The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-05-13

The FE1s1SGER-LAYBERGIR Boat
RACE RAteiing Mtsoie TFiunphS.-rhs
long talked Of sculling match between
Louis Felainger, Of the aegner Boat Club,
Wheeling, and Nick Layberger, Of the
DannAls Club, Pittsburgh, took place on
Saturday evening, and resulted In an
easy victory for the Wheeling man. The
excursion trains on both sides OF the
river, from this city and vicinity, were
literally patronized, and it Is estimated
that fully 600 persons from this locality
witnessed the race. The early train on
the P. W. & Ky. Road took up nearly 200
excursionists, and the noon train about
twice as many more, while q good many
went up on the Q. 4 P. Road.
I. The race was for purse OF 5000; dis.
lance, three miles. Layberger had the
advantage Of Felsinger in heit, being
about fifteen pounds heavier, but the
friends Of the latter relied upon his
"staying qualities" and the men were
considered very closely matched. Lay
berger was generally the favorite at the
pool selling, however, although the odds
offered we're not large. As the time for
the race approached, Layberger'e friends
became more cautious and Felsinger's
more bold, and but little betting was
done, each side demanding odds and
neither giving any.
The impression was general during the
afternoon that the race would have 10 be
postponed, owing 10 stiff breeze which
prevailed, and this, perhaps, TO a great
extent accounted for the pcrceptible "let.
up 10 betting. Toward evening, how.
ever, an immense crowd Of people Assem-.
bled TO witness the race. 1t was nearly
seven o'clock before the water was con-
sidcred smooth enough to make the start,
and everything being 10 readiness, at pre-.
cisely one minute past seven the word was
given by the referee, Mr.. John Rees, and
both men left the foot OF 10th street, the
starting point, and pulled up the river.
Felsinger rowed in u borrowed boat
one foot shorter and half an inch less
draft than that used by Llyberger. Lay.
berger's colors were light blue, while
Felsinger wore blue pants and shirt. The
scullers were conveyed over the course
by two four.o cared boats, one manned by a
Wheeling crew and the other by crew
from the Mckee club, Of Pittsburgh.
Mr.. John Rees, a heater at Lewis, Oliver
4 Phillips Mill, on the South Side, Pitts.
burgh, was the referee, and had his stand
on the tug Ella McClaskey, which fol.
lowed the contestants over the course.
Layberger pulled slightly ahead a
short distance from the starting point,
his strokes being at the rate Of about
,hirty-eight a minute, while Felsinger
followed at the rate OF thirty. five strokes
per minute. Layberger soon began to
iose his wind, allowing Felsipger TO gain
on him steadily, and at the distance OF
one. half mile from the starting point the
Wheeling man overlook him and passed
him. Felsinger continued in the lead,
and turned the buoy about twenty seconds
10 advance Of Layberger. On the home
stretch Lsyberger pulled up smartly and
made up for some Of his lost time, but
was Just forty-fiye seconds behind Fell
singer when the latter crossed the line
and won the race in twenty.three min
utes and ten seconds.
The race was decided fair and square
by the referee, and the stakeholder, Mr..
II. W. Beaumont, paid the money
promptly over to Felsinger. Owing 10
The darkness at the finish the crowd on
the shore could not tell who was the
winner until the tug landed. OF course
the Wheeling boys were hilarious over
the result as they certainly had good
cause to be. Felsinger's friends are al
ready talking Of matching him with
George W. Weisgerber, Of this city, who
witnessed Saturdays race, and who is
understood to have declared just pre-
viOus 10 the start that he would challenge
Felsinger whether he won or lost.
The excursion train which left here at
p. NJ. on the P. W. & Ky. Road made
the trip in excellent time, arriving in
Pittsburgh about o'clock. 1t was gen.
orally understood that the train would
leave Pittsburgh on the home run at 0 P.
NJ, but some time before that hour the
Officers in charge were induced to remain
until II o'clock by large number Of the
excursionists, who desired TO visit some
place Of amusement during the evening.
The announcement OF this change Of pro /.
gramme was posted in the "Tivoli
Garden" which was sort OF rendezvous
for the Wheeling delegation, and seemed
to give very general satisfaction. Many
OF the boys had won heavily on their man.
and none had lost, while all felt elated
over the success Of their champion, SO
that the opportunity Of "haviug a good
time" was not TO be lost. II was accord
iugly about midnight before the train left
the city. Arriving at steubenville, there
was good deal Of delay in getting rid Of
the delegation from that town, owing 10
the fact that they were most all asleep
and had to be severally shaken up and
told that they were not needed longer.
About o'clock in the morning the train
arrived at the depot at the foot Of llth
street, and our boys, tired, cold and
sleepy, but withal good humored, dispers-
ed to their several homes.