The New York Herald Newspaper, August 29, 1869, Page 3

INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS, Wars, Tilts and Peaceful Struggles of Men of the Same Lineage. Their History from David's Time to William the Conqueror’s, and Thence to the Universities’ Boat Race. The Yacht America, Rowing, Horse Racing and Pugilism. British and American Boat Race in New York Bay in 1824, Triumphs of Science, the Printing Press and Peace. ‘The exciting international contest which resulted from the match between the students of Harvard University,in the United States, and those of the University of Oxford, England, to row arace on the ‘water of the river Thames, near London, terminated last Friday in the defeat of the American oarsmen, It was a brave struggle, undertaken in a manly spirit, and conducted to a gallant issue; an eveut which it is to be hoped will be accepted and recorded in the same kindly feeling which marked the conduct of the preliminary arrangements which led to it. In such tone, and having this object in view, we employed the submarine cables which connect England and Ire- Jand near Valentia Bay and thence, under the Atiantic Ocean, unite Europe and America in record- ing the progress of the sport from the moment of the seating of the men of each crew respectively in their boat, to the delivery of the momentous final sweep stroke which sent the Oxfords ahead to vic- tory, #iX seconds of time in lead of thelr competitors. By such erfterprise and attention made directly available by a large money cost, we were enabled to present to the readers of the HERALD yesterday morn- ing the extensive exhibit—so interesting and of such absorbing moment—which placed every incident of the race before the eyes of the public and passed it into history at one and the same time. ‘Thus has the National victory of a few English lads over an equal number of the youths of America in a sport in which the forefathers of the former have excelled from the moment of the first institution of recurrent annual aquatic strife in Great Britain down to the establish- ment of the Doggett’s Coat and Badge prize as a premium for the most agile or fortunate “jolly young waterman of the Thames,” and thence to the struggle and scene between Britons and the sons of our own soll on the 27th of August, 1869, given occa- sion for the employment of that subtle agent, elec- tricity, in one of its most civilizing shapes—the sup- plying of food, in the form of accurate and reliable Teports of an affair which transpired at a distance of three thousand miles from our doors, to its grand precursor, the printing press, for instantaneous dif- Tusion among the masses by means of its unfailing allies, printer's type and steam. Such universality of knowledge will effectually prevent any unkindly remembrances. The aspirants for the jaurel wreath on both sides were children of a common lineage, descended from an ances- try which had its fountain head equally in the Caucasus, and trom which they streamed in various airections, during different ages long past, as their wants or curiosity urged or prompted and the light of struggling science directed them, It was muscle and blood improved by transplanta- tion against the muscle and blood of the parent stock; and, as victory was certain to rest on the flag ofone crew or the other within afew minutes of time subsequent to the start, the knowledge of this ethnological fact prevents any exclamation of sur- prise at the result such as that whicn escaped from the vanquished chief of Africa, when he asked—as we are assured by the poet—in the very presence of his Roman conquerors, Gods ! where’s the worth which sets this people up above thine own Numidia’s tawny sonst” The spread of eaucation has produced a complete Tevolution in the character of national governments and amusements all over the world. Of the effects of this humanizing and refining change no one 1 more conspicuous or beneficial than that which has gradually effaced the degrading degeneracy of the jousts and tilts of the tournament as exhibited in the prize ring, and subsututed in its stead the health-giving and inspiriting amusements which flow from aquatic pursuits, affording, as they do, an every-day opportunity for tne admiration of and converse with that “glorious mirror where the Almighty’s form glasses itself in tempests,” and which impresses the human heart with a feeling of reverential awe, whether it be viewed from the deck of a huge steamship, the heim-stand of a fleet yacht or the tiny oar’s rest of araceboat. Tne reform has been slow, very slow, in progress, but will cer- tainly be enduring and progressive to the end, It resis for its complete fruition on the triumph of mind over matter, a victory which is near at hand, if 1t was not really won at the moment of the issue of the brutal encounter which took piace between Heenan and Sayers some few yearssince inthe fleld at West Farms, England. The pages of the HBRALD supply a chronological chronicle of this intellectual advance and its consequences, as shown 1n our reports to-day of the frat international boat race between English. men and Americans, which took place in the waters of New York bay on the 9th of December, in the year 1824, between the Whitehall boat American Starand the boat Dart, belonging to the British frigate Hussar, lying off tne city; of the triumph of tue yacht America in the year 1851; of the interna- tional boat races between Kelly and Hamill in England io the year 1866; of the rowing match be- tween Hamil and Brown for the championship of America in the year 1867; the match between the Ward brothers ana the St. John (New Bruns- wick) crew, also In 1867; and of the contest which took Dlace between naval oarsmen serving on American and British war vessels in the waters of Asia, off Shanghae, China, during the conclading days of the yeur 1866, Each subject formed in itself a nobie theme, and, estimating ite importance in tnis light, we did it ample justice in our details, and the mnter- national rowing match of Friday was, in a very great measure, and to a very considerable extent, a result of our exertions in this direction, Social civilization, like the dispensation of the Christian evangelism, extends slowly. Its enlighten- ment is as enduring, however, and, as 1s very gen- erally claimed, of @ more universal uniformity in its application to the wants and for the uses of the peoples. Hence the “triamphs of peace” are more cnduring than those of war. The mighty King David invoked the God of his fathers for victory over his enemies on bis Knees on the battle fleld, and when physically exhausted had his hands upheld in the attitude of prayer by an attendant. Joshua prayed that the sun might be arrested in its course, 80 as to light his svidiers to conquest; and it was thought that the maiden Judith, of the same race, had even consecrated the sword as a Weapon of freedom when she used i¢ for the slaughter of the drunken tyrant Holifernes, Theirs was an ago of faith and muscle combined. One of the very first acts of Christ, the Messiah, when on earth—the healing of a wound caused by the sword— ‘Was, however, o direct reproof +o the theory of nus- cular salvation, as well as affording an imperishable attestation in approval of the ways of peace. Tne Jewish warriors were compelled to lay down their arm@and their people were dispersed. Subsequent history teaches ua that on the very soil of that isiand in which the boat race of Friday Iast took place Saint Augustine, after his landing on the desolate shore of Kent, accomplished # more endaring vic- tory by the mere exhibition of the cross as a symbol of peace and brotherly love than did all the contending native chieftains during anterior centuries, even to the moment wna their home quarrels were arrested by the prowess of foreign invaders and their vanquished children ex- NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, AUE€UST 29, 1869—TRIPLE SHEET. posed for sale in the siave market of Rome, The victory of the monk was one of posse; hie commis- lon the words of the Sermon en the Mount. Hu- Taanity is combative in its matincts, however, and acting In obedience to the natural impulse a Norman soldier undertook the conversion of the “Angies” after bis own fashion—with the sword and the lance, clothed in armor and on his war horse. This was William, Duke of Normandy, afterwards king of England under the title of the Conqueror, Unin- structed tu the ways of peace William emerged from his vineyard in the northwest of France, crossed over to Engiand, engaged in a trial of strength with Harold the Saxon and vanquished him at Hastings onthe 14th of October, m the year 1066, ‘This was an international fight, indeed, It was race Pitted againat race, and the “best man to win.” Having subdued the Saxons Wiiliam found offence with the men of his own kindred, recrossed the water in order to undertake an international ar- bitrament in the land of his birth, again fought his battle, forfeiting his life as a gauge of his earnest- ess and sincerity. It was the transplanted Norman engaged with the kindred Frenchman, ana then and there laying the foundation of those international Jealousies, which subsequently took the Black Prince to the fields of Cressy and Agincourt, and eventually summoned Wellington to Waterloo. Having the cross of peace affixed to his coat of mail, Richard the Lion-hearted drew the sword of the crugader and journeyed to Palestine. He fought against the infidel for the rescue of the Holy Sepul- chre, achieving world wide notoriety in war. Re- turning to his home after captivity, and in disguise, we are informed by Sir Walter Scott that he was recognized by Friar ‘ack through the instrumen- tahty of a buifet delivered ‘straight from the shoul- der” on the ear of that reverend gentleman, the force of which laid him sprawling on the sod and conveyed to him, quickly almost as electricity the fact that the King had arrived in England, as no other man could perform such a feat. It was a forcible, yet peaceful, according to the custom of the day, mode of reunion. From the year 1197, England and France had their knights and tournaments, the combatants journeying from one country to the other—in the intervals between actual wars—for the enjoyment of what was then an international and peaceful trial of skill and strength im the arena. The custom was transmitted to the time of Elizabeth, at which period the pen of Shaks- peare commenced to biunt the lance points of the soldiers and initiated that triumph of peace by means of the newspapers which rendered the Eglin- ton tournament of our own day ridiculous in contrast withthe power of the penny newspa- pers which recorded the progress of the pageant. Cervantes “smiled Spain’s chivalry away” as he wrote down the deeds of Don Quixote and the doughty Sancho Panza, and the muscular exertion, as well as the cruelties which ensue from bull-bait- ing, will soon disappear from the land of his birth under the influence of @ free press, liberty of con- sclence and peace, even although it be a peece born im home convulsion and gurtured in revolution. British pugtlism resulted from the Crusades and the tournaments, and terminated in the encounter to which we have referred above. Horse racing was made a national sport in Eng- land at an early date, and far back, away in the annals of her turf lists, are registered such names as Godolphin, the Flying Dutchman, with those of other horses of almost equal note. An attempt was made some years since to render this sport international, but the eflort failed, as 1s known, mainly through the personal assumption of an American represen- tation which was not duly accredited by our people. It is international, however, in the light that some of our finest racing stock of to-day is of British pa- rentage, while many of their most noted racers are worthy scions, of English horses imported from the “old sod’? to this country, the ‘young ones” being returned improved by their foreign birth. A march of internationalism such as that of the late boat race between the universities’ men tends to secure a closer and still more close intercommu- nion of the peoples of the two countries; a commu- nion which it will eventually require the perpetration of some very grave injury or some very gross affront by one to the other to disrupt; a communton of race and sentiment, which wag happily described by a British naval officer, when alded by American sailors in his struggles under the fire of a Uhinese battery, he acknowledged 1t in the memorable words:— “Blood runs thicker than water.’ This ts a grand iruth, conveyed im homely language, the timely re- membrance of which will ever tend to curb any feel- ing of undue exultation, as well as any tendency towards unmantly depression, should such be likely to ensue from the news of the result of the boat race between Harvard and Oxford. With such introduction we to-day submit to our readers the following special history of the great international contests which have taken place since the moment of the boat race between Englishmen and Americans in the year 1824 off New York to that of Friday last in the Thames, our account of the more modern—latest—event reading first in order. The Harvard and Oxford Universities Boat Race, By special telegram from London, forwarded through the cable to the HERALD Building, we have the following additional deialled report of the boat race between the students of Harvard and Oxford uni- versities, This telegraph correspondence is written thus: Before the commencement of the race the Thames river itself, from noon to two o'clock, and from London to Putney, was alive with small craft, each with Its ful complement of passengere, and all running as fast as they could up the river. The roads were thickly crowded with carriages and people on foot. The railway trains running to the scene of action were crammed with passengers; in fact it was generally admitted that the public excite- ment far surpassed that of any similar event of modern times, At Putney the scene was extremely gay; the Union Jack of Engiand and the American Stars and Stripes blended gracefully and harmonized with the profuse display of bunting of all colors and shades, the Oxford blue and Harvard majenta pre- vailing. The small boats lined the shores. Two or three steamers with gally decorated awnings occupied the same line, The banks and houses swarmed with people. The opposite side of the Thames, skirted with massive foliage and bright greensward, shone in all its splendor. Scarcely a ripple disturbed the placid surface of the Thames, and over all a sun brighter and more powerlul than we usually see in these climes shed a glorious gtiding. For fully an hour, by road, by river and by rail, thousands and hundreds of thousands of persons poured to the river's bank, until every standing place, either on the towing path, at the windows of the houses, on the bridges, and even on the housetops, were literally crowded with people, Not only at Putney, but over the whole four miles and a quarter of the course to Mortlake, the special efforts made on this occasion to keep the course clear were highly successful. A few hundreds of small boats were kept within the prescribed limits on the left hand side of the course, while across the river, above the aqueduct, a chain was extended, strung to the bridges, thus effectually stopping the way to any large crait coming up after the prom- bited hours, By this means the broad, smooth surface of the Thames was left perfectly open for the two competing boats, and never in the history of great races on this river has there been so little cause of complaint of any kind, It was nearly flve o’ciock when the movement of the dense crowd around the London boathouse showed that one of the crews was about to embark, A few minutes later and the long lines of the Oxford outrigger were seen above the heads of the surging throng as it was carried by the stalwart crew down to the waters of the Thames, Embarking ia her quickly they remained for a few minutes adjusting themselves in thetr places and settling their oars. Then paddling gently out to the clear expanse of unbroken water an immense ringing cheer arose from the assembied thousands, On Teaching mid stream Oxford halted, and all eyes were again turned to the towing path, in order to look out for the Har- vard crew. Expectation had not long to wait,.for in lesa than five minutes the American boat was also in the river, and in due course her gallant crew wero in their places on board her, and then, as the Oxford boat moved up toward the two steamers, one of which contained the umpire and the personal friends of the crews and the other the members of the press, the Harvard boat came right out into the middle of the stream, They were greeted with hearty and en- couraging cheers on every side, A few minutes of intense excitement followed while the two boate set- Uedd own and appointed siations, It was then seen that Harvard bad secured the best station, namely, ‘that on the Middlesex side of the water. As coon as the stems of both boats were clone to the gigs from whtea they were to start Mr. Blaikie, ‘the starter, asked the usual question:— “Are you ready 1? Twice the reply came from Oxford, ‘‘No.’? A few seconds of interval were allowed and then again the question was put:— “are you ready; are you ready f”” “Ge.” No sooner had the words left the speaker's mouth than the two boats moved off almost simultaneously. Harvard, however, leaves quickest at her oars, and gliding easily and proudly away she, in the fret few strokes, passed to the front and went fully half @ length in advance. So, setting themselves to work with energy and even with flerceness, her crew dashed ahead right away from Oxford, and before 200 yards had been covered they were full @ length ahead. Still straining themselves and rowing desperately at forty-five strokes to the minute, the Harvard men further increased the distance between themselves and their formidable opponents, who at forty strokes to the minute appeared to be languid, one might almost say lazy, in comparison to the swift young Amerti- cans. The Harvard boat flew along the smooth water like a thing of life, neitner dipping nor feath- ering, but sustaining a steady, fast and regular mo- tion, like that of a serew steamer. Again and again it seemed as if Oxford on the first hglf mile were bringing their great strength to bear on the strug- gle, but every effort of tneirs met with a successful response in the gigantic efforts of the Harvard crew. ‘Thus the race continued up to Craven Point, At that crucial part of the course Oxford seemed to draw a littie upon her opponents, Burnham, Har- vard coxswain, taking the boat a little too far to the left at one time, threatened a case of foul with the dark blues, but seeing his error he took what was the next best, though still a bad course, of steering his boat’s head out of the line and thus describing a section of acircle. By this proceeding a distance was lost which at that time was not of so much im- portance, but which had probably some effect on the ultimate result of the race. At first there were those who, notwith- standing the position of Oxford, were willing to offer ten to eight and even ten to seven on that crew; but now, alter Harvard had sustained her pro- gress and kept her advantage over one of the most dangerous and trying parts of the river, no one was found to offer even level betting on the Oxford, In view of the first testing point of the race, name- ly, that at Hammersmith bridge, the Oxford men were observed to put on a special effort, and fora quarter of a mile up to that point it seemed doubttul which would pass the Rubicon first. The bridge 1t- self and the shore on both sides swarmed with hu- man beings. The chains of the bridge even were covered with men and boys, who clung to them with hands and feet, more aiter the position of monkeys than of men, and who defied the efforts of the most active policemen to remove them. Harvard dasbed up to the bridge in gallant style, in eight minutes twenty-one seconds, a particularly rapid time ona not very fast tide. The Americans still held the lead, but Oxford was pressing closely and danger- ously upon their quarter, and threatened at any moment to wrest from them the position which up to this time they had so firmly maintaiged. Clearing the bridge, however, Harvard again spurted vigorously and again shot off from the long, slow, powerful drag of the Oxford men, who, it seemed, were now warming ta their work with unflinching courage. Up to the end of two miles was this fierce gnd exciting struggle under a broiling sun maintained. The brown skins of the Americans shone with the perspiration that streamed over them, and the Oxford men were pale with the mo- tion, but pulling firmly and steadily together as one man, and following up their opponents as the hound foliows the stag. By the time that the two miles had Been finished, and when they were near the foot of Cheswick Eyot, the Harvard men were observed to flag slightly. Ina moment Oxford, without putting on apparently any especial effort, were on their quar- ter, drawing ahead. Still, further, there were two minutes of exciting contest for the actual lead, When the Americans found themselves in close quarters with their long-dreaded enemies they must have quivered with emotion; for they knew that the bodily strength of one of their men was sorely taxed. They, however, maintained the terrible Aight with unyielding courage, and it was douptfal for a length of time which would pass successfully through the final and crucial testing points of the race and prove the victor. The nigh training, the skilful coaching and the long experience of Oxford did its work gradually, slowly, but surely, They overhauled the representatives of the American University, and forging ahead with immense power placed first a quarter, then a length, then a length and a half, and then two clear lengths petween them and the tolling Americans. Burnham cheered on his men. Shouts and cries arose from thousands of voices on the banks who witnessed this exciting struggle, and it was then and there agreed ‘that it was one of the finest and noblest races that had ever been pulled on the metropolitan river of Great Britain, Burnham, the coxswain, who, not- withstanding one or two faults, had steered a good course, urged on his men, and they responded seve- ral times most gallantly, threatening again to re- duce the distance between them and the Oxford crew, but it was only for a moment; the long, steady pull of the Oxford crew could not be overcome. In vain did Burnham dash water upon his gallant crew; in vain did they respond with their extreme strength; in vain did they struggie, with heroic courage, over the last of the four miles and a quar- ter; Oxford firmly and mercilessly held its own, and ultimately achieved the victory, landing itself win- ner by four lengths, in twenty-two minutes and twenty-two seconds, after one of the most splendid races ever seen upon the Thames. The course was kept clear throughout. The ar- rangements in other respects were satisfactory. The race was a fair one, and refects great honor upon the courage and endurance of both the gallant crews. The Race of 1824—New, York Boxtmen Against British Naval Oarsmen. “Putman’s Rowers’ Manual and Boat Club Regis- ter,’ written and compiled under the supervision of the President of the Empire City Regatta Club and published tn New York in 1858, contains the follow- ing highly interesting account of an exciting boat race, which took piace in the waters of the bay of New York, in the year 1824, between a crew of Whitehall boatmen and sailors taken from a British war frigate. The account of this international aquatic struggle is of exceeding great value just now a8 evidence of what American oarsmen can accomplish when competing with foreign visitors on this side of the Atlantic, The ‘Rowers’ Manuai’, reports as follows:— The most notable race looking up from the past of which we can gain any correct intelligence was that which took place in New York bay on the 9th of December, in the year 1824, between the four- oared boat American Star, rowed by Whitehall boatmen, and the Dart, @ boat belonging to the British frigate Hussar, which was then lying in the harbor. We copy the following account of the affair from a letter recently published in the Dis. patch of this city, and from the New York Evening Post of December 10, the day alter the race took place:— In the beginning of December, 1824, the British frigate Hussar, Captain Harris, anchored in New York harbor, and in consequence of kindness which he had extended to American vessels at sea, was warmly received. On the 6th of December he challenged the watermen of New York toa rowing match for one thousand dollars, The challenge ‘was accepted by the Whitehall boatmen, and the race came off between thirty minutes past twelve M. and one o'clock P, M., on Thursday, December 9, 1824, The British boat, which had previously won eight races in the West Indies, and had not a competitor on the river Thames, was named the Dart, and the boat entered by the Whitehall men was called the American Star, bullt by Mr. Chambers. She had been beaten in arace in 1818 by the boat New York, made by @ celebrated builder of that day named Baptist. The judges on the part of the American boat were Major Howard, Captain Henry Rovinson and Mr. Richard Sadiier; on the part of the Britieb the vesse'a were ready immediately. The America Jaid astern, m no burry and apparently listless. Seon afterwards she moved in preparation. Her huge foresail was displayed, and, with lightning rapidity, out came her jtb, her fore and aft mainsails and gat’ topeail directly. A second gun was fred. Of went the America with the rest of them. The Bea:nice Jed, the Arrow ran second, the Volante third, the Gypsy Queen fourth, the others close together, with the America last. Within two minutes the supe- riority of the America was visible, She glided up to the fleet and commenced to pass one yacht after the other, distancing even the excursion steamers in her route. At the Nab the America was fairly ahead of the others, and at the Needles was from seven to eight miles before the yacht which followed next in her wake. The America carried away her jibboom. She rounded the Needles ateight minutes to six o'clock, P.M. and arrived at the starting vessel at thirty-five minutes past eight; the Aurora, @ cutter of forty-seven tons bur- den, owned by Mr. T. La Marchant, coming in at fifty-five minutes past eight. It was a grand occa- sion—a splendid victory, ‘the America was loudly cheered by the spectators, who fuliy acknowledged the revolution whicn sie had compleved in the matter of international aquatic sports, Doat Mr. Henry Barclay and two lieutenante of the Hussar, : Qn starting the Star toon the lead, the Dart shortly came up and lapped her, on which the Whitehall boys upplied @ dittle more power to their oars, forced their boat ahead, and maintained the advantage the whole distance, coming in to the stake boat between three and four hundred yards in ad- vance of her competitor, Both the stake boats had the American ana British fags fying ,and when the Star came in the crew of British Jaunch gave her three hearty cheera and struck their flags, The distance, four tiles, was performea in twenty-two minutes in a heavy swell. (The distance or the time will of course be doubted.) The boats started from the vicinity of the frigate, which lay off the Battery, and rowed arocnd @ boat stationed off the old North Battery. 1t is reported im the papers of that day that upwards of fifty thousand persons asse: bled to witness the race, A dinner was subsequently given by prominent citizens to Captain Harris and ‘his officers, and during their stay they were feted in every possibie manner. The public dinner was given at the old Chatham theaire , ‘The Whitenall boatmen made every effort to pur- chase the boat American Star, that they might Present her to Captain Harris; but her owners re- fused to part with her on any terms. Falling in their object, they, through Mr. Jamea H. Aymor, informed Captain Harris of their regrets, to which he responded in suitable terms, The Hussar put to sea on the 18h December, 1824, The American Star was rowed by Messrs. A. Commeyers, Corneling Commeyers, Richard Rov- bing and Charles Beaty; coxswain, John Magness. ‘The Dart was rowed by English sailors, who were, as the above account states, famous for their su- perb oarsmanship, Harvard College Bont Clabs—Their History. ‘The same authority, “The Rower’s Manual and Boat lab Reaister,” by Putman, supplies a history of the boat elubs of Harvard College, with a resumé of their main achievements to the year 185% This matter comes equally apropos with the above just atpresent, Jt is given thus in the words of the author:— Boating, as an institution at Harvard College, in Cambridge, Mass,, dates no further back than the fall of 1844. Previousto that time there are no traces of the existence of a boat club. During, how- ever, the summer of 1843, regattas had been held at Chelsea between boats pulled by mechanics, and it ‘was perhaps the success which attended these races that saggested the idea of introducing rowing boats at Cambridge. In September of 1844 a boat calied the Star, which pad been built for the Chelsea races, was purchased by thirteen members of the class of 46, who had formed themselves into a bout club, This boat, probably the first club boat of the college, was about thirty-six feet in length, and pulled eight oars. Her former name was discarded, and that of Oneida substitated. Bearing this latter name she was nanded down from one college class to another, remaining in Harvard until about the year 1857, when she was sold to boat buliders in Boston, Her namksake now glides upon the waters of Charles river, Boston, The Oneida Club had hardly got into good working order before a club algo arose in the senior class of 1845. This club bought the Red Michael, a boat which had obtained some renown at theChelsearaces. Her name was changed to Iris, She was thirty-eight feet long and pulled eight oars. The members of this club, graduating the following sum- mer, sold their boat to a Boston club. Inthe spring of 1845 another boat, thirty-six feet in length, rowing eight oars and called the Undine, was purchased by aclub of the class of ’48, and in the succeeding fall still another eight oared, called the Huron, forty feet in length, was added to the list of college boats, She belonged to @ club of the class of '47. The fol- lowing spring (1846) the Oneiaa Club sold their boat to the clase of ’49 and built a six-oared gig, thirty- six feet long, which they named the Atalanta. Thus, a little more than a year from the organiza- tion of the first club, five boats had been owned in the college. We now pass on to a period about three years later. In September, 1849, two of the before men- Uoned boats had disappeared, the Hurom being sold at auction in Boston, and the Atalanta sold to persons who sent her to Rio Janeiro, But on the other hand two new ones had been added to the list, the Halcyon, eight oars, and the Ariel, six, both then belonging to clubs of the class of 1851, The Undine, eight, and the Oneiaa, cight, were at this time owned respectively by clubs of the classes of 1850 and 1852, During the season of 1849-50 much interest was exhibited in boating at Har- vard, the above clubs being all well supported, and considerble rivalry extsting between them. The Undine Club terminated its existence in July, 1850, with the class, and a few months after this the Ariel Cinb was disbanded by order of the col- lege government, The Artel was subsequently sold to a club in East Cambridge. The Halcyon Club continued until the next July (1851), when it disap- peared with the graduating class, and the boat was sold to members of Yale College. From this ti until the spring of 1854 the boating spirit was at an ebb, but one boat, the Oneida, being owned in the college. About the commencement of the year 1354 the Iris, a new thirty-six feet, eight-oared bout, ‘was built, which, however, in the spring of 1855 was sold toa club in the class of 1857, ana her name changed to Haron, She still survives, bearing now, however, the name of Ariel. ‘The class of 1856 then bought a new forty feet, eight-oared boat, christening her the Irs. She soon afterwards was the victress at Springfield. During the spring of 1855 also, the class of 1855 having pre- viously sold the old Oneida to a club of 1858, ob- tained a four-oared boat from St. John, which they caliea the “Y Y.” This, however, as weil as an- other which afterwards arrived, the Thetie, owned in the class of 1857, had but a short stay in college; the one perished through neglect, and the other dis- appeared. About this time (spring of 1855), also, the Undine, four oared, was bullt by a clab composed of members of the classes of 1866 and 1858, She is stiil owned by "58, Soon after this came the contest with Yale Col- lege, at Springfield, the result of which gave the already increasing interest in aquatic sports a strong impulse, A number of boats, lighter and swifter than had formerly floated upon the bosom of Charlies river, were soon added to the Harvard fleet, and that number has steadily increased. In June of 1856 a fast eight oared boat, fifty-one feet in length, was butlt for the college. She was patd for by voluntary contribution of the under- graduates, and christened the “Harvard.” She won the second prize at the regatta in Boston the fol- lowing 4th of July. In the fall of 1857 & new university boat was bonght through the exertions of five college gentle- men, and the other subsequently sold to Columbia College, New York. The present Harvard is a hght, six-oared boat, forty feet in length. She is manned by a crew selected from the strongest oarsmen of all the clubs and is the only champion or representa- tive of the university. She won the Beacon cup of June 19, 1858, making the fastest actual time ever accomplished on the Mill Dam course, ‘Then follows f listof the boats in {85s owned in the College, with the names of the clubs uniform with the names of their boats, Sculler’s Race Between Kelly and Hamill. The international sculler’s challenge race between Kelly, of London, and Hamill, of America, for £250 of the Fourth of July, in the year 1866. The distance favorable. The mén “ were off’ at twenty-one min- utes to eight o’clock A. M. Kelly's long ana power- ful oar stroke sent him ahead soon; Hami!l pulling @ very plucky stern sweep— Hamill gave out slightly in muscle; but the contest was areally vigorous one. friendly greeting at the close. U. Bush and Harry Clasper acted as umpires, with G. BR. L. Hawks ax referee, Iuternational Boat Race in China. An international boat race between American and English sailors came off m Chinese waters, near Shanghae, during the last days of the year 1866. The challenge was from eight Americans to row an equal number of the members of the Shanghae Row- ing Club, Englishmen, in boats butt by the latter, Admiral Heng, of the Royal Navy, was present. The American men hailed from New York and Massa- chusetts, Their names were Joho H. Seaman, H. 8. Geary, T. A. Ives, E. G. Law, E. U. Smith, J. M. Forbes, Frank Keld, A. A. Hayes (stroke oar) and C. J, Ashley (coxswain). The Americans took the lead at the start and maintained tt to the end, the British failing soon. Brown and Hamill at Newburg. the year 1867, The course was five miles. the race was decided in his favor. excellent attendance and much enthusiasm, The Ward Brother Crew. field on the 11th of September, 1867. in the Connecticut river. fine style, the Wards coming im as victore. eight seconds, The Heenan and Sayers Fight. world. the 20th of the same month. extraordinary ring encounter ever recorded. two hours and their meeting. since the occurrence. tended with broken noses and jellied cheeks, try’s honor and victory. The People on the Oxfords and Harvards. New York, August 27, 1809. To THE EpiTOR OF THE HERALD:— state in your paper that I do not thing it a fair race. stake, oblige By sparing a little room for this WILLIAM SCHWARZ, 34 Madison aver New York, August 28, 1869, To THe Eprror OF THE BERALD:— the names of Loring, Simmons , Bass and Ric crew in the boat. latter gentlemen were not in the crew, Messrs, Fay and Lyman, who left here on the #0th July, being substituted t tained. Yours, truly, AN OLD SUBSCRIBER, THE JUVENILE HOMICIDE. of the Investigation=Verdict Against the Prisoner. Coroner Keenan yesterday concluded the investi- gation previously commencea in the case of Thomas Delany, the lad, thirteen years of age, who died at his residence, No. 435 West Twenty-sixth street, from injuries received py a stone thrown at him by Christopher Raverty, as heretofore quite fully re- ported in the HeraLp. A Jad named Rooney was bathing in the dock foot of Twenty-fifth street, North river, when deceased threw in some stones to splash the water against the bather. The latter called upon Raverty to make deceased stop throwing stones in the water, which brought the two into collision, After exchanging a few words Raverty struck de- ceased with his hand and almost immediately threw astone which struck him in the left temple and knocked him down. Raverty, inatantly repenting of the “ advanced to where Delany was lying and asked him where he had been hit, the latter point- ing to the side of his head to indicate the location of the injurv. Raverty then walked away, and after a few minutes Delany recovered sumMciently to be able to waik home. Being taken worse soon aiterwards, death ensued the sauie evening. Wooster Beech, M. D., made a post mortem exami- nation on the body of deceased and found a fracture of the skull on the left side, the weapon producing the fracture having severed an artery, causing in- ternal homorrhage. The skull atthe point of the fracture was unusually thin, otherwise the stone thrown svould not have taken fatal The case was then submitted to the jury, who rendered the following :— VERDICT, That Thomas Delany, the deceased, came to his death by a blow from @ stone thrown at him by Christopher Raverty, on the 2ith day of August, 1969, at the foot of Twenty-titth ¢strect, North river, Un the above verdict Kaverty Was arraigned and examined. He 1s fifteen years of age, born in New York, lives at 485 West Twenty-fi(tn street, and by occupation is @ woot moulier, In regard to the charge preferred against him, Raverty said, “I did not intend to hit the boy witn the stone, I only meant to frighten him." Coroner Keenan thereapon committed the prisoner to he Toraba, bat as there seems to have been ho ii er) on His part to take bis companion’s life, he wil be berated on giving $1,000 pail. Close ‘The Yacht America=Her Victory In 1851: On Friday, the 22d of August, in the year 1851, (ie American yacht America, J, ©. Stevens, owner and commander, was in Cowes Roads, Engiand, in reply to an international challenge of the men of the Royal Yacht Squadron, and an acceptance of their invitation issued to the members of “clubs of ail nations’ to compete for the Royal Yacht Squadron Cup, valued at one hundred pounds sterling. The prompt appearance of the America had @ startling effect m the yachting circies of Europe, notwith- standing the fact that the British glove was thrown down im @ gallant spirit and with ® truly English bearing, and the issue of the race Was consequently looked for with an ex- cited eagerness by the public. Queen Victoria went down in the royal yacht to a point off the Needles tn order to witness the sport, and her Majesty ordered that her vessel should run @ part of the way home in company with the America, It was really a queenly compliment; for the America returned the winner, ‘The course was round the Isle of Wight. Eighteen vessels entered, At five minutes before ten o'clock in the morning the signal gun ordered to “heave short” and “prepare for starting.” Six or seven of | he had never. driven ner The great sculling match between Brown and Hamil, for the sum of $4,000, came off near New- burg, XN. Y., on Monday, the 9th of September, in Council man Stephen Roberts, of New York, acted ax referee. The contest was spirited and well maintained. Brown came in ahead, but Hamill claimed a foul, and, after due investigation of ail the circumstances, There was an New Brunswick The international boat race between the Ward Brothers and a crew hailing from St. John, New Brunswick, British America, came off near Spring- The event ex- cited much ingrest. It was for the championship and $2,000. The Wards were Charles, Joshua and | were Mr. Wm. Turnbuil, Robert Bonner, Commodo:e Gilbert. Their boat, a beauty of ite kind, was built by Mr. Stephen Roberts, of Harlem, New York, and | Willams, W. Florence, in it—as the HERALD report of the next day proved— they did honor to the oarsmen of America by a de- feat of the bold, experienced and hardy Britishers. ‘The course was six miles from and to certain points | Wile the fleld was covercd with velicies of all de- The race was contested in Thetime was recorded as thirty-nine minutes and twenty- The international trial of pugilistic force and science and physical endurance in the “roped | entirely arena,”’ between Thomas Sayers, then champion of England, and John C. Heenan, of New York, took piace on the 17th of April, in the year 1860, in Eng- land, The battle was fought ata “safe” distance Irom London. It was for the championship of the We reported it specially in the ReRaLp of It was the most Both men displayed the most wonderful endurance; a tremendous and bloody fight, which endured for six minutes, ensuing after Thirty-six rounds were recorded. The great battle was deciared a “draw,” and pugti- ism has been rapidly declining as @ nations! sport | unsettled, and she broke up be.ore she reached the ‘This is a humanizing result, although coming from @ very sickening exhibition, assuring the people, as it does, that the days of international fisticutts, at- Sir—Knowing your good judgment, and knowing besides that you had a man at the race, I ask you if it was nota fraud? And farther, I wish you would | against Please state that if the Oxfords will come to Amer- ica I will pay their expenses, 80 they wil! not jose anything, and by 80 doing they will give ug a fair show, asi think that the honor of America is at ou will . In your notice of the international race you give asthe I would beg to state that the two in their places, as with the tatter gentlemen a mucn higher rate of speed was at- PROSPECT PARK FAIR GROUNDS. Winner in Three Straight Heate—Time, ‘220 3-4, 2:20 1-2, 2:30 1-4. An immense concourse of ladies and gentlemen, probably 8,000, assembled yesterday alternoon at tbe Prospect Park Fair Grounds to witness @ trot for 64,000 between Mr. McMann’s bay mare Lady Thorn, Mesers. Jackman & Dobie’s bay mare Goldsmith Maid and Mr. Loveli’s bay mare American Girl, All who witnessed the race were delighted with the trotting, a8 it was the finest that has taken place on Long Island. Lady Thorn won the race in three straight heats, in most extraordinary time; 1n fact, the very best that she ever made in @ race, and that, too, aw was supposed, under most uniavorable circuin- stances—her regular driver and trainer, D. Pfifer, being unabie, from illneas, to come upon the track, and Mr. McMann, her owner, had to drive the mare himself, The old gray-headed veteran, however, found himself competent for the task, and it was universally acknowledged that ne handled Lady Thorn better and drove her faster on this occasion than she had been by any other man that had ever pulled @ rein over ner. Mr. McMann received several hearty rounds of applause from the immense con- course during the afternoon. Goldsmith Maid was a great favorite in this rave, a side, took place on the nver Tyne, on the morning | 904 from the first arrangement of the programine to the day of the trot she had beea the iavoriie was five miles. The weather and river were very | ®galnat the fleid. In the pool sales, on tho night previous to the race, she sold for more money than Lady Thorn and American Girl together; and on tue track, when it was ascertained that Paéfer could not drive Lady Thorn, nearly two to ooe were the odds on Goldsmith Maid against the ficid, as it was sup- Kelly won by half @ mile, Hamill enjoying a very | Posed what American Girl bad not fully recovered from the poison administered to her im Philadelphia previous to her race there with Goldsmitu Maid, and it was not deemed possible for Mr. McMann to win with Lady Thorn, as in @ Face aml did not understand her peculiarities. The first of these suppositions no dount was correct, but ihe second proved adelusion; for Mr. McMann seemed to be better acquain.ed with the ware and she with him than any of her previous drivers, These [a- mous mares have tried conclusions with each over before. Lady Thorn beat American Girl twice lass May and American Gurl has beaten Lady Thorn twice since that time, once over the Narraganset: Park track and the other time over the Fashion Course, Lady Thorn bas aiso beaten Goldemiit Maid the same number of times, the first time at Narraganset for second mousy in the great there in June, and again at the OU Course nu July, Goldsmith Maid has been beaten by American Girl three wmes this summer, once at Prospect Park, then at Mystic Park, and again at Narraganset. Goldsmith Maid beat American Girl afterwards at Suffolk Park Course at Philadeipnia and again at Buitalo, Goldsmith Maid has ever beaten Lady Thorn, however. These aiternate vieio- ries and defeata by the above famous mares nati- rally increased the interest of turfmen as they ov- curred, and we were not surprised at peholding the large attendance yesterday alternoon at Prospect Park Fair Grounds, notwitnstanding the hasty man- ner in which the meeting of these horses was ar- ranged and the short time given tor its pablicity. The great desire of wwe pubic, however, to witness a contest between such ciuppers will always insure large attendance at any tue and under any circum- stances. Awong the great crowd we noticed a number of familiar faces, gentlemen woo add lustre and re- spectability to tue trotting turf of America, ‘nese Dodge, Colonel Sag) Mr. a ey Mr. Payson Colonel Brus . Harvey, Jol chards, Barney wi ve ‘Tuttle, Mr$ Hook, Mr. Parks and many otwers. ‘ne puviic etand was ful to overflowing With respectable ladies and gentie- men. ‘The club stand was also crowded, and its bal- comes were filled watt gay aud fashionable ladies, scriptions, ireighted witi ladies and gentlemen of respectability. Not @ person of questionable cha- racer was seen within the enciosures of the Fair Grounds, und the trottmg passed of in the most charming manuer. ‘Tue weather, however, was nol 80 Geiighiful as it Migitt wave been, as a strong wind prevalied during the entire afternoon. it was very high when the trotuag began, and sent clouds of dust fying down tne bomstretch, at times obscuriag vols horses and drivers, and but for the wind the tune of tue heats would have been faster. But to the race. First Heat.—When the horses appeared ou the track they ail exmioited the fluest posaible condi- tion. There were several scorings before the word was given. When they were staried American (i1r!, on the mside, had the best of it by a trifle. Goid- smith Maid, on the outside, was slightly abead of Lady Thorn. it was a very tne start, however, ana the horses went away uader tue most tavorabie cir- cumstances. American Girl drew away on the turn about three-quarters of a length, but at the quarter pols Thorn was at her shoulders, Ww thirty-six and @ quarter, Goldsmith Maid two I behind. Go ing along the back of the track the struggle was fue between Lady Tuorn and American Girl, They borh trotted steadily, waile Guidamith Maid eeemed very balf-mile pole. As Lady ‘horn and American Gir! passed that point they were dead locged, not an inch of digerence between them. The time was 1:09). Goldsmith Maid was still two lengths in the rear. Getting on the lower turn Lady {horn got her head m front of American Uiri, and then her shoulders; are | but as she passed the three-quarter pole she was oniy endea, and that the revivifying chorus of the pa- tions, both for bodily health and general peace, wili go up in future from the decks of steam and sailing yachts and the seats of swift row boats, to the air of a “free sheet and a flowing sea,” and the order to “bend to” and ‘sweep the oar’ for your coun- aneck. The strugyie Was gue as they swung tnio the homestretcn, were Ken Dantels began to use the whip on American Giri, and she did her best in response; but it Was no use, the long, low stride of Lady Thorn was winning 1n spite of all bis en- deavors, and she came fume the victor by a neck, making the heat in 2:20%. Goldsmith Maid was two lengtas behind. Air. McMann came in with his jockey cap in his right hand, which occasioned some merriment among the spectators, some of whom thought that the saving of the cap ht have en- dangered the wibuing of te heat; but Mr. Me- Mann, of course, huew best. “A bird in the hand 1s worth two im the bush.’ Second Heat,—A great change took place in the betting circles, aud Goidsmith Maid was no lon the favorite, Lady Thorn now having the cali the field ac two to one. There were six attempts made before @ successfiii start was elected, Lady Lhorn having rather tue best of if, Goldsmith Maid second and American Girl third, Going around tue turn Lady Thorn ied about a length, Guidsimitn Maid second, two lengtis ahead of American Uirl. Goldsmith Maid broke up and gained something thereby, ana at the quarter pole she was at Lady Thorn’s flanks in thirty-six sec. onds, American Girl four lenguhs behind. As they reached the homestretch Goldsmith Maid took sidex with Lagy horn and fur a moment showed her head in front, 1t was but fora moment, however, tor the next the old ware was on the iead and at the hall-intle poe had a uae LJ Leg Ae it. The (ime fo th jut was 1,004, at wi tune Ameri- tan Cfet wad Wve Yenwtho Cenind. Go.dsmivit: Maid again made a desperace effort to get on even terme with Lady Thorp, aud succeeded so far as to reach her head, when she broke up and fell offalength. She rallied again gallantly, aud at the three-quarter pole Was at Lady ‘ihorn’s siouiders, and as they swung ito the homestretch sie seemed to be well op with tue old mare. Here the dust ld them from us tor an instant, and when we next saw them Lady Thorn was clean ahead of Goidsmith Maid, the latter having broken up, We suppose, or she could not have been so far bebind, Budd Dobie then took Goldemith Maid in hand, and dropped in half a dozen lengths behind Lady Thorn, who won the heat 10 2320". American Girl was as far behing Goldsmith Mala as the latter was benind Lady Thorn, Third Heat.—Tuere was very little betting now on the result, as it was a foregone conclusion that Lady ‘Thorn woud win the race. They made a few faixe attempts before they were started, and when tne word was given American Girl was leading, Lady ‘Thorn second and Goidsinith Maid one length ve- hind, Lady Thorn soon went to the front, and led three-quarters of a length around the turn, Ameri- can Girl second, one iength ahead of Goldsmiit Maid. American Giri went up to Lady Thorn, and showed her head im front at the quarter pole in thirty-#ix seconds, Golusimiti Maid two tengthe be- hind. Going down the backstretch American Giri and Laay Thorn were bead and head two lengths in front of Goldsinith Maid, and when they reached the half-mile pole American Girl was on the lead, haifa length ahead of tear ‘Thorn, who was oue length ahead of Goldsmith Maid. Time to the half-mile pole, 1:094%, Leaving there Lady Thorn made a dasa and again showed tn front, and Goldsmith Maid closed up finely on American Girl, As they ap- proached the three-quarter pole the trio were very close together, and as they passed the pole it was dimeuit to say waich had the best of it, bat then American Giri broke up and tie old mare began to show her mettle aud draw away, and without trouble came into the homestretch @ winner to @ certainty. Goldsmith Maid passed American Girl as she entered the homestretch aud came in second, Ld Thorn won the heat by four lengths, Goldsmith Maid second, two lengtis m front of American Giri, the heat ben Maude in 2:204%, which was far better time, under the circumstances, than the trot at Buffalo the other day, as this track is known to be » full mile, and it i8 generaily believed that the Buflaio track is short and that the managers of that track are cognizant of the fact. ‘he following is a Prospxct PARE F, tn UROL 4 "ARK Falk UNDS, August 28—Purse 4,000, $2,500 to the tirat, $1,000 nd and 300 to tne third horse,” or James MeMann entered b, m. Lady Thora Budd Doble envered v. m. Goldsmith Maid Ben Daniels entered b, m, American irl. ... TIME, Quarter. Haif. First heat... 100% Second heat. . 1:09 by ‘Tuird heat. . 1:00