New-York tribune., 1878-10-04
A STRUGGLE FOR LEADERSHIP.


no positive basis is given for them.
A STRUGGLE FOR LEADERSHIP.
THE RIPATIENCE OF THE CROWD GRATIFIED-HAR-
LANs PROSPECTS BRIGHT FROM THE FGRsr-THE
RACE WON BY LENGTH AND A QUARTER.
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRBUSEl
| MONTREAL, Oct. 3.-This morning broke fair and
pleasant Spring day and the liveliest hopes for
the race taking place were felt, but about
o'clock the wind began to get up, and by IL o'clock
il looked almost hopeless Some few hopeful souls
went down in the earlier trains TO the course, but
the great majority of the visitors to Montreal, un-
willing to intrust themselves again unnecessarily
to the tender mercies of the Grand Trunk Railway,
which has treated the public scandalousy, yes
terlay declined to go down TO the course until 1t
should be definitely announced that the race would
! take place, and they were right for anything moro
mlserably mIsmanaged than the transportation Of
the passengers between the city and course it has
not been the fortune of many of MS to see. So far
| from having adequate accommodations in the mat
ter of ears, three people were put where there
was only room enough for one, and as
to the promptitude of the service it took most
of the trains returning from the course last even
ing two hours or more TO run the nine miles. Peo-
pie who were enterprsing enough to go out in the
morning found the water at Lachne much smoother
than had been expected and kilograms were sent up
TO the city 10 the waiting crowds at the hotels that
there every prospect of the race taking place
Trains began to come down heavily loaded and the
grand stand, which in the earlier part of the day
had looked inexpressibly dreary, began to fill up
little but the crowd was nothing to what it had
been the day before. The grand stand was cOmpar-
atively empty there was not one large steamer
where the day before there had been five, and the
crowds on the wharyes were much smaller. All this
xrhi tha az had smOOther
smoother, and the mpatience became very great.
The water was at length still enough for the most
fastldiOus Oarsman. The hour for starting
had long passed by; there was a dangerous-looking
cloud coming mp from tho SOUTH one OF those
clouds which always brings with it squall. Still
there was nexplicable delay, but at last, about
quarter TO the, Gatineau, with the referee and
judges and the members OF the press on board,
steamed ont from the Grand Trunk wharf up
toward the Hanlan and Courtney quarters. The
boat proceeded up 70 theiturning buoys, where 1t
was discovered that the outside buoy had drifted
nearly forty feet out of place. Tho choice of posi-
tons was tossed for, aud Hanlan's Judge won and
selected the outside
HoPEs CRUSHED FOR A TIME.
Meanwhile the wind was getting up fast, while
the Gatineau was lying near the buoys, and when
n terrific squall came up, accOmpani by burst of
rain, it began to look extremely un-
likely that the race would be rOwed. Sud-
denly the s ght rain turned into a violent thunder
storm accompanied by q sharp hal-storm which was
over in few minutes, and then the sun began TO
break through the Clouds the storm passed away
more suddenly than il had come, and the wind and
the sea went down till there was nearlya dead calm
The Gatineau steamed up toward the quarters of
the men, and after some little delay the signal
given for them 10 get IN position. At about 4:30
Hanan came 90 tie sartIng-pOint, where he was
greeted with enthusiastic cheering. Courtney fol-
lowed soon after The contrast between the men as
their boats lay awaiting the word was very striking.
Hanan, scarcely more than twenty-three and very
boysh-lookng, is nearly four inches shorter than
his antagonist and his comparatively light and
slender frame conrasted strangely with the Her
cuean proportions of Courtney, who is some years
his senior.
THE RACE BEGINS.
By this time the grand stand and The negllboring
vharyes had filed up pretty we'll and at minute
IN five the word "GO~ was called by the referee,
and what proved one of the most beautiful races
ever seen in America was begun The men caught
the water almost simultaneously and got of well to-
oeth.r Courtney getting t1le the better aud both
men rowing 30 to the minute. From the referees
hoat n looked as il the men were absolutely even,
INT at each haf-mile of the course signal stations
had bccu placcd 10 show which man was ahead, and
when the first of these reached mp went the red
flag that told that IIlnlan was leading, though
only by trife. All this timo both
men were directing their boats well over to the out
side of the to get the benefit OF the smOoth
water under the lee of the three small islands which
lie outside of il, and the detOur was so long one
that il probably made great difference in the time
Of the race. During all this time too. the men were
pulling so absolutely side by side that from Just be-
/ I ii. 4 a sI,,i aNptf
was marvelously close work, and both seemed to be
doing their best. Courtneys stroke had dropped to
thrty-one, HanIan's TO twenty ynne, but at mile,
and the mile and half and the two miles still came
the same signal that IIanlan led by little.
TnE RACE noMEwARD.
The Turning buoys were reached by both men al
most simultaneously, Courtney perhaps little the
sooner At the hree-mile buoy, where the referees
boat was lying, the two men were seen to be abso-
utely even, but Hanlan. encouraged by the shouts
and applause the boat, put on glorious burst of
speed and going away from Courtney before theatter
had time TO soc what he was about, gained lead
on him of nearly length. This lead he never lost
to the finish and yet he never increased il,
always struggling to shake OIL Courtney
but never succeeding. 1t was splendid
struggle 10 look at. however. mile
from the finish Hanlan held his lead, and went over
the line after very narrowly escaping foul, about
lenetb ahead The time was SO minutes % seconds.
Courtney rowed very raggedly during the last mile,
and vet did not seem much distressed.
Great enthusiasm prevails here tonight among
Hanlan's friends but there are great MANY people
who think the race was sold, and pronounce the
whole affair unsatisfactory. Reports that Courtney
had sold out were current here and in Auburn
which is near his home. for some days. There
| were also some things about the race which GER
ainly give color to the suspicion. such as Courneys
moor rowing in the last mile. when his stroke never