New-York tribune., 1879-05-06
DETAILS OF THE CONTEST.


VAL for f20O side, took place to-day, and, as was
generally expected. resulted in victory for Hanlan
The weather was splendid. The course was from
the High Level Bridge to the Suspension Bridge at
ScotswOod, distance of three miles and three fur
longs. Hanlan won the race by six lengths. His
time was 80 minutes and seconds. lie won with
the greatest ease.
The morning opened fine. The wind was strong
and the water rough, but all thought of postponng
the race promptly abandoned The crowd of
spectators were immense. Excursion trains began
TO arrive early and steamboats, brought crowds from
Shields Jarrow and other cities. Many persons
walked In from the surrounding country, notice.
ably miners now strike, who came en- masse
Every spot whence the river could be seen was
literally packed with people. DR.. Armstrong, the
referee, was early at his post supervising the
preparations. At 1:20 o'clock tho two stake
boats were moored Off the Mnsion House
quay. and a few minutes after Hanlan's
cutter dropped down to Boyd's boat house,
Among the occupants of the boat with Hanan
Kempster, Renforth, Heppewhite, Plaisted, of
New-York, Heasely. the trainer and Wallace Ross
Five minutes later Hawdon's cutter drew up at the
Mansion House quay and both men embarked in
their shells at the same moment amid tremendous
cheering. At 1856 o'clock they took their positions
Hawdon was stripped to the buff. Hanlan wore a
sleeveless blue shirt with scarlet trimming
The start was effected at 1.47l2 o'clock Hawdon
got the first good grip of the water and had covered
nearly half length before Hanlan was in motion.
The latter, however, recovered level position
with two sweeps of his sculls. Hawdon was strik-
ing light, rapid stroke of ~ to the minute, but
was going rather unsteadily. Hanlan. while exert
ing enormous power, was rowing quite 40 strokes
| to the minute. He had taken only some half-a-
dozen strokes when the contrast between the men
became strongly apparent.
Hanlan drew away rapidly, and before 80 yards
had been covered was a 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 did not decrease his stroke and
at the east end of Skinner Burn he had another
length to the good. He received q signal from
| Bright to take matters easily, and responded by
| dropping his stroke down to 80 to the minute.
| Hawdon by this time had settled down into his
wel-known staying stroke of SO to the minute, and
his boat was travelling much better than at first.
| The time to Skinner Burn was 1 min. 1S sec.
| At tho western end of the steamboat landing the
Canadian was leading by two and one-half lengths,
| and striking thirty TO the minute. From this point
he seemed to take very little more notice of his
guide in the cutter, repeatedly looking round to
where he was gOing and seemingly fearful that he
| should encounter some floating rubbish.
Hawdon, Oh the contrary, never took his eyes of
| James Percy, and receiving the signal he quickened
| his stroke to 3S. but gained 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 veered ont again as though
afraid of bringing about q foul. AT the foot of
| Grindstone Quay, Hawdon made fine effort. sweep
ing his sculs through the water In beautiful style
and increasing his pace materially. Hanan noticed
the maneuvre, but did not respond In the
| slightest degree, allowing the Tyne man to
| come within half length. Hawdon continued his
| exertions but do what he would he could not get
alongside for few yards below Redheugh bridge
| Hanlan with slight exerton, again shot away This
circumstance was noted on board the official
| steamer, and 10 to 1 on the Canadian was offered
| One hundred pounds to f1O was accepted
several times, Hawdon's, admirers thinking
his wonderful staying powers might enable
| him to pull through at the finish. Nearer
| the bridge Hawdon 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 lead of fully two
lengths having made the distance from the start in
| 9 minutes 40 seconds.
| HANLAN CONFIDENT OF VICTORY.
Rounding the bend just above this point
both men experienced the full strength
of the wind. The weather was very choppy
right across the channel, indeed. there was
very little choice of position. BY the Lead Works
Hanan was looking round. picking his way, eau
tiousIv. Every now and then he stopped rowing
COMPLETELY. and seemed to be looking at the specta-
tors. his head turning from side to side, and theH
were freouent bursts of laughter from the specta-
.ors. Hawdon was going along in capital style and
whenever Hanlan paused he pulled up consider
abIv Hanlan, however, repeatedly went ahead
with the greatest ease, though just off Coopers
Stairs he had barely length advantage. AT this
point Hanlan's time was min. 40 Sec
Uavdon now dropped his stroke to 36 a minute,
the rough water seeming to puzzle him greatly
still he feathered high aud avoided the waves as
Hanlan had done from the outset The cheering at
this point was immense as the spectators on shore
were unaware what had occurred further down, ana
seeing tbe men so close together imagined the race
was pretty close one.
UanIon took beautifully judged course from the
end of New Quay Corner to the Dunn Street Gang
WAY making straight run and getting ALT the shelter
available whilst Hawdon was ploughing on through
very rough water. Hanlan passed Dunn-st' III
minutes 80 seconds, two lengths ahead. NOT tine
sIigbtest change occurred mp to Waterson's Gates,
a mile from the start-tIme, o minutes, seconds
UanIan went on in most indolent style' sloPPi"s
oyerv now and then. and at length allo"ed H""-
don TO decrease his lead TO three-quarlcIs OF a
l4npth. He smiled pleasantly at the excited demon
STATIONS on shore and shortened his strokes APP
porently for mere amusement, then let himself out
agan and rushed three lengths ahead to stop AGAIN
for about the twentieth time, making one anu
o-boIf miles IN 13 minutes and seconds
| H,ulan led by length at Elswick GangWay,
winch he reached in ID minutes . seconds ana hau
| again increased his lead two lengths at 'he TWO
| do IN
| a, ,bo roo piles the water was in a bad state
| 49, a. mud had he had