AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIP.

Evening Star, Issue 7386, 5 December 1887, Page 2

AQUATIC CHAMPIONSHIP.

A SPLENDID STRUGGLE.

[Special to the Stab.]

The choice of positions was won byHanlan’% supporters, and the took -,1%! eastern or Penrith side.pt ■jthe Nepeam* Although rain was falling, the wind H died away, th© result being t)}#* tho niami* ficent championship course was as smooth as a sheet of glass, and a fairer day or -impre perfect stretch of water upon which to row a great race in wager-boats could not he obtained. Although flanlan had the choice of positions, it gave him little, if any, advantage over his opponent.

THE START. mutual consentatr twenty-five minutes to four. Both men were in position, and nearly opposite to each.other. Hanlon, made a move forward, Ihtr'the- Dapfo ~rrian was not" quite reh.dy, and - he. would npt respond. Beaclt now Amoved slightly, a", little play ensuing for a few seconds, arid then at twenty-three minutes to four both men struck the water almost simultaneously. Both >vent away at the rate of fol ty strokes to the minute, Hanlan appearing to' lead %t the start. Opinion, however, was divided on the boat. The timekeeper (Mr J. G. DeeMe) and others maintained that Beach was ahead, and the Canadian’s friends asserted that their man led. Beach and Hanlan pulled in magnificent style, the, champion’s mighty grip and lone, clean, and powerful sweep being admired ny all. THE RACE A CRACKER. Hanlan’s rowing was perfect; his boat shot through the water with lightning-like rapidity for the first 200 yards. The greater strength of Beach, however, began to tell from the first. In the second minute both were stroking about thirty-seven, keeping stroke and stroke together, and giving a magnificent and unequalled exhibition of professional rowing. Cries of “ Beach is ahead; 50 to 1 on Beach “No ; Hanlan leads “ the Canadian’s ahead,” were frequently raised on the steamers, which could not keep up with the men. But before the first quarter of a mile had been negotiated Beach was seen looking across at Hanlan and watching him. The men got their first wind and their pace was increased a little, the Dapto man polling thirty-six strokes and Hanlan stilting thirty-eight to the minute. _ At half-a-mile Hanlan’s boat rolled a little, and he glanced nervously at his opponent, who was forging ahead slowly but surely. In point of fact Beach rowed harder than Hanlan, and, although at times the latter was actually striking the water faster than the other man, at the half-mile the Canadian rowed thirty,eight to the minute and Beach thirty-six. Another half-mile, it was evident, would tell who was to win the race, and the men quickened up a little. BEACH NOW SPURTED up to thirty-eight, and drew away from his opponent, but the Canadian answered in fine style, and putting on a tremendous spurt he lessened the distance almost immediately, The Ilwarra man had now fairly settled down to his work, and laying all his strength on his powerful strokes for a few seconds, and led Hanlan by. mpre than a length and a-half, amid a scene of considerable excitement on the steamer. Both men were cheered by the spectators. Approaching the mile mark, Beach took things easjer, rowing thirtytljrpe strokes to the minute, Hanlan striking thirty-four. On and on sped the oarsmen until at a mile Beach was m ,re than a length ahead of the Canadian, and holding him safe, notwithstanding that the Toronto man was rowing brilliantly and in perfect form. The mile was accomplished in smin 45sec very fast time for the dead water of the Nepean. Beach now Slowed down to thirty r two: Hanlan striking thirty - four and pulling a game losing race. Subsequently the I)upto nran slackened his rate of speed to thirty to the minute ; but it was evident he had plenty of strength left, as ho was rowing well within himself. The Canadian, who was pulling from thirty to thirty-four per nd Q ute, still persevered in his attempt to overhaul Beach, but whenever he increased his speed the effort was instantly responded to by the New South Wales man. After leaving the old tweed factory on the Sydney side of the Nepean behind them, both men roused up to thirty-two a minute, neither seemed to gain any advantage. At the two mi}e mark BEACH INCREASED HIS LEAD to nearly three lengths; and from this place to the fitfsh the excitementof those on board the steamer abated. IQQ to 1 was qffered on Beach. Bo*h men were striking thirty-two per minute as they passed the house, and they kept at it for the next 200 yds, when Beach slackened a little, but still maintained the lead he had secured. About halfra-mile from the finish tjie crowds lining the banks on either side of the river and the railway bridge began to realise the true position of affairs, and cheer after cheer rent the air as the champion swept onward. About this point Hanlan appeared to roll a little, and a ory went up “ Hanlan’s done; the race is over.”

IJANLAN COMES AGAIN. But the Canadian was not done, and as he recovered almost immediately and spurted a little, Beach answered promptly and maintained the lead he bad secured j and then the competitors settled down to steadier work, the Dapto man rowing twentyeight to the minute, and Hanlan striking thirty to thirty-one. Both men continued to pull in good style, but it was evident that they were greatly distressed, as the contest throughout had been a desperate one. When a quarter of a-mile from home Beach quickened a little, rowing at thirty to the minute. Hanlan also spurted a little, striking thirty-two. The spurt did not last long, however, as the oarsmen were completely fagged. The next 100 yards were rowed by Beach at twentyeight per minute and Hanlan at thirty-one, but the pace was not fast. The men then made a final effort, but Beach eventually passed the winning-post, being two clear lengths ahead of Hanlon. A SCENE Of WILD EXCITEMENT and enthusiasm prevailed as the men rowed tinder the bridge at the conclusion of the race and shook hands with each other. The official time for the Contest Was Iflmin 65|sec—an exceedingly last performance. This was to bo expected after such a des* perate race. Both men were completely rowed out. Beach, who was very pale, appeared more distressed than Hanlan. The former, who was greeted with loud and prolonged cheering, was taken ashore by his admirers,.but the latter rowed across to his quarters, where he experienced a warm reception. WHAT THE CHAMPION SAYS. When the men shook hands beneath the bridge, Beach said to Hanlan: “ Well, Hanlan, you know me now; I hope you are satisfied.’’ The latter was understood to reply that he was perfectly satisfied with the result of the race. In the bustle, confusiOn, and excitement which occurred after the race Beach observed that the race was 'the hardest one he hud ever rowed in his life. He, however, has since qualified this by stating that it was the best one he had ever rowed against Hanlan, and the hardestfought race of his whole career, with the exception of the content with Gaudaur on the Thames. He, however, admits that he was taxed to his utmost to hold Hanlan at bay, and though race was' perhaps the iporC desperate at the finish it was not a more determined or better raice. iianean’s textjWny'to men's POWERS. In conversation with a reporter of a Sydney daily, Hanlan stated that “ the race is now over, and Beach is still champion of the world, and I have no doubt Australia is proud of this third victory which _he has won over me. Beach certainly has proved himself one of the greatest scullers the world has ever seen in this great race on the Nepean. It was rowed and finished satisfactorily according to the rules and regulations of boat-racing i and I think it will be many a. long dayibefore such another exhibition of skill, speed, endurance, and grit will be witnessed.. At the startingpoint I was very confident. I_ never hacked, up to score in better.condition in my life ; in fact, I was never in such good condition or more confident of victory. I now think that if !• bad made a special effort just at the ehe-mile post, instead of later on, I would have won. I feel confident, if Beach had kept on his own course and given me a fair field and not his backwash, I would have crossed the score the winner, and in considerably less than 19min 55|sec.” - •

“ How d’ye do, brother Jones ? I hope you are going to give me your vote.” “ Very sorry, colonel, but I have already promised it to your rival.” “ Oh, never mind that. In election times promising and keeping are two different things, you know;" “If that's so,” said Jones, “I’ll promise you my vote.”

■ f' ;,r ’ JDeompeb s. k >phe Honoirtep Dm^n. ■ explanatiop Thttßfby’a oa^honoj«*mq UeatiqfK- The House did nuvt seoond j reading of the on Mr Seddonrs anuSufmebt, which-made the reduqtianthia sesrite wady top members of the' House as Vell whoMid not sit in the late Parliament. Mr Ward, Dr Fitchett, and Mr Mackenzie (Clutha), who voted for this amendment, spoke in favor of an all-round reduction, and would have voted for the second reading of the Bill had -thisuot-ibeen-aubaequently affirmed orrtha voices. As the measure passed, old members get LlO5 this session and-.new members L 15 0; next session all members will get ■LloOj-vrith a reduction of L 25 off the allowance of those living within three miles of Wellington. s The A’orttaern Cemetery, There is not the slightest chance of the Nprth ' Dunedin : Cemetery Extension Bill passing the Council, The Lords object to public reserves-, near towns being touched for cemetery purposes. The Schools of Mines. It has been decided that the eost of assays at the Schools of Mines at the Thames and Reef ton, and at the Government laboratory at Wellington shall in all cases be reduced to five shillings; the present charge is ope guinea. This nominal charge is retained simply with the view of preventing cartloads of rubbish being sent for analysis. A Respite. The Standing Orders Committee have de. cided to defer till next session the question of enforcing the closure. Members will not therefore hare .their verbosity restricted at present. The SeapUff Asylum Inquiry. The names of the Seacliff Commissioners have not yet been settled, but they will be selected from Messrs Seed, Garew, Hume (Inspector of Prisons), and Robinson (R.M. of Oamarn). Hillside Workshops Management. To-daj Mr Barron gave notice to ask whether the management of the railway workshops at Hillside is controlled by an officer stationed at Addington, and if so, why Also, whether he .will give such instructions as will release the workshops at Hillside from a subordinate position; and further, whether he will endeavor to adhere to the understanding formerly arrived at in connection with the allocation of work to such workshops.