Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-06

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 dred dollars a side and the single scull championship of the world.
 Recently Gaudaur, the American champion, issued challenge to row either Sullivan or Harding for 5000 Q side and the championship of the world. Sullivan agreed to row Gaudaur, but insisted that the race should be rowed on the Thames or Tyne and refused to allow expenses "Wagg" Harding, who had beat George Bubear and won the English sculling 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 fish champions proposition was acceded to and the race just about to be ratified when Sullivan challenged Harding to row for e400 and the championship of England. Harding accepted and noti- fed Gaudaur that if he won he would come to this country and measure spruces with the American champion.
 Since 1846, when Robert Goombes was champion of England, there has been a long line of champions, includ- ing such famous oarsrnen as Thomas Cole, John Messenger, Harry Kelley, Robert Chambers, Joseph H. Sadlcr, 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 W. Harding was born in Lon don and was reared as waterman on the Thames. Hardirg's first match race was with Jacob Tyrrell on Octo- Der IS, 1890. This race was run over the full course and Harding won in 2s seconds During the following year Harding met with his first reverse, "Dubber" Follett defeating him. It 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 fish 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 minutes, 2s sec onds. All interest in the contest was at an end, and the only points worthy of note were the relative positions of the rowcrs at the different marks on the river. At the Crab Tree Harding was half dozen lengths in the van, and another length was added to this lead before the soapworlis were reached. At Hammersmith bridge Harding was nine lengths ahead of Bubear. The formers time was minutes, 26 seconds, and Bubear passed under the suspen- sion in minutes A seconds. Harding was then pulling long 26 to the min ute stroke, while the ex-champion was rowing 92 strokes to the minute, but they had very little power. Chiswick Church was reached by the leader in IA minutes 34 seconds, and Bubear made this point in 14 minutes 55 seconds. Barnes bridge was passed in 19 minutes 40 seconds and 20 minutes 8 seconds. Harding was then only paddling and Bubear was pulling in half-hearted fashion. The slip of Mortlake was reached by Harding in 23 minutes 18 seconds, Bubear making the full course in 23 minutes 53 seconds. The actual distance separating the rowers at the finish was little over ten lengths.
 Sullivan's performance over the Thames championship course was a better performance, so far as time goes, but time is no criterion of oarsman- ship, and, in nutshell, Harding de- feated Bubear, the English champion, with as much ease as Sullivan, so 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 Sullivan's shell are: Length, 31 feet; beam, aihidships, o1z inches; depth, 5 4-5 inches; depth forward, 21 inches; depth aft, 9 feet. The craft weighs 31 pounds. 0
 Harding's shell dimensions are Length, 50 feet; beam, amidships, sl% inches; depth, bx inches; depth, for. ward, 2x inches; depth aft. 1X inches; weight, es pounds.
 Since Campbell Mas chappiQp ef