The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1875-07-29
WAYS THAT ARE DARK.
A PROFESSIONAL IN DISGUISE.

| A PROFESSIONAL IN DISGUISE.
REMARKABLE ROWING IN MINNEsoTA-AN
| AMATEUR WHO CARRIED EVERY THING BE-
FORE HIN-HIs BROTHERS SENTIMENTS.
A letter to the New York Times from
Cornwall, N. Y, the home of the Ward fami-
", tells this disgraceful story OF its youngest
member: The friends of the celebrated
Oarsmen, the Ward brothers, of this place,
are much disturbed by well-founded story
that has Just reached here of the very ques-
tionable and unprofessional conduct of Ellis
Ward, one of the brothers, at an amateur
rowing regatta, held at Red Wing, Mimi,
on the 18th ult. 1t seems that in May last
Ellis Ward left home for the West, leaving
Impression that he was going away to get
married. His friends say that they were
not aware that he had any other intention,
and the story mentioned as havingjust been
received here was the first imitation they
had of bis operations in the West. The story
is as follows, received from various sources,
and IL is apparently wtll-autbenticated:
For some months prior to the 18th OF June
the amateur oarsmen of Minnesota made
great preparations to partici pate in a re-
gatta to be held at Red Wing on that DAY.
In May there appeared in Red Wing
stranger, who gave his name John Fox,
and represented that he was in search or
EN- ployment. II soon became known that
he knew something about rowing, he hav
ing, as he told members of the Red Wing
Club, rowed little once on the Susquehanna
River He tried their oars and boats and
the club saw that he was better oarsman
than any of them, and prevailed upon him
to join them and participate in the coming
regatta. On the day appointed several boat
clubs stood ready TO contest in
THE REGATTA
but the Red Wing Club, although not
the best by long odds, under the direction
and management OF their bow oarsman, Fox,
won everything. A single-scull race between
Fox and Norman Wright, the champion OF
Minnesota, was won with greatest ease by
the former. A few men who backed the
| Red Wing Club against all odds
won heavily, and number OF st. Paul peo-
pie began the cry that Fox was not an anna
| Jeur but a professional in disguise. They
pursued their investigation so digilently that
they discovered evidence that left no doubt
in their minds that Fox was none other than
the celebrated Ellis Ward. A photograph
ofthe latter obtained in New York settled the
matter beyond doubt. The Red Wing Club
claimed that they were entirely ignorant OF
| the fact that the stranger was Ward, and
that he was undoubtedly put on them by
"betting sharps'' for their own gain. Thou
sands of dollars were won in this way, and
the feeling in st. Paul and other places
| against Ward is said to be one of intense in
! dIgnaJIon. The affair forms the one great
| topic of conversation at this well known re-
sort, and the feeling here is one of deep re-
gret that Ward should blot an honorable
career in aquatic sport by the despicable act
OF becoming the tool OF gamblers to fleece
Innocent sportsmen.
JOSH INTERVIEWED.
The World furnishes an amusing inter-
view with Josh Ward, the most famous boat
man in the family: The Ward house is an
humble two-story building, swinging its
sign wi, hin a stones throw-or, more easily,
a clam-shelps throw-of the ste amboat land
ing. Humble as it il, within its doors has
been more of the bone and sinew of Amer
lean oarsmen than in any other pace IL
would be easy to mention. Over the bar is a
picture of Josh himself, barred to the waist,
| showing the superb muscles of his arms and
chest TO perfection, and around the room are
hung pictures OF ellis, Hank and Ellis
Ward, Saddler, Brown and other stars of the
profession. "No, neither on'em Is in; Hank
ne's down to Jersey trainin' some crew,
and Josh he's gone a gunnin';" but as the
! announcement was made the aforementioned
individual entered, bearing over his shout
ders an immense crane, two enormous
crows, black duck and several smaller
birds. Josh Ward, as every one knows, Is a
man over forty years of age. He is tall and
spare, and carries his head little on one
side, giving him the modest appearance for
which he is noted. "Wall, there is the
American eagle for YER" said he, stamping
into the room, lana or 8OOQ SQOL twas a
brought him down. Why, hello, Billy how
the muscle?" and, gcasping ayoung gentle
man with very small arms in very thin
tights-of which species there are very
many individuals dwelling at the various
hotels in the vicinity-he grpped the young
gentleman's arm until il appeared in danger
OF swapping. Presently an opportunity oc
Cured, and Mr.. Ward was questioned about
his brother Ellis. He sat on the stairs and
conversed, soliloquizsd and philosophical
in this wise. sWall, sir, gness Ellis was
THE BOSS OF THAT CIRCUS;
I'duano nothing bout 1t, but reckon must
hev been him. Gone West? Yes; there'ii
no doubt:'bou tibet. Hepulled PIP sticks here
some months back, spliced to gal in Sing
Sing, and travelled. 1 haint heerd nothiT 9
from him sence he left but once; got lett ]
from Rochester. Sharp? Wall, now. tel
yer it was that! Blast me eff thought { (
boy had it in him. Sure? No, amt sure
don't tell yer that amt heerd from the boy
but twouldn't surprise me an inch, butts
damned strange that he could hev been
fOOlin' around these two months and them
chaps never tumblin' tot; he must hey
, worked it plaguely fine, don't yer see? Dc
, consider it square? Umphi Now, locker
here young man, Pm goin' ter tell yer some
thin. There amt boat club in this little
, land but hes professional men into it. Fl
they don't get stamps they get somethin
} else, don't yer see? Some on 'em business
2 positions and one thing t'other, don't vel
see? don't know what yer call 1t, right Oh
3 wrong, but don't yer see every on'em doei
> it. Look at the college crews. den't Bay