Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-10
by CABLE TO TIE DISPATCH ]

BY CABLE IN LEE OAcfAIShsj
LONDON, September 9.-The betting ring
for the championship of the world sculling
match between Australian Searle and the
Canadian O'Connor to-day was pitched on
board the umpire's boat, and here betting
on the men was almost even, though slightly
in favor of the Australian, when Mr.. Chippy
Norton, the eminent bookmaker, arrived
alongside in a wherrv at Putney, pulled
himself aboard by selzing the coattails of
Sir George Chetwynd and the Marquis of
Aylesbury, and proceeded to offer e1O5 to
e1O0 on O'Connor. Searle had been the
favorite all along, but the powerful lungs
of Norton produced revulsion of feeling,
and soon any kind of bet might be had
either way. As much as e150 to e100 was
laid on O'Connor, and five minutes later the
same odds were in Searles favor. Indeed. the
betting varied soioften that several clever hnan-
ciers were winners before the start by TAX
ing large odds on both, though the betting
ended with Searle the favorite.
THE COURSE WAS FINE.
The day was fine, the water was perfect, the
course was effectively policed, and some $1,000
spectators lined both banks of the Thames and
occupied fotiIla of small craft that reached
from London to Kew. The race timed to
begin at LIS o'clock. and not five minutes after
that hour both the contestants appeared on the
river. Searie's backer won the toss for choice
of position, and chose the Surrey side Of the
river furthest from the bank The course was
the regular Thames championship course,
straight away from the bridge at Putney to
Mort Lake, just beyond Barnes bridge. dis
tance of four and quarter miles. Singularly
enough. since both combatsnts are colonials
Searle was sentimental tavorite. and all eyes
were turned upon him As the two contest
ants rowed slowly down to the starting point,
both were in perfect form, and the opinion of
the profession may be gathered from the fact
that while the racers were waiting for the
word half dozen sports offered to sell even
choice on either for a guinea.
ON ROOFS AND BRIDGES.
Twenty Thousand people were at Putney, on
the bridge on the roofs of houses, on the banks
of the river and in boats on the water. When
the word to 'go" was given like the wings of
two great birds the oars flashed and the men
were away, O'Connor gaining half a boats
length at the tart. The water was smooth and
the tide Just at ebb and for 100 yards the point
of Searle's boat was only even with the Cana
dian's body. Then a great roar rose from the
crowd as the Australian was seen to be creep
ing slowly up on the other. O'Connor realized
it and put forth his best efforts, but in vain.
In another hundred yards his young antagonist
was even with him, and then, for twice that
distance both strained every nerve. The pace
was the most rapid ever rowed, and was proved
by the circumstance that the Australian
BEAT THE RECORD
at Rammersmith bridge, half the dispance,
by four seconds when he led O'Counor by
length and half. 1t was Searle's race after
that. The knowing ones feared that the Cana>
dian had lost his nerve, when, as Searle began
to draw away from him at the end Of the first
mile, he kept glancing across at his opponent,
and when he missed stroke with the right oar
and caught crab the spectators delightedly
applauded Searle, who rowed steadily from
start to finish without the slightest indication
of nervousness. From the Hammersmlth
bridge the Australian continued TO increase
the distance between the two boats and o Con-
nor could be seen to be nearly spent. A great
many of the spectators did not expect to see
him finish the race, but he stuck to his oars
pluckily, though his strokes were uneven, and
his strength momentarily failing.
SOME FAST TIME.
At the bridge at Barnes the Australian was
six lengths in the lead, and 0'Connor was so
nearly played that before the line was crossed
his opponent had increased the distance to ten
lengths. The opinion of professional and nom
professional spectators alike was that it was
good race fairly won. The first mile was done
in 4.59, Searle then rowing 30 strokes to O'Con-
nor's IS. At Hammersmith bridge Searle's
time was S:3S and O'Connor's S:44. when the
pace told OF both and O'Connor slackened
down to Is strokes to the others 30. Searle's
time at the finish was 22:42 and 0'Connor's
2302
Henry Earnest Searle, of Grafton, New South
Wales, is the name and place of the winner.
His measurements are: Height feet 10%
inches, chest AZ inches. biceps l31& inches,
forearm II inches, thigh q inches, calf l6
inches He scales l64 pounds. He rows with
"a inch heighth of seat, l32 inch heighth of
outrigger and feet So inches spread of row.
locks. He is g years or age and good looking
youth of the fair English type.
William 0'COnnOr, of Toronto, is known to
Americans who are fond of aquatic sports. He
is three years older than Searie his heighth in
stockings is feet 81 inches, and he scales l63
pounds. He measures 4013 inches round the
chest, biceps l3 inches, forearm II inches,
thigh 81 inches, and calf l6 inches. The seat
of his boat is - inches in heighth. outriggers
131S inches in heIghth and feet spread of row.
locks The race was for $500 a side and the
worlds championship and more than sl500U
is said TO have changed nands Oh the result