The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-02-05

national single scull race between Jake
Gaudaur, the American champion, who
at the present time claims to be The
fastest oarsman in the world, and the
English champion for twenty-five hun
dre6 dollars side and the single scul
championship of the world.
Recently Gandaur, the American
champion, issued a challenge to row
either Sullivan or Harding for $1,000
SIDE and the championship of the world.
Sullivan agreed to row Gaudauy. but
insisted that the race should be rowed
Oh the Thames OF Tyne and refused TO
allow expenses. "Wagg7 Harding,
who had beat George Bubear and won
the English scull;ng championship,
picked up the gauntlet, and he agreed
to come to this country and meet the
American champion, on condition that
expenses were allowed him. The Eng
Gsh champions proposition was acceded
TO and the race Just about to be ratified
when Sullivan challenged Harding TO
row fer $500 and the championship of
England. Harding accepted and mott
fed Gaudaur that if he won he would
come to this country and measure
spruces with the American champion.
Since 1916, when Robert Coombes
was champion OF England, there has
been a long line of champions, inciud-
ing such famous o3rsmen as Thomas
Cole, John Messenger, Harry Kelley,
Robert Chambers, Joseph III. Sadler,
James Renforth, Robert Watson Boyd.
John Higgins and William Elliott, but
there never has been an oarsman who
so quickly sprang into prominence as
Charles w. Harding, the present cham
pion oarsman of England.
Charles ". Harding was born in Lon
don and was reared as waterman on
the Thames. Harding's first match
race was with Jacob Tyrren on Octo-
Der 13, 1890. This race was run over
the full course and Harding won in %
seconds. During the following year
Harding met with his first reverse,
s'Dubber" Follett defeating him. Il
was in February, 1892, that Harding
beat Norval at Newcastle.
He made the Searle memorial cup his
own property in 1892. On February 5.
1894, he rowed George Bubear, the Eng
Esh champion, from Putney to Mort
lake, for two hundred pounds. The
race was a one-sided affair. Harding
had his rival well beaten before the
mile-post was reached. Five lengths
parted the rowerS at the mile mark,
which was made in 8 minutes. % seq
onds. All interest in the contest was
at an end, and the only points worthy
OF note were the relative positions of
the rowers at the different marks on
the river. At the Crab Tree Harding
was a hall dozen lengths in the ran, and
another length was added to this lead
before tho Soapworks were reached.
At Hanmersnith bridge Harding was
nine lengths ahead OF Bubear. The
formers time was minutes, 26 seconds,
and Bubear passed under the suspen-
sion in minutes Al seconds Harding
WAS then pulling e long 20 20 the min
ute stroke, while the ex-champion was
rowing 50 STROKES to the minute, but
they had very little power. Chiswick
Church was reached by the leader in Ia
minutes 81 seconds, ana Buhear made
Barnes bridge was passed IL 10 minutes
80 seconds and 90 minutes 8 seconds.
Harding was then only padding and
Bubear was pulling In q helf-hearted
fashion. The slip OF Mortlske was
reached BY Harding in IS minutes is
seconds. Bubear making the full course
In % minutes IS seconds. The actual
distance separating the rowers At the
finish was little over ten lengths.
Sullivan's performance over the
Thames championship course was 3
better performance. SO ta- as time goes.
but time is no criterion of oarsnan-
ship. and. in a nutshell. Harding de-
feated Bubear. the English champion.
with as much ease rs Sullivan. 50 that
very little can be learned of their re-
spective powers from their races with
the ex-champion. Bubear.
Both oarsmen have had new racing
rigs built for the race
The dimensions of Sullivsn's shell
eI< inches; depth. As inches; depth
forward. %. inches: depth aft, feet
( The craft weighs 81 pounds.
Harding's shell dimensions are:
Length 50 feet, beam aTnidships, "a
inches; depth. SIS inches; depth, for
ward. eY inehess depth aft, ~
/ inches: weight. y pounds
Since Campbell was champion of
England in 1855 nearly every race for
the championship 81 England has been
rowed over the Thane. championship
course. ron Putney 10 MoTtlalEe, 4
miles and 5 furIcngS: but the coming
race. on February II. IS 20 he ROW ed
] orer tee Trne championship coursc.