Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-05-27
The Hanlan-Riley Boat Race.

10 the boat rae, that took place yesterday on
the Potomac, oppcsito Georgetown. Haulau
was again victorious. Tho course was the Same
as that roWed over by Hanan and Courtney,
and the purse wss $1,000 Il is estimated that
the raco was witnessed b. nearly 80, OO) people.
The contest proved yak over" for Hanlar,
aud but tor kIey's pluck 10 rowing to the fioisb
would haVo been set down az being as much of
failure as the rsc> Of last week. Riley kept
up good rate IT speed, however, aud though
defeated bis Efforts to lesson the distance be.
tween bimNlt and lival ELECTED long and loud
oheers from tho spectators Ilabl,n having
won tho toss. selected the open, Gear course
on the District side, his rival taking tho other,
With look which bespoke disappointment
At 6:O7 As go was repeated By tho referee,
aud tho men shot away in splencil stsl,. Riley
pulling at tho rate of 30 strokes TO the minute.
i'anlan got thu lead by lougth, and the roc,
was Vtry excl log. opeoing up prospt CT for o
close contest, and loud cheers for Riley wero
gwen on nj sides. Tho rosii>ns were 10
changed at the half milo fig. but when the
bend III tho curse opposite the Potomac boat
house was rcrched Riley's nisfortunes began.
Tho small boats 10 bis path caused him to
slacken speed ADD steor wildly. and by the time
that tho tb,ttcies wero passed. flaulaa was five
good lcugths 10 adVanoo. This seemed to dis
| hearten tho N W Yorker, and no reduced bis
strCk2 to- ~ and allowed tho gap to widcu
| rapidly. llanlan had won Tho raos then, To all
Appearances, and Just after passing the mile fl ,g
| 10 Stopped roHlpg, removed tho handkerchief
from his Lead and bathed his Fec. Riley
| gained several lougths in tho meantime, aud
| oh bn1 Il OBJ IL
| and bells rang, urging lin on to O greater cf
fort, but 10 no purpose. Try as he would, be
| failed 10 grin On tho Canadian, and he settled
down to finish his work at o stroke Ct 30.
llaulan was thirteen leugths ahead al
tn, s2cood mile, haricg beeo Ism. 9l,eo.
from tho start, and he stopped agau
10 IN ,p his face. Tho y milo IN IN was made b.
| Hsnsn just lTa1 6i3oc from the start, and hc
Wss thon good eighth Of mile in the lead
| hllnY turned in Ism. 25soc. and when heading
| for homo stopped. lilo sat still for OF less! d
| minute, and ,hon resumed his work. aud as he
wen: up tho river stcered badly. Hanan no.
liced tho halt. and as be passed the referee'l
| boat shouted to Riey'2 Judge, Whats the mat
ter with your fisnd2 send him along" He
then spun ahead of the tug. and as Riley passed
aorg he slsckened up, aud said to tho referee
! II can't row the rest of this rsca; my boat
bridge is broken broke il in making the turn. "
Ho Was urged TO 90 oa. however, and no resum.
cd his work, going up tho ctu,se leisurely.
! Hanlan when passing Easbys Point, hsuled in
his oars and laid down in his boat, remainipg in
that position for = minute. Those on the re-
| fsree's boat a! first feared no was sick, but he
raised up suddenly with laugh, and continued
the race, finishing it in fno sty 10 at least half q
milo ahead of Riley, his limo being 81 m, "A II
| sec. The scenes at the finale were most enthusi-
Hstic, end the Voice of the people. the steam
whistles and firing Of small cannon were deafen
Ig. Riley finished in 81 m. 2ls tec The mon
shook hands. and tho roter5o. sitter dgcarin e
Aanls9 Tho WiHnor, pronounced tho rgco vi
| an end.
| Atth boat house Riley Gtstsd that Hanlan
| had wen tho raca long before his (Riley's) boat
was brokon ard ho admitted frankly that the
| Cahsdian was most superior oarsman, and q
| match for any man ia the world. Hanlan WAS
ssreEaded a. his hotel last night and in spec CHI
COMpiimonted kileY tor his nluck