The New York herald., 1879-10-21
RILEY AND ROSS.
THE THREE MILE sCULLING RACE ON THE
THAMES FOR STAKE AND PURSE OF ONE
THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DoLLARs-RILEY
THE WINNER BY TWO LENGTHS IN 23M.
26 1-4s


THE WINNER BY TWO LENGTHS IN 23M.
26 1-4s.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
NORWICH, Conn., Oct 20 1879.
James II. Riley. of Saratoga, N. Y, defeated Wal
lace Ross. of st. John, N b.. in sculling race on
the Thames this afternoon. Rieys time for the three
miles being 23m 26j4s. This is two minutes slower
than some of the other three mile races that the
winner has rowed. but there reasons for it.
There was pretty stiff breeze for thing to-day
and for another he had occasion to hurry after the
stakeboat turned. The was practically I,ey's
after the first mile. Wallace Ross did good square
work. but lacked the training which had toughened
the muscles of his opponent and. further he failed
to take advantage of the best water two three
occasions. That Ross lost tho by only couple
of lengths was Rileys pleasure merely and not his
weakness fortunately. A brisk Northwestern, which
blew all the forenoon, died away and during the
race the water was not so lumpy as to be trouble
some. Something over thousand strangers were
in town to-day, and Norwich and vicinity contrib:
uted thousands, who gathered the wharves at tho
starting point and fringed the banks and docks Of
the river for long distance. Pool selling was
slow all day. As rule. Riley sold the favorte Mt
500 to S70 but some pools were for less Odds and
some private bets were made for money. Com
u
sharp fight for victory expected. very little
money staked. A Boston betting man, one hour
before the race exclaimed. Disgust! These fellers
seem afraid of something. If can't use my money
any better than have SO far had better stayed
home" The talk about possible postponement on
account of the water may have had something to do
with keeping money away from the pool boxes. for
it was known throughout the forenoon tina. the
water rough down toward the lower stakeboat
where the river widens out.
MORNING SPINS.
Ross boathouse was an abandoned brick pattern
shop on the river bank. about mile below the city,
When visited this forenoon Faulkner, his trainer,
was polishing up the new cedar boat received
Saturday morning from Boston. 1t is 30 feet 6
inches long, 11A inches wide and weighs 81 pounds.
Ross was up stairs changing his clothes and half
singing and half hummng popular ballad. About
eleven o'clock he went out on the river and rowed
the course, occasionally showing sharp
squirt which brought out the perspiraton rather
freely. In right trim Ross weight is l69 pounds,
but he will tip scales full five pounds better
and that much more than he ought to be.
Riley also out, but earlier in the forenoon,
and then came up to the pool rooms in the city
His headquarters were at the boat house of Murphy
brothers. who have been foremost in getting up to-
days contest. Riley's Is a paper boat, the same
length as Ross, but quarter inch narrower.
Like his opponent he rowed to-day at some
pounds. The main conditions of the race
were one and half miles to stake
and an additional, or citizens purse, of $500 Such
the apathy in Norwich, regarding the pecunlary
features Of the contest at least that much difficulty
encountered in making up even this modest
figure.
WAITING FOR THE START
Three o'clock was the hour fixed for the race and
hour earlier the spectators began to flock around
the most eligible spots viewing it. The wharves in
the vicinity were covered and scattering line
Ella had been chartered to follow the and also to
bear the reteree judges and members of the press.
who all perched on the pilot house roof and
many spectators the little craft could carry on
her decks. The sporting men very generally pa
tronized the Ella, and kept up an amusing fire
of words while waiting the start. 1t was evident
ut this hour that the current Of opinion
he tar better condition than Ross.
"This amt going to be no sold out race, said ono
Of them. "Riley is all right. and he to win;
he is slayer, boys and puts in his work solid at
voice asked:-.I it true that Riley. if ho wins.
will be challenged by Kennedy, of Portland?'
that this morning Kennedy offered to If Riley
would give him five lengths" general laugh
One of Ross friends at this point broke in with
"Don't be too sure about Riley getting this race
Our man amt in the trim he ought to be, but he
will give Riley all he wants to do.
The Elias whistle notified Ne oarsmen down
another shriI blast brought them to their boats
THE OFFICIALS.
Meantime the judges were taking their positions.
The judges on the Ella were George Faulkner, Of
Boston, for Ross. and NJ. +. Davis OF Portland, for
Riley. At the lower stakeboats they were william
both of Norwich; and at the finish L. w. Rawson
of Saratoga. for Ross. and Charles McChesney. Of
Norwich for Riley. The timer was James b. shan
non of Norwich, and the referee E.dridge c. Cook.
who was long prominent in boating at Yale aud cap
tain OF two OF the class crews
THE RACE.
At 3h. 40m. p. NJ. nearly hour late, the men
sat in their boats ready tor the start Riley
shirt and blue trunks, both being bareheaded Five
minutes later the two men went away at the word,
lead nearly length in the first quarter mile. Riley
was mp to thirty-four only. but his stroke was
telling one. AT the END Of the half mile.
boats were well together. Ross struck sharp
across the corner. but his opponent preferred
q position nearer the channel for the benefit of the
current. From the judges boat which was further
to the than pleasant, the could be seen
nearing each other. Ross dropping back trihe. and
both pulling thirty-four to the minute The mile
showed Rleys boat shutting in the other, and he
took course for the lower stakeboat. which
to the westward, and made the race fifteen sec
onds slower than it ought to have been.
his stakeboat and three seconds later Ross swnno
handsomely around his AS the two started
on the return one of Rileys hackers the Judges
boat shouted ''s25 to $40 on Riley" but the crowd
was dumb. One huLdred yards from the turn any
doubts of Riley's victory that might have been en-
tertained vanished into the air. He had two lengths
clear water the best of ii. and by means
forced to his best work. but he kept betterng
his lead. when he shot past the judges
boat with four good lengths lead, and
a scant mile to go. His face bore q triumphant
smile when he nodded to the cheering crowd Thence
nothing more than to keep his lead undmnshed.
He might easily have bcttered it to the finish
stroke even, for the last quarter Ross took damag
ing course from the turn. Half a mile from the
finish he struck a straight course, encountering the
full current of the Shetucket where 1t hows out and
joins the Thames. Riley hugged the east shore
in quiet water until just at the mouth Of
the Shetuckct. when he shot across and finished
easy winner by two lengths. Ross spurted up to 40
the last six eight hundred feet but too late,
for Riley responded handsomely This ended tho
struggle. and amid the shrieking of steam whistles
and the cheers of the throng. Riley declared the
winner. The official time is. starting time. 3h. 45m.
7. NJ; finish. ih. sm 26las. Riley's time, Ism.
26i.s. Ross, 23m Jos.
RIIEys RECORD.
James Ii. Riley. who is native of Saratoga. aged
thirtyhrce. has good record. In his first at
Saratoga Lake. in August. 1874. two miles. he was
second to Courtney, in Ia minutes. The same month
he the first OF three heats of mile and
half i'll 9m. Hsis. In August 1876.
he the champion amateur silver cup at
Saratoga. two miles. in 13m. 81 us. Riley
declnrrd. the winner in the three-mile race at