbers-Kelly crew, of London, OF
which Renforth was member, though he died q.
81. John Just before the race: the Barton and
Roach crews, OF HALIFAX and the Coulter -BiglIn
crew, OF New York. The Taylor-WInship crew
won, Browns crew being only three and o half
seconds behind. TWO days AFTER that he pulled IN
the single scul race against Harry Kelly, ofLondon;
Robert Bagnal, OF Newcastle; Joseph II. Sadier, OF
tpr a tfSpI %
George Lovett, OF Nova Scotia. The race WAS won
by Sader with BrOws second. The latter used
apler-Dlache boat. which placed him at some
slight disadvantage. His next race was In 1872
with Robert Futon OF ST. John, n D., and was
rowed ut Digby n. s., over lour-ne course.
Brown was the winner in 24m. 25s. His last I'M
portant test was against Biglin. IL was ahve-
mile pull and he won 1t In 3Sm. 40.
Brown mas two boats here OF English make,
having been huL nlIkG by LeMeLL at New