AMERICAN SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1220, 31 January 1878, Page 3

AMERICAN SCULLING CHAMPIONSHIP.

A great sculling race for the championship of America and a purse of '2OOO dollars between Evan Morris and Patsy Luther took place lately over tho five mile rowing course in Alleghany River, iu Hulton's Station, and was witnessed by a large assemblage of persons. For years past there has existed between these two rowers a bitter enmity, engendcrod, perhaps, by the success of Morris in almost all aquatic struggles iu which he has engaged, They both at one time belonged to the same boat club, aud took daily spins on the river in the way of exercise together, but it would seem that at length Luther grew uncommonly jealous and envious of his fellow rower, and conceived the idea that he was equally clever with the spruces as tho other; in fact, that all the <dory of Morris's achievements in skill was nothing more than moonshine, for the simple reason that there was another in the same club who was vastly his superior. This feeling grew so strong that at length Luther withdrew from the club, to the regret of many of his admirers in the organisation, and he established himself in a boat-house of his own, where he continued his rowing exercise. On the occasion of the Centennial regatta last year Luther promptly entered among all the great professionals of sculling in the world, and succeeded iu defeating Higgins, the English champion, and Morris, and was next day, in a decisive heat, beaten by Hanlau, of Toronto. He, however, attributed his defeat by the latter to.an unfit condition and manner, while he left Moiris in the rear on the Schmrkill stream, which elated him and served in a great measure to assuage the poignancy of his ultimate defeat. After Scharff's defeat in June last at the hands oE Morris, the champion thought of retiring for the season, but Luther then prompth came forward and put out his challenge. Considerable difficulty was experienced iu making the match, inasmuch as Morris wished that the stakes to be rowed for should be 2500 dollars a side or a purse of 5000 dollars. This was an extravagant sum in Luther's eyes, but ho was persistent in making a match for a lesser sum, and attributed Morris's motives in refusing to row for any fair amount of money as mercenary and akin to cowardice. After a long delay preliminaries were arranged, and this afternoon was fixed as the time for the contest The men wore to row for a purse of 200 dollars. Tho race was to bo five miles for each man, turn own buoy boat. THE RAGE. Henry M. Long, the referee, then placed the men m the respective sides of the river ; Luther having won the toss, chose the Alleghany side. After the start, Luther, with a powerful swing of his oars, went at once to lead, and dashing away as if he meant to use his man up at once, was in fact no tune in putting his boat a clear length iu front of that of his opponent's. His friends, who seemed to outnumber those of the other oarsmen, were fairly beside themselves with joy, and ran down along the river shore like so many savages, cheering and gesticulating wildly. The disinterested spectators, however, "oven at this early part of the struggle, could observe that Morris was pulling a hard even stroke which wa3 sending his craft along at a clipping rate, while Luther, in his efforts to get still further ahead, failed in one or two instances to get a proper catch of tho water with his oars, and in consequence to splash, something after the style of an amateur. He hold his lead, however, until nearing the Cross and Mansion, when Morris, rowing a determined steady race, and, with his stroke at thirty-live to the minuto, commenced to pull up, and in front of these go muds drew to a lead, evidently rowing well. Luther pulled prettily thirty-two strokes to the minute, which ho never varied from tho first to the finish. Though his stroket had all the precision and exactness of the most perfect piece of machinery, yet they seemed to Jack that one very essential quality in rowing power, and his boat failed signally to forge through the water with the apparent ease and energy of his opponent's.

At the village of Verona Morris still held his lead, nnd hold his man safely until the buoy b at wa3 reached, whirh ho rounded, but not go prettily as Luther, who swung

his craft around as if on a pivot, an 1 with renewed confidence, and by words of encouragement from friends, went again gamoly for the lend. This, however, he failed to peenre, for Morris seemed in no vise fatigued with the exertion he had undergone, but was evidently prepared for a vicious chase to the end. Nearing home it waa plain to those on shore that Luther's chances of the championship were very small indeed, and this was made all the more clear when Morris went over the lino winner by three boat lengths Time given by the referee was 37mi»,— "New York Herald."