Year: 1876

nr,yed decided success tho schuylki will probably
become OF the popular racecourses in consequence
Some of the English oarsmen have said 1t WAS the Dest
water they have ever rowed in and for races wherenot
over three boats in tho water together certainty If
very nuc course 1t is just mile aud half in length,
from the Falls TO the Reading Railroad
bridge above the Centennial Grounds The
scenery Ia beautiful GlOng the shores, which
afford numerous opportunities TO see the race
The river bends slightly place, and quarter of


mile from the finish it is divided by island the course
taxing the east side The high banks protect the surface
from wind and the dam below reduces the current
almost TO nothing The monster Centennial Duilnhg'
With s four brown walls and four brown towers hahgs


andy upon hight just south OF the hnish
the woody hill which springs from the rivers Drink


ht2 O'Clock to-day as the little passenger steamer from
Fairmount pufTed up toward the Grand Stand it was


beggarly array of empty benches. Ali full AS wag
remarked"c Of chairs" The sngleseul heats were not
exciting owing TO many Withdrawals among the oars
men, caused nOmnaiy by the bad water ana consequent
Illness but really many suppose by the presence OF
Courtney Many oarsmen fear to meet him. AS the
middle of tho afternoon approached the crowd which
grew rapidly dense showed that struggle OF IN
tense cOntemporaneous interest" was approaching
Few boats or steamers about the course and those
admirably regulated and poced by the authorities, put


considerable number of adventurous carriages gathered
ut tho start the east side to follow the race ana per
haps best prepared of all to sec the race were num-
bers young fine horses VINO raced thFonSh Dog
along tho or tOW-pdtl INC io"o VI 'N
high bank the whole length of the course' Be
low along both sides OF the river but espe-
csly the east the grassy slopes OF the shore were
filled with parties including many ladies. While from an
eighth of mile the finish to the Grand stand the
shore black and every tree filed with an ABSORBED
and eager semblage Tho island which splits the river
in two and lies against the Grond Stand Was also
swarming and the huge buttresSes of the great
covered bridge had climbed at their peril from the
windows until cry scat aud coigu OF vantage was full


a11nAI 70 n zf f4TtI
20 a country crew, whose marked has been a
pleasing surprise TO everybody The men are well built
and admirably matched in size age and build and pun
sprngike stroke but they young and light The Bea
yerwyeks then along, hard solid LOOKING feHOws
but swinging out of the boat in clumsy, rdgg way


The neatunifomed London crew shot out from behind
the bridge the men, bearded, brOadcnested powerful
and mature rowing in perecfoTm full of life and vigor
Il did TO the experienced eye as well as TO the
novice that America had poor chance " There's no
chance for America now said joker on our boat, put
for :he Beayerwycks into London and sink them
so t,e Watkins can win the race" "Thcn they'll be
called back" said angry Engiishman Not unless u
il the beginning of the race" "Ah, well, the Beaver
wyCks will enough 20 fonl the Londoners eN-
cent at the beginning" With business-l'ke pIompness
unknown in other regaas the boats got into place the
Bcayerwycks at the west London III the middle, ana
Watkins east.


From the start the race was desperate The Beaver
wycks splashed tIne at the first stroke but started





sheer to the West, but for little distance were on
straight and parallel courses The London accord
ing their habit, which seems to have been Iatey
acquired one, start with rapid but most skilful ana
regular stroke of AZ to the minute The Beaverwycks
went at SO, and the Watkins men with
somewhat nervous dash OF 40 strokes to the
minute which before very long carried them to
the front OF the LOndOners enough TO fill their sup
portcrs and in fact the Americans generally wild with
excitement The London crew an old regatta man re-
marked did show the life that they displayed yes
tery but he pooh poohcd and reminded that they
always null waiting The Beaverwycks kept close
down to the west and the Ondcners steered pretty
straight down the middle, where the watkins crew, VINO
developed disposition TO steer wild soon began to crowd
on them hut the London men gave way no whit In
their course and the drew ana nearer till from
behind it seemed as if collision was imminent and That
the oars wele interfering In reality however, Watkins
had lead Of almost length aud was increasing H. ana
would perhaps draw ahead of the London boat into Its
course but the referee called from his lofty watch tower
On top Of his steamer Careful, Watkins" The Watkins
men sheerod out then with swirl 10 the east that
headed them almost across the river and made
terrible stop in their way. London. too,
in alarm at the referees voice, for fouls are
not fashionable, steerod a little to the west but
quickly recovered her lost ground, and was again neck
and-neck with Watkins. The Beaverwpcks kept so close
down 10 the west which il by all odds the best side OF
the river that they almost in the weeds, ana the
President called them TO sheer out The boats had


started pretty we'll TO the east side Now they were
close down to the west the Watkins boat only keeping
far out after their warning and sheernS around Occa-
sonally la an alarming way.


While the LondOncrs aud the Watkins meu have been
bohcrng each other the Beaverwycks have been pros
peug by thcit difcues, and at Laurel Ilill. three
eightbs OF mile down, they have lead OF half q
length or So the other two being neck and neck
md continuing so for long distance in spite Cf re-
pcatcd eTracsms In this shape they passed the hail.
magnificent race, all apparently doing their best,
though the Euglishmen confident their men
wore saving themselves. Somebody timed them at
244 10 the half mile which was quick time. II was
hard TO say which boat was Toe Bcaverwycs had
decreased their very small lead and the three boats were
neck and neck aud they went for half mile with
slight advantage on the whole for the Bcayerwycks,
and Watkins little behind owing to continued
had steering but so very little that it was hardly perccp
tble As they passed the mile and approached Peters
Island which divides the river at this pou tho London
men were Obliged in or get into the course which
runs cast Of the island sheet out 10 the east con
tderabIy whereby considerable ground and the
Beaverwycks increased their gain from this circumstance
by a splcidid and well-iiIncd spurc which vas hailed
with great shout from the multitude on both sides the
narrow stream. This put them three-quartcrs OF q
length ahead and the thrceqnartcrs done Watkns
wac hurryng in the not far behind indeed bat at
long distance to gain such struggle and all eyes
were on the two leading boats.


The Reaverwycl,s rolling even moro than usual
No 2 who had sick the day before, bowed sonc-
what over his oar; bu under the cycs OF The shouting
multitude the crew stinula ed 10 tremendous cf
forts aud the boat new along tho island without log
ing lot Of It's advantage. At the south end OF TIE
island the IOndOners realizing that il was neck or meth
ing set their teeth for the ina spurt The BcaSct-
wycks answered, butt they had done their
best, aud foot by foot the enemy was upon them
I1yc ciCep md