The New York herald., 1879-08-10
THE PITTSBURG REGATTA.
THE FINAL HEATS OF THE AQUATIC REUNION
BABDITr THE WINNER OF THE AMATEUR

LIE FINAL HEATS OF THE AQUATIC hEtNioN-
BABDITr THE WINNER OF THE AMATEUR
RACE AND RILEY THE PROFESSIONAL con-
TEST.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
PIrTsBuRG. Pa. August g. 1879.
Tho final heats in the regatta to-day were both
good but the profes siona race by far ahead of
anything that has been for q long time
The wind blew during the morning and
kept the air cool and pleasant, but the men
wanted to get rest from yesterdays work
and none of them took any exercising spins.
"Frenchy" Johnson said, this morning that some
one had cut hole in his boat during the night. He
raised great hue and cry about 1t, and said
that it had been done to prevent his winning.
/ looked at the cut 1t scratch
that did not injure the boat particle Everybody
laughed at the fuss he made. and then he said he
was not in condition; that ne was sick and had
no chance to win. Just before the race
started he said he would not at all.
and he did not. If he had rowed the best posted
boatmen said he would OF get the third place
A large crowd-some six seven thousand at least
were present to see the rowing, as it was thought
that the last heat would be lively one, and it was
SHORT COURSE.
The time given by the referee for the heats yester-
day rdiculously low that 1t evident there
was sonnet hing wrong with the course On measure
each way, 400 yards in all. The referees atten-
tion was called to this and he moved the starting
point to cover the shortage.
OF THE AMATEURS.
At five O'Clock the first race was called This was
the final of the amateurs, and it was neat race,
Babbit, Brannon, Morris and Handy being the start
Brannon held the lead till near the turn, when
he was taken with cramp and fell down i'll his boat
Babbit then took the leap when Norris and he had
tussle for the first place. but Babbit won by five
lengths, with Morris second and Handy third Time,
15n. 35s.
TIVE rppoFrssroyAIs-r1NAI, HEAT
When the professional race was called Riley. Plas-
ted, Kennedy Lee and Layberger answered the call.
Riley was next to him. Kennedy had the middle of
the river and Plasted the north side. The referee
they were ready. and told them to go all in
the breath. Riley did not catch the start well.
and both Plaisted and Kennedy got five or six
strokes ahead OF him. Lee, by q rapid squirt, took
the lead and held it for about fifty yards, when Riley
forced the pace up to terribly wearing gait
well for the first mile and held an with
Kennedy. but suddenly he seemed to get weak and
he slackened up slightly and fell behind Kennedy.
who had good second place ut the turn. with Lee
third. Riley turned first in On. los. and started
home with three lengths lead Kennedy made
neat turn around his buoy and so did Lee. Riley
says the current was very strong, and that it was
terribly hard rowing. He seemed to fni it so. in
Decd for he had to Keep nus stroke up 70 "a IN order
to preserve his lead The men came to the finish i'll
the order they turned As Riley drew near
the referees boat he steered for the north bank to
avoid the current. the other men were getting in
very close to him. He got tangled in the weeds for
instant, but released himself and whired in over
the line in magnificent style length and
third ahead of Kennedy. Lee made it very
hot for Kennedy and was beaten by about quarter
of length. Plaisted came in very bad fourth
with Layberger about five feet behind him. The
time given by the referee was Riley. pom. 27s. but
Mr. Rankin, of the Boston Herald. who had a timing
piece, made 1t 20m. II u.s., and did one or two
Others The all say that it was the hottest
they have been in for several and that they
are sure was fast II it 20m 27s. it would be
the fastest threemile time record by 13 seconds
The crowd was very enthusiastic over the beauty
of the race and were loud in their applause. john
son acted foolishly, and hurt his standing. The
managers ma le money and will have another regatta
here in the tall.