Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-10

for the amateur sculling championship.
The prize, that is, the tangible prize, was
for the wingfeld sculls. the winner last
year and the two previous years being Mr..
wickalls. The course was the full Thames
championship course, from Putuey to
Mortlake, and much to the surprise to
almost everybody Mr.. Wickalls was rowed
to a complete standstill, and easily beaten
at the finish. As have just said, the race
was o terrific one, as far az what may call
a race lasted, and won't readily forget the
struggle. The victory of Mr.. Gardner
as Mr.. Wickalls.caused Mr.. Protta
and his supporters to take q back
seat What made the race in
| question more interesting still is that Mr..
| Gardner is q Cambridge man and Mr..
Nickalls represents OK ord, and party feel
ing in the 'varsities ran high. The talent
thought it was not possible for Mr.. Gardner
to defeat Nickslls in four-mile race as the
latter is about 175 pounds, while Gardner is
not quite 100 in weight. They had rowed
against each other for the Diamond sculls at
Henley, when Mr. Nickalls won ION the
post" by q short halt length after Mr..
Gardner had been leading about q quarter
OF q length all the way. This was only
short race, however. Well when they met
for the Wingfeld sculls there were about 3
to / on Mr.. Nickalls, and really was sur
prised because bad steering had de-
fested Mr.. Gardner at Henley, and be was
much fresher at the finish than Mr.. Nickalls
was.
Along with few friends who were with
me at Putney didn't hesitate to say that
Gardner would win. Each contestant was
accompanied by an "eight." The start was
a good one, Gardner going off like q shot
from a cannon. He is pretty starter, and
was soon few feet in front of the cham
pion. The latter, however, soon settled
down, and when 200 yards had been covered
the shells were exactly level. Gardner had
the stroke, and as soon as he recovered
Nickalls was even with him. The latter
was striking deep and pulling his sculls
through the water in the most des-
perate fashion. His efforts were
really terrific, but he could not
pass his wiry and plucky opponent. Mr..
Gardner was rowing just as clean and ef-
feetive as any man could. His fine style
enabled him to hold the powerful champion,
and without doubt the race at this stage was
extraordinary. Nobody could help shout
ing. Lords, ladies, aristocrats of all kinds
and other classes of citizens right down to
the costermongers were yelling Tor bare life.
Of course my weak vocal efforts were de-
voted toward encouraging Mr.. Gardner, but
he couldn't leave the Oxford man, and the
latter couldn't pass the Cantab. Who
could help getting excited? Why, we could
almost imagine we saw the muscles of the
rowers bursting through their jerseys.
About quarter of mile away Gardner
got few feet in front amid the widest ex-
citement Then Nickalls by a herculean
effort was soon on even terms again, and
have oh UyIld
enough to be called Indian warwhoops. It
was, indeed, q wild time. Gardner began to
drop little behind at the half, and the
friends OF Nickalls simply jumped up as
if they would never come down again. It
was thought that the accomplished Cantab
wasn't strong enough to last, but he was
only out OF his course little and was row.
ing we'll. Nearing the mile Nickalls began
to forge ahead, but only by the most desper-
ate efforts. HIS 'deep" stroke was
discounting his extra power to
minutes % seconds and NickaIls was a
quarter Of length in 'front.'. But Gardner's
friends gave some tremendous shouts, and
he responded, game man that he is, and
inch by inch he began to overhaul the
champion. Nickalls reached Hammer
smith bridge only lew inches in front, and
both men were still rowing as if they were
making efforts to escape certain death. They
emerged from under the bridge as even as
two men on a straight line, and few strokes
further on Gardner's shell was seen a few
inches in front, and then there was pande-
monium. Hats, handerchiefs and in some
instances there might have been heads, were
flying in the air. Everybody was jumping
on somebody else, and dare say the con-
testants were both blind and deaf.
"Never saw the loike o. it BEFORE" said
an old waterman. know never saw such
q race and I've seen few. But just when
the most extraordinary excitement pre-
vailed Nickalis, the champion, exploded"
His right arm had gone and he rowed clean
in to the rivers bank. The race was now
settled, and Gardner,.won the finest victory
that has been recorded in either professional
or amateur racing. He is fine sculler and
undoubtedly is the superior of Nickalls,
which means, that he is the best amateur
scuIler in the world. Nickalls felt his de-
feat very much and so did his friend Lord
Amphiil. Jack Corcorau steered the loser,
and ''Doggett" Cobb guided the winner. ]
may add, that the sculls were presented in
1880 by Henry c. Wingfeld to Re rowed
by citizens of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Chess Players.
There is not much to say about chess, but
am anxious to deal with all branches of
sport in these letters, knowing that all
branches have admirers who read The DIS
PATCH. A few nights ago 1 had visit
from James Mason, one OF the best chess
players in the world; in fact many people
believe him to be the very best when he is
in Condition He is q very Intelligent
man and has desire to be termed philos-
opher. Undoubtedly he has q good idea Of
philosophy and is very we'll read. He has
some wealthy admirers who keep him
to the front. He has been much
in America and TO use his own words is
''now on the quiet" for the big tournament
which begins at Manchester next month.
During a conversation MIR. Mason con-
demned the new system of playing chess
for receipts. He argues that it is spelling
the prestige of the game and driving all its
wealthy patrons away. He said: Chess
is not game Tor the eye like cricket, base
ball, etc., but it is a game entirely for the
mind. Advertising chess players the same
as boxers and others are advertised may at
tract numerous people for awhile, but the
majority will be disappointed because they
are not able to exercise their mind sufficient
ly regarding the game"
Mr. Mason does not think the young
players now coming to the front are as good
as the old experts. He, tor instance, does
not place Gunsberg in the same class as the
late DR.. Zuckertort Mr.. Mason also spoke
highly of Captain Mackenzie's abilities.
OF course, as is generally known, the latter
is an American champion, and Mr.. Mason
claims that he is just as fine player as can
be found. The Captain will be a competitor
in the Manchester Tournament hut Mr.