The New York herald., 1877-09-17
SWIMMING MATCH.
AN EXCITING SWIMMING MATCH OFF GOMEZ
ISLAND BEACH-wADE, OF BROOKLYN, DE.

AN EXCITING SWIMMING MATCH OFF CoNEy
ISLAND BEACH-wADE, OF BROOKLYN, DE-
FEATs PRINCE, OF ST.. LOUIS.
Tho return match between George II. Wade, of
Brooklyn and Frank Prince of st. Louis, decided
yesterday afternoon Coney Island waters, or Felt
mans Ocean Pavilion. The comparatively easy man.
nor in which Frank Prince defeated Wade at Long
Branch last Monday established that swimmers rcpu
ation in tho East, and worry large crowd Of peoplo
wont down to Concy Island yesterday afternoon to
witness tho contest. Tho match was advertised in
small handbis to be over u nve-milc Tor tho
stake of S40O SIDE About two O'Clock =. II. several
hundred people assembled on the beach and In
around the barrooms aud were most OF them discussing
the coming match. There was then rather thick log
outside, and IT was announced that tho would not
take place until four O'Clock r. NJ During the inter
val the crowd took look at the contestants VINO were
standing around the platform in front OF the Pavilion.
Is "a" a magnacout looking man, standing SIX
ees four inches IN MS socknys ana sealing
OF age, and strips well, with fine expansive chest
and good straight limbs Wade looks like nero boy
alongside this Western aant Is only twenty years of
age aud weighs l72 pounds II was presently reported
that in order TO make the match interesting Wade was
to receive ve minu es' from Prince ION
that public deemed very liberal on tho part OF the
giants backers Soon afterwards there was an attempt
to sell pools on the match, but tho auctoneer was inn
brought 10 boar those III ok headed iunciionarics
could not make them understand that II Morissey
sold pools AT Saratoga IL wins legal 10 sell pools Mt
Concy Island The failure Of this financial speculation
was rather annoying to tho parties Interested and
resulted IN caucus OF the principals and backers and
Judging from the fact that about four T. NJ the swim
mers went To thcrrooms 10 undrcss some satisfactory
arrangement was made. The crowd then rushed down
10 the beach and by this time there woro over thou
sand spectators waiting to see the start
TO THE STAINING POINT
Tho men presently made their appearance attircd in
"A
over ms shoulders as preventive against u chill
wh'e they we're being pulled out 10 the starting point
The crowd Jostlcd and pushed each other ABOUT in
Their anxiety 10 obtain good Wow Of the swimmers,
and good many went homo with wet fect by way Of
a remembrance Of the waves that came rolling in.
Prince started rst seated IN the stern OF his boat
Wado followed In another craft few minutes later
accommodation OF the gentlemen OF tho PRESS but
further consideration IT was probably not deemed
necessary that they should anything OF the race.
While tho men were being pulled out TO the starting
point young man with long blonde hair ana
touching blonde mustachc was endeavoring to excite
n little speculation. He had a packagc of
tickets and book boiorc him and informed the spec
tutors that there nineteen tickets sold on Wade
and thrteon on Prince. Hc also added that Prince
was the lav0rtc before the stepped into thor
boats, piece oil information which tho bystanders
evidently appreciated, as the young man with the
and finally left IN disgust In tho meanwhile tho
boats pulled on In southery direction until thcy had
gone at tho iarthcst one mile ana hall. wade then
jumped into tho watcf and five minutes later Prince
was also battling the waves. The crowd stood pa
tently on the peach and watched tho boats
they came slowly back 10 the shoro. Tho
swimmers were not distinguished the
wator until they about a couple OF
hundred yards from shore. wado was then about
thirty or forty yards ahead, but Prince slowly CLOS
ing up the gap Tho crowd now became intensely In
crcstcd over tho race and shouted Wade frantic
excitement. IL tho had been pulling for
1000, tho spectators could not have been moro
Unused Prince gradually gained on Wade but the lat
ter managed 10 keep his lead and landed about two
tbrco yards In advance OF the giant Wade was mmc
diaely rushed OF TO his room amid the ohecrs OF the
spectators, and Prince followed quietly anerward,