St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-04
The Ross-Teen.er Ro,efna Race.

New YORK, Aug. 2.-WalIace Ross, Of st.
John, n B., and John Teemer, OF McKees-
port Pa, rowed at Oak Point to-day what
was, perhaps, the most interesting scullihg
match that ever took place on this continent.
Ross was the leader for the first half of the
course, and Teemer was not headed during
the second two miles. The victory was won
by Teemer in his wonderfully scientific turn
ing of the stake boat.
Teemer was the first out, approaching In a
red shirt and navy blue breeches, Ross
colors being white and dark blue. There
were probably 1000 people present when
the race began. The course was from Oak
Point shore two miles out to Bowery bay,
where the stake boats were anchored. Ross
won the toss for position and took the north
ern line, but really there was no choice.
When Barney Biglin asked, care YOU
ready7" and then shouted ''gon Teemer
caught the water first, with something of
splash, and went six feet ahead of his
opponent. He lost that small lead almost
Immediately, however for Ross settled down
TO his well known, steady powerful stroke,
and forged ahead inside of six lengths II
was plain each man had started in to win.
Teemer soon got in to a swinging stiff stroke,
easy and clear. Ross sat straight up as is his
wont, and dug his oars into the water with
telling effect. Ross lead for
the first mile and quarter
ct distances varying from a tenth to two
lengths. Just abreast of the north end of
north Brothers Island, a mile and quarter
out, Teemer became little ragged in his
stroke, but in another minute he braced up,
and put In some good ones, which sent the
prov OF his boat about five feet ahead of his
adversary's. Ross did not like this, and
sent his stroke up to thirty-two, and again
went ahead. Both men moved well within
themselves up to the turn, which
Ross reached half length
ahead. Here the literal turning point was
reached. Ross seemed to have forgotten to
go around the stake boat. He went way
beyond it. and made his circle
by long curve that made it appear he
had not reached the stake boat when the
Teemer made beautiful line for
the stake boat. He hardly had gotten
three feet beyond it, when he buried his
left oar in the depths as straight as a corn
stalk and pulled his head around with his
right as though his craft were hung on a
pivot. Such clever manoeuvre has rarely
been seen on the water. His boat appeared
to come to a standstill at the will of the
rover, and to turn about as though she were
toy in the owners hands. This piece of
extraordinary skill gave Teemer the lead of
full three lengths of clear water, and yirtu-
ally the race. The return was very excit-
ing however, for Ross did his best 10
recover the great loss he had
suffered, and put in some OF the hardest row.
ing that one could want to see. He still
seemed to think he had the race and could
pick up his loss on the last mile. When
the north point of Rilker' island was reached,
which was about mile from home, Wallace
began to see he had q man instead of boy
TO row against. Teemer had been, on the
first mile of the return, rowing rather quickly
and not too evenly. Once he put his right
hand out into the river for water to battle
his head. But at this point Ross increased
his stroke from twenty-eight to thirty-one to
the minute, and Teemer stayed at his thirty.
Ross was encouraged by shouts from his
friends in the judges steamer, and rowed for
all be was worth. At three miles and three
quarters he got as high as thirty-four strokes
to the minute. Teemer braced up at this
stage also. and went up to thitty-four, but did
not stay there more than a dozen lengths.
Ross kept up his grand stroke but he was too
late. He continued to diminish the lead
gradually, but he had not the distance in
which to go to the front even If be had been
able. On the first of the last quarter mile
Teemer was plainly not doing his best, but
when within 200 yards of home
he put on squirt. Ross still con-
tinued TO creep up, however, and
when the line was crossed his prov Tapped
Teemer's stern. Teemer thus won by short
length. Both men were pretty tired when
they returned TO the boat house Ross was
cross aud Teemer was jubilant, and he had
| right to be, in both beating Ross and max
ing By far the best time on record
Barney Bigiin made time 20 minutes 20
seconds, best previous time for four mile