Transcription
ASTLEY’S PRIZE WHERRY.
On Monday afternoon was rowed for by six pair of scullers Mr. Astley’s twenty-sixth prize wherry; the morning being very fine, a vast concourse of persons flocked to the spot to behold the happy return of the several candidates, lately prisoners of war in France. The following are the names of the competitors:--
NAMES. WHERE BELONGING. COLOURS.
1 Thomas Cook Tower - - Scarlet.
2 George Cox Stangate - - Blue.
3 John Renny - Horslydown - - Green.
4 John Allen - Bankside - - Yellow.
5 William Turtle Wapping New Stairs Brown.
6 John Tomson King’s Arms - Purple.
The first, second, and third boats of the above, rowing the distance the first heat for the prize wherry, each heat with the tide, from Westminster Bridge, to row round the north pier of Vauxhall Bridge, return to the Surrey side, row round the beacon facing Hungerford, and return through the centre arch of Westminster Bridge.
The signal having been given by the firing of a gun, the competitors started for the first heat; a tremendous storm took place, but it no ways daunted the spirits of the candidates. Tomson, Turtle, and Allen, being the three favourites in the first heat, they became entitled to row for the grand object. At six o’clock, each man being at his post, a signal was given for the second heat, when they started, and a severe contest took place between Turtle and Tomson, they being alongside each other for a great distance, when Tomson, of the King’s Arms stairs, taking the lead, shot a-head, and was the first that gained the centre arch of Westminster Bridge; Turtle, of Wapping New Stairs, came in second; and Allen, of Bankside, the third. The two latter had minor prizes of two and one pound each, allotted them. The river, above Westminster Bridge, was crowded with boats, and the shores were lines by an immense concourse of spectators.
