The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-18

House to Scottswood Suspension Bridge The
resulted in victory for Elliott who beat Higgins by
about three lengths. Elliott consequently retains
the Challenge Cup.
PERFORMANCES OF THE MEN.
William Elliott of Blyth, is about thirty years of
age having been born in Northumberland at the be-
ginning of lS49. He began life as an agricultural
laborer but later on had turn at coal mining, which
gained him the cognomen of the 'pitman,' generally
applied to him to the present day. Having evinced
some talent for sculling there not wanting
people to admire his almost herculean strength and
he was encouraged after few minor efforts to sign
articles with George Martin. of Blyth, for match
for f25 side. This took place i'll April 1874 and the
"pitman" scored his first victory Of any account.
Later on he met W. Robinson of Newcastle also in
. ESQ match. and then had to knock under. Having
shortly afterward beaten g. Fairless. of South
Shields he entered into competition with j. Finni
gan for flo and for the second time had to be
tent with second place. This to have con-
sderably daunted him. for he rested quietly awhile,
only coming out to compete with we'll known man.
Alexander Hogarth, Of Sunderland The race
tor ESQ and Elliott was triumphant. Next he low
sred the colors of George Tarryer. Tyneside was
cow prompted to activity by the munifcence of the
propretors of the Newcastle Clroxicle. who offered
magnificent challenge cup for the encouragement of
sculling Elliott of the first to enter for the
trophy. but in his heat he had to knock under
to Nicholson. On January Is. 1878. he contended
with II. Bagnan on the Tyne and beat his antagonist
handsomely He was now destined to fly at higher
game Some one was required to tackle Hig-
gins for the championship OF England on
behalf Of the northern river. and W. Nichol-
son, of Stockton-on-Tees, had cast down
Saa at least 70 do bas On 'b ba
half of the Newcastle contingent, and finally it
arranged that he and Nicholson should measure
1,lo.ln1 ne
from the Shadwen man. The twain entered into an
engagement to scull for f100 side. and rather
severe tussle ensued Elliott however. demonstrated
himself to be the posseSor of the greater amount Of
stamina and he eventually won with great ease. He
had now mounted high on the ladder OF fame and
was deemed by his enthusiastic supporters to be
well nigh good enough for anything. Hurry Thomas
evinced inclination Tor "taking him on" and the
Biyth scullers patrons not slow in closing with
the offer. Performances were duly settled. and
May last the pair came together ON the Thames.
Thomas easily beaten than even
the most enthusiastic admirer Of the northerner
dared to hope and naturally such complete victory
elevated Elliott more into favor with his intimates.
ALI sorts of rumors obtained currency to the mode
Ia which he destined to settle Higgins and it
the earnestly desired In the north that he
should do account of the Londoner having only
to win the Challenge Cup once more for 1t to become
his own property and to finally bid adieu to Tyne
side. The details OF the match for the championship
must be fresh i'll the recollection OF ALL for Elliott
succumbed in remarkable style, and thereby his
adherents sustained heavy pecuniary discourage
ment. Elliott beat Higgins in the international
regatta the Thames last summer, thereby winning
the title OF champion This led to the present mach
Higgins defeat was one OF the things that could
not be accounted for he was supposed to be uncon
querable.
success during the last few years. must be pretty
well known to the majority of those who take in
terest In aquatics. Sill, for the benefit of people
who may not be acquainted with the details OF his
many achievements. we will briefly recapi uate the
chief races in which he has taken part. He born
ut Shadwen May 2. 1874, and thus is now nearly
thirty five years Of age. Following the arduous
cupation Of coal whipper. he did not take any part
in sculling contests until rather late period Of his
lfe Indeed, the first any Importance in which
he figured rowed October 26, 1874 when he de-
feated r. W. Burwood over the Thames Championship
Course. Mr.. Charles Bush then recognized his ability
and encouraged him to persevera. He was shortly
pitted against Anthony Strong. of FuIness.
Q sculer who in the North looked upon with
small degree Of favor. He however. had to lower
his colors to Higgins who vanquished him with the
Mortlake in 23m. U.s. Con Brian then evinced an in
clinaton to try conclusions with him, and
readily accommodated. Con had known Higgins in
the old days, when they were given to heaving sacks
OF coal On this occasion he was beaten easily This
succession OF victories naturally raised tho Shadwel
man very high in public favor and when it became
known that he had been matched to contest with
Robert Watson Boyd, man who was fancied in the
North as being eminenty able to uphold the reputa.
ton of the coaly river, inconsiderabe amount OF
public excitement was occasioned. Boyd found more
than his match, aud once again it was recorded that
Higgins never Afforded bk opponent "look in.'
In the International Regatta Of 1875 Higgins met
with his first notable defeat. He there met Black
man. and after severe struggle was vanquished He
claims that on that occasion he was exceedingly un
WELL After Sadler had been beaten by Trickett the
for the championship of the world, the Shadwel
representative challenged the colonial The latter
however, wise in his generation and quietly be-
took himself to his distant home without rsking the
loss OF his newly acquired honors. Higgins then
claimed the title OF champion az England although
be not long allowed to hold IL ere his old oppo
nent Boyd. expressed his determination Of endcavor
Ing to wrest it from him. The pair met on May %.
1877, on remarkably stormy day, the Thames
being one mass OF SURF. Higgins did not seem
water and Boyd going ahead won almost as he liked
Although this defeat was sore Encouragement
to Higgins he did not hesitate June IL OF the
year to second time enter into rivalry with his old
opponent Blackman. This race Of the most
disappointing ones ever Witnessed on tho Thames.
Foul after foll occurred until reaching Chiswick
Eyot Higgins boat sank under him. and being ac-
commodated with skin he formally rowod over the
getting the race awarded to him on the foul
1t must be- stated that Higgins never felt satisfied
with the result OF his match with Boyd, and he
nestly desired to have another 80 at the Gateshcd
Again the weather uniavorablc, and confident
were the Tynesidcrs that they freely laid to on
their msn Higgins sf,sr snd prosS
he secured victory by seven lengths. in
2im. los. Still does not seem that Boyd was salts
fed and for the fourth time he wished TO moct the
Shudwel scullcr Articles having been drawn up the
race occurred the lyme on January IA OF last year.
The result was o melancholy one. FOR Boyd after
Just before Redheugh bridge was reached anu. being
right in Higgins course the latter rowcd into him,
aud nearly.as possible sunk. his boat having
become severely damaged. Having obtained ano ther
craft he rowed over and was awarded the race. BY
this time another candidate fame had arisen in tho
North of England in the person of William Elliott,
who was declared 10 be one OF the most prom sing
scullers that had boon for many years This
inni was quickly selected to endoavor TO retrieve
matters on behalf of Tyncsde, aud he challenged
Higgins for the championship. The struggle
occurred ON Monday. June 3. on tho
Thames, and II regarded with much
more than ordinary interest. On the day oil the
contest the Northerners mustored strongly, and
svnced such disposition for speculation that they
placed their man ia tho position OF tavorte just pror
10 the start 1t will be recouecscd that u very hot
RAGS ensucd as far as just above tho Soap Works,
when Elliott suddenly collapsed, aud higgins shoot
ing away 10 the front. almost he liked. Very
few words Will 10 necessary respecting the Shadwel
scullers performance In the late International Re
gatta lie was beaten In the fours, in the pairs and
IN the sculling contest after having again defeated
Boyd In his first heat On coming into contact with
Elliott however, no started unfortunately, almost
catching crab, in consequence OF the
iIa