Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-11
TIE INTERIM TIONAL BOAT RACE.

TIE INTERNAL IONAL BOAR RACE.
From the correspondence of the Boston
Advertiser we clip the following account OF
the boat race at Springfield, Mass, on the 9Th,
between George Brown Of Halifax and Will
liam Scharff of Pittsburg, in which the former
was the winner.
The hour for the start came and everything
seemed to favor; but gathering clouds in the
west, and muttering thunders and the form of
glittering rainbow across the southern sky
foreboded wind and rain. The moments
passed slowly by, and the contestants did not
appear. Impotence began to show itself
among the vast crowds, and anxious fears were
felt lest through some Encouragement there
should be a fatal delay. Commodore Brady,
the referee, was, however, on hand, and soon
the little Clyde steamed up the river from the
lower stake boat, where she had lett two OF
the judges. This was signal for the oars.
men to embark. Scharff responded first, and
pushed his little craft cut into the stream.
loud and generous burst of applauses greeted
him on every hand. He wore blue pantaloons
and a pink shirt. Brown was not slow in
following. Two of his friends carried his
boat for him and placed it in the water. He
stepped into it almost mechanically and adj
justed his oars, without word or smile
of recognize n to the many friends about him
and the applauses which he received preserv-
ing to a marked degree the GOODNESS and re-
serve which is peculiar to him. There was
perhaps slight twitching of the mouth and
muscles of the arms, a sign of the nervous
ness which he would not have been human
had he not felt. lie, too, wore blue panta-
looms, but his brawny chest and broad, knot
ted back were bare. Both men looked in mag
nifcent condition, but entirely different. 1t
was plain to distinguish the full developed
bone and sinew of the hardy man from the
lighter and more graceful figure of the youth,
and one could but feel sort of special SYM
pathy for the latter.
The stake-boats were anchored forty feet
apart in the centre of the stream. In each of
these judge was stationed who held the
sterns of the respective boats, Scharf got the
inside and in some respects the advantage,
being in deep water and more in the centre OF
the current, while Brown took the water
where it was comparatively shallow. The
word ego" was given at precisely twenty min
utes of six. Away shot the boats like slender
arrows from the bow, and at the instant up
went a mingled chorus Of shouts and frantic
yells that was almost deafening. Brown ap.
peared to move more rapidly than his oppon-
impression upon those on the bank nearest to
him. Scharff threw the water for one or two
strokes, but they both soon settled down to
their work. Steadily they dipped their oars,
recovered and dipped again, Scharff pulling
forty one and Brown thirty eight minute.
So even were they as they passed down the
course into the distance that it was impossi-
BILE to tell with the naked eye or by the aid of
powerful glasses which had the advantage.
Brown apparently took bad course, making
q sharp angle at the bend in the river, while
Scharff gradually bore away on the inside
track. At the end of the first mile and half
they were almost head and head, Brown lead
ing perhaps just little, and pulling thirty
four against Scharffs thirty-six. At the turn
however, he had increased it plainly and pass
ed round the stake boat full length ahead of
his rival. Both men then pulled thirty eight.
Bown having obtained this lead kept it easily.
His friends at the starting point were not slow
in perceiving who was ahead as he came round
the bend of the river on his return. They
knew their darling Georges stroke the mo-
ment their loving eyes rested on it. Quickly
the cry browns ahead was caught and
shouted up and down the stream till the ech-
oes answered back from every quarter. 1t
soon became evident to the most doubling that
the Scotians were not deceived and that
DTOWu WAS W win Tue race. lie lHst Hall-
mile seemed to drag heavily on both. Brown
had slowed to thirty two and Scharff, although
only about two lengths behind, could not
make a squirt. They crossed the line in these
relative positions, Brown making the five
miles in 80 minutes and % seconds and Scharff
in sc minutes 81 seconds. The applause,
which had hardly ceased since the men were
first seen RETURNING, was renewed and pro-
longed by thousand. The contestants came
together along the stake-boat, and Scharff
cordially, and with smile that did not seem
at all forced, extended his hard. 1t was
warmly shaken by Brown with an expression
that displayed more pleasure than he was
seen to wear at any other time.
The following is summary
CONNECTICUT RIVER, SPRINGFIELD, July S.
"A race for $1,000 in gold a side; course five
miles, two miles and half and repeat, over
the same course that the Ward Brothers and
the Paris crew contested time, afternoon.
George Brown of Halifax
William Scharff 9
Time-36. o.