Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-05-08
The TYNE Boat Race.

course , SIS miles in length, Wa, rowcd in
80 minutes and ) seconds The crowds along
the banks of the river were immense.
The start was effected at ~ - O'Clock.
Ilawdon got the first good grip of the water
and had covered nearly one-half length be
fore Ilanlan was in motion. The latter how
ever. recovered level position with two
sweeps of his souls llawd0n was striking
light. rapid stroke of T. to the minute, but
was going rather unsteadily. llanlan, while
exertng enormous power. was rowing quite
10 strokes to the minute. He had taken only
some half dozen strokes when the contrast
between the men became strongly apparent.
IIanlan drew away rapidly. and before loo
wards had been covered was length to the
good. The next moment he had drawn clear
and when off Wylie's Quay had left length
of daylight between the boats. Still he dld
not decrease his stroke, and at the east end
of skinner Burn he had another length to
the good. He then received signal from
Bright 10 take matters easily. and responded
nv dropping his stroke down to - to the min
ute lIawd0n by this time had settled down
into his wel-known staying stroke of 30 to
the minute. and his boat was travelling much
better than at first. The time to skinner
Burn was ! min. Il see.
At the western end of the steamboat land
ing the Canadian was leading by two and one
half lengths. and striking thirty to the min
ute From this point he seemed to take very
little more notice of his guide in the cutter.
repeatedly looking round to see where he was
going and seemingly fearful that he should
encounter some floating rubbish
Hawdon, on the contrary, never took his
eyes of James Percy, AMI receiving the sig
nal he quickened his stroke to IS, but gained
no advantage, as his steering became very
bad: at one moment he broke in toward the
Northern shore, the next he pulled hard with
his left and vecrcd out again as though afraid
of bringing about a foul. At the foot of
Grindstone Buoy. IIawdon made Il fine effort.
sweeping his SOULS through the water in
beautiful style and increasing his pace mate
rally. Hanlan noticed the manTuvrc but
did not respond in the slightest degree, al
lowing the Tyne man to come within halt
length. Hawdon continued his cXertionS,
hut do what he would, he could not get along
side, for a few yards below Redheugh bridge.
Hanlan with slight cXcrtion, again shot away.
This circumstance was noted on board the
official steamer and 10 to | on the Canadian
was offered. fl00 to Go was accepted sew
eral times. liawdon's admirers thinking his
wonderful staying powers might enable hm
to pull through at the fms. Nearer the
bridge liawdon further quickened his stroke to
40. but the Canadian would not suffer too
great liberties, and, bending down To work
once more he went through the bridge with
a lead of fully two lengths, having made the
distance from the start in ; minutes 40 sec
onds
Rounding the bend just above this point
both men experienced the full strength OF the
stt,l tt,ar OH rttTItt
across the channel indeed. there was very
little choice OF position. BY the Lead Work,
Hanlan was looking round, picking his way
cautiously. Every now and then he stopped
rowing completely. and seemed to he looking
at the spectators, his head turning from side
to side, and there were frequent bursts OF
laughter from the spectators. llawdon was
going along in capital style and whenever
lIanlan paused he pulled up considerably.
Hanlan however, repeatedly went ahead with
the greatest ease. though just off Cooper'1
Stars he had barely a length advantage. At
this point Hanlan's time was ) min 10 sec.
Hawdon now dropped his stroke to Sc
minute. the rough water seeming to puzzle
him greatly. Still hefeathcred high and avoid
ed the waves. a. he had done from the out
set. The cheering at this point was immense
as the spectators on shore were unaware v hat
had occurred further down, and seeing the
men 50 close together imagined the race was
a pretty close one.
llanlan took a beautifully Judged conrs"
from the END OF New quay Cornert2 the Dunn
Street Gangway, making straight run and
getting all the shelter available whilst llaW-
don was plouehing on through very rough
water. lianlan passed Dunn street in minutes
% seconds, two lengths ahead Not the
slightest change occurred up to Wattcrson's
Gates, mile from the start-timr. . min
utes. seconds. llanlan went on in most
indoleht style stopping every now and thon
and at length allowed llawdon to decrease his
lead to three-quarters of a length. He smiled
pleasantly at the excited demonstrations on
shore and shortened his stroke apparently for
mere amusement, then let himself out again
and rushed three lengths ahead to stop again
for about the twentieth time, making one and
a-half miles in Ii minutes and ) seconds.
Hanlan led by length Mt Elswick Gangwav,
which he reached in Is minutes seconds,
and had again increased his lead two lengths
at the two miles, which were made in l5 min
utcs 80 seconds.
At the two miles the water was in bad
state. Hawdon was in the best position and
had he had much energy left, he ought to
have drawn away through the heavy waves.
However, the Canadian went ahead with the
utmost GOODNESS. The head of Kings Mead