THE CHAMPION SCULLER HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 426, 7 December 1889, Page 6

THE CHAMPION SCULLER HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

The following account of the life of Henry Earnest Searle, champion sculler of the world, and of how he bea^ O'Connor, wiittcn by himself with the view of relief from interviewers and from answering needless questions, will probably be of interest to our readers :—: — My full name, he says, is Henry Ernest Searle. I was born on July 14th, 1866, in Queen-ftreet, at Grafton, on (he Clarence Riv.cr, in New South Wales, and am now 23 years of age. Both my parents are of English birth, and they went out to Australia to settle just as CJrafton was being settled. It was very small and very wild when my father first took up his abode theie, sugar oane and maize growing, cattle raising and mining being the chief industries which attracted colonists. In a few years it became an important centre, and is now a large and flourishing city. After living seven years at Grafton , and while I was still a mere child, ray father shifted to Es'c Island, which lie had bought, and there he set up farming mai/.e, cane, etc. Esk ' Island is about 40 miles from Grafton, and so much nearer the Heads. There I grew up, at first attending school, and then assisting my father in his fanning operation?. When at school we had to row 3^ mileo either way, for in those days loads were .few and far between, and water travelling was the usual mode of progression. In fact, life ut Esk Island was not unlike what life must be in Venice. It is not, therefore, surprising that from an early age I took kindly to the sculls. Our bout contained my sisters and my younger brother. We used often to race other boats bound on the fame errand, and I may add that the Searle boat generally showed the way. I always had a great ambition for rowing, and used often to say than I wished I could become a sculler. In all tny boyish attempts I pub in all I knew of hard work, and, as I have said, very successfully, so chat I soon got known as a smart lad. When I was 17 my father bought me a racing skiff, and in that I praeti&ed for a twelvemonth. Next year, at the age of 18, there was a local regatta at Chatsworth Island, for all comers, in watermen's skiffs, for which I enteied, and scored my first win in my firct public race. This was a happy augury of future success. I need scarcely say that Trickett's reputation had reached me as a boy when I was , -at t s.ehool ov working with my father, and his many victories had fired my ambition. Trickett was often the subject of our conversations, and when we had any great match on I used often" to say to my father, "I wonder who will win today's race," and generally I managed to pick the winner. After winning a tew races I often told my parents,, in my youthful enthusiasm, that I would yet be the champion sculler of the world. For my race with O'Connor I was trained by Neil Matterson, Mr Crane also superintending the preparations?. I don'b think they lound me very troublesome, for I always make a point when I have a race on to go in for it thoiout»hly. In short, J like to attend to my work. My training system is as follow? : — lliseabout 6 or 6.30, and strike dumb bells for about 10 minutes, then, for a two-mi c run on an egg and sherry 'and a biscjit: breakfast -at 8, that meal consisting of a steak or chop, egg?, toast, and tea. After breakfast, as after every meal, I take a rest: then I go a six-mile walk, and at eleven startfor a five or six mile row. Dinner at 1 p.m. At that meal I take roast meat, fdwl, plenty of cabbage or cauliflower, but no potatoes ; custaids and jelly, but no pastry, and plenty of fruit. After about an hour's iest, I take a fourmile walk and a three or four mile row, according to my -avorage weight. If I am a bit too heavy I take a little extra work ; if in good w eight I take things more leisurely. I ha\e tea at six o'clock, and take a steak, or ste>ved fowl, grilled pigeon or boiled turkey ; then another six or seven milos on foot, have a few minute? more with the dumb bells, and then to bed at 10 p.m. Three -days before the race I knock off all luxuries in. the' way of custaid?, fiuit, etc. I like my food well done, and cannot eat anything that is underdone, so that the raw =teak ciaining has no attraction for me— and, in fact, I consider it an altogether superfluous article. On the morning or afternoon of a race 1 have a chicken, pome toast, and just enough tea ro quench my thirst, about four houre before the start, and nothing elee until it is over. . In my iace with O'Connor I had nothing to eat or drink for a good four hours before, only just as I got into my boat I rinsed out my mcuth with a little water. I looked upon O'Connor as a first rate sculler, and 1 knew I should have all my work cut out to beat him, and so I told my friends. He rows a good scientific stroke, but does not reach out as far or use his back as much as I do. But for all that he can get along at a terrific pace, and he gave me a terrible shaking up as far as Hammersmith, I felt all the way there that the race was to be fought out every inch ; but after passing Hammersmith Biidgc I felt I was safe, and that the victory was in my grasp, bar accidents. After j I caught him up, for at the start he got away ' from me, and led for nearly a quarter of a mile, we rowed level, stroke and stroke, for nearly half a mile ; then I forged ahead a little, but O'Connor spurted gamely, and again succeeded in leading me, in my judgment, by half n length ; J then spurted and pulled my hardest, and, after a long struggle, I succeeded in obtaining a slight advantage over him, and after that he never came up to me again. Though I held him in hand after Hammersmith, it was by no means an easy race, and I was putting backbone into my stroke until I passed the winning-post. O'Connor and his supporters are thorough and upright' csportsmon, and we had a fair race, and'no 1 favour. Though, a better .course there may be. in some respects than the Putney to Mortlake course*- tbore is none in the world whet e a fairer race may 'be rowed. I shall always fipeV graceful "for the handsome way ] have been received in ihe old country, my only regret being.that 1 have had no opportunity of meeting an English sculler on English waters. I close with the remark that-I hope, until England wins back the championship, it may remain in Australian hands.

Yea ! It is cjeijtainly true. A»fe any, ol your friends who have purchased there. Garlick and. Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very favourable commendations from country customer'^ on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery, - and Glass, &c. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should remember that Garlick and Cran well's is the Cheap Furnishing Warehouse of Auckland, Furniture to suit all classes ; also Carpets, Floor Cloths and all House Necessaries. If your nejv house is nearly finished, or you are going to get married, visit Garlick and Cranwell, Queen-street and Lome-street, Auckland. Intending purchaser* <i%q bar* i % eftttUutue B»nb fra*. . 1