When  the  signal  was  given,  the  New  York's  oars  dipped  the  first,
and  the  Benedicts  were  off  immediately.  The  Knickerbocker
did  not  jump  away  as  lively  as  her  rival,  and  on  the  third  or
fourth  stroke  one  of  her  rowers  "  caught  a  crab,"  which  circum-
stance was  far  from  helping  her  along  any.  Notwithstanding
this  mishap,  the  bachelors  made  an  exceedingly  good  race  of  it,
keeping  close  up  with  the  New  York  as  long  as  they  were  in
sight.  They  came  down  the  home  stretch  almost  bow  and  bow,
and  when  they  were  but  a  short  distance  from  the  goal  it  was
hard  to  name  the  victor ;  but  all  doubts  were  solved  by  the  New
York's  shooting  past  the  home  stake-boat  about  one  length
on  the  lead,  in  23.45 ;  the  Knickerbocker  was  four  seconds
astern.
On  Saturday,  June  30,  1866,  the  Atalanta  Club  and  the
Mutual  Club  of  Albany  rowed  a  three-mile  match  race  off  the
Elysian  Fields.  The  race  originated  in  a  challenge  from  the
Mutuals,  who  are  the  youngest  rowing  dub  in  the  State,  whilo


BOWING.  167

the  Atalantas  are  the  oldest,  having  been  organized  for  nearly
nineteen  years.  The  Mutoals'  proposition  was  for  a  home-and-
liome  match,  one  race  to  be  rowed  in  New  York,  one  in  Albany,
and  the  "  rubber,"  if  the  result  of  the  two  races  necessitated  it,
to  be  rowed  upon  neutral  waters,  half-way  between  New  York
and  Albany.  The  Atalantas  accepted  the  proposition,  and  both
crews  went  into  immediate  and  thorough  training.
The  Mutual  Club  left  Albany  on  Thursday  evening,  on  board
the  St.  John,  arriving  in  New  York  on  Friday  morning,  June  29th.
