The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-16
COURTNEY AND RILEY.
The Four-Mile Race on Sill
yer Lake.
COURTNEY THE WINNER.
A Fine Contest in Rough
Water.
THE WINNER.
TIME, avn. 81 3-4S.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.l

rune the silver waters or this beautiful llste lake
20 much that there was every prospect of bad
water for shell rowing. for most of the day at any
rate. The sun. however. out brilliant and clear.
and the fresh air. working along the lake and up
among the pretty groves. made things so CHEEKY
and invigorating that everybody in the best of
spirits. Courtney and Riley had both rested well and
looked ready. indeed eager. for the fray. The last
touch given to the frail little shells and every
thing put in shape for the hot work of the after
noon. The Walker House. by the lake side. airy and
roomy. was in its best array aud surrounded with
pretty rustic work. shady arbors. artificial BIRDS
nests in the tree tops. and much that good taste
conld do to make spot naturally very pretty even
more attractive. And this same Walker House.
rather its mate in the village of Perry. q milo
away. long ago made itself known to many
HERALD readers in way not to be
forgotten. In about the year 1853. suddenly.
without notice to anyone tremendous serpent
here showed his presence and peculiar head. The
country side was aroused Men and women hocked
from far and near Press from the great cities.
strangers In the land people Of all ages and classes
crowded here to see the new wonder in the earth.
Afhdavts of men vouched for by the clergy Of
the neighborhood persons Of the highest char
acter and integrity. were published by the
dozen. The animal was Enthusiastically seen
by hundreds, and it was noticed that he
A bona
hde sailor. with his bold and terrible harpoon. was
brought up from the seaboard and waited for the
gloomy monster. Barnum could not pass such
marvel by. but put special envoy to bag that
snake at oil hazards and give him proud place in
the museum. Caught. however. he would not be.
and people had to 60 long without any solution Of
this deep and hidden mystery. But the strain came
of at last. One day the Walker House de-
stroyed and when willing hands struggled to
from among the smoking ruins what they could.
10 and behold what should be suddenly uncoiled
and dragged from the burning pile but india
rubber monster. some seventy-fve feet long and Of
suitable girth and hideousness. He had been
blown to the proper dimensions. quietly located
in q place in the lake where he could be readily
seen from the bank. Unseen hands among the
woods on the furthes side Of the water
quietly pulled the wires which made his
snakeship famous all over the nation. The willy
Walkers pockets. of course. did not suffer- in
sequence Of his smart trick. and his enjoyment ct
the way he had had gulled even old Barnum himself
must have been very gratifying.
TILE CROWD GATHERING.
And to-day again 1t was plain Walker was to be in
luck. Almost before the sun was up there was
evidently something unusual on foot. Carriages
dust covered. filed with also dust covered were
constantly rolling in from all parts OF Western
ing grove and fields. The stables were already
filed with horses which had come in advance.
Rows Of country vehicles. from the light one-seated
buggy the cracky wagon. to the turn
outs, known as democratic wagons. would roll into
the great hotel yard, discharge their substantial
freight and pull of to their place by one Of the
handy fences. where the beasts could get shelter
from the burning sun. As the corning wore on
they began to number hundreds. and even
thousands. till it would have made q
raiding Indians mouth water to take q
look at any of these rail fences, festooned
with fat farm horses Smart youths, gay In their
fve-cent white neckties and watch chains like a
conductors; fresh and blooming madens, coy and
inviting-looking and ready for any fun old men
bowed with years till you wondered what thew
wanted OF boat race. and substantial housewives
who had never missed a good square meal in the
last forty years were wandering here and there
about the grounds. crowding the houses and out
kegs trying hand aud losing their cash at the
sweat board, the rouge ct nor disk and all the other
dicers' games. which long year ago made Watkins
Long trains of cars working in from the south and
loaded down with people from Buffalo and Roches-
ter and all the smaller towns were steadily arriving
aud adding their quotas to swell the merry throng.
The country band fierce in their warke harness.
are knocking of quadrilles and waltzes by the
dozen in the large sheds, where the shells hang
head. and it is highly amusing to watch the grand
As they balance to partners or glide s%ifty
mp and down tho room in the giddy, Macy
wAts. II one happens to have a, cigar in
shifted to Toward when the dancing becomes close
work, while there is really no downright need of
mans wearing any collar or coat when he has hot
bit Of work like this to do. But noon is here.
and these solid yeomen have notion of forgetting
the duties of that attractive hour. Look all over
the grove ct the many picnic parties emptying
their great baskets. Sandwiches by the nun
by s ns 'n pies
and pickles and eggs and cheese and an open polar
sea Of lager. all combine to I'LL these Thousand
them for the excitement of the afternoon. A
hard forenoon to go through did it prove.
90 down. A thin. gray. cool-looking western sky
only promised more of these same unwecome
b irs,, and every one asked his neshbor.
sun?' Courtney. who ought to know the
weather n any one. shook his head and
noon. came q lul and the amateur singles were or
deled out. but the starting buoys were not set and
during the delay of placing them mp the wind
again and Kingston. of Buffalo. swamped.
THE RACE.
AT last the long pent up patience of the multitude
had its reward. Almost as the clock struck seven
Courtney took look at the water, concluded it
would do. and the Ave shrill toots OF the iocomo-
tive rushed the people into the long obser-
walton trains. After losing whole half
hour more of valuable time during which
hill and bunch of people on the Aoat to break
through into tho water. suddenly long.
:na worlns out put the Of Soss
lies of aud waits for moment That's
Courtney. and scarcely he at rest till out shoots
another similar craft, and il Is soon alongside. It's
Riley this time, and instead of stopping.
pushes up the lake bit. turns, goes
back into the float comes about and
turning wheels into line. There was q two.inch
hump on the water and considerable wind "a well
coming out OF the west directly abaft both men.
promising abundant hand rowing aud 80
very hard race. MIR. Pleasanton, of Philadcl-
phis. tho referee. thought tho water so rough
that no refused to start them. but said IL they
wished to go English fashion--nanicly. to start
themselvcs--thcy might do They agreed.
Courtney adjusted his atop watch. gave the word at
about quarter of eight clock, and away they went
Riley had altogether the best of the send-on. and
rushed to the fore amazingly FAST that
inside OF minute he had exactly drawn clear and
WINS leading his antagonist at every stroke. Court
ney spoke afterward in amazement at the brilliant
burst OF speed with which Riley dashed away with
tho lead. Starting east Of the middle of
the lake. both began working fast to
the west, heading FOR the still waterlunder the fur
thor Shore and every minute making IL harder for
the spectators ON the three observation trains ON