The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-17
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
SPORTING.
THE HANLAN COURTNEY RACE
Eanlan and His Friends Guilty of
Fonl Play.


MAYsyILLE, N. ", Oct. 16.-Many be
lieve that Courtney or his men are not il
ignorance of the person who ruined TIN
boats FreDchy Johnson. it is said, wa
at Courtneys quarters at nearly 900 ii
the morning, and polished up boats tha
were cut, but knew nothing of the affair
There was found in the boat house an ole
rusty cross cut saw. with seven teeth, anc
large and coarse enough to cut saw log
while the cut 10 the boats is a clean one
evidently made with a finer instrument
than the one found in the boat house.
The referee will call the boats at the
appointed hour, Hanlon will row over the
course and attempt to make the best five
miles on record The question of his
right to claim the money is in dispute
Soule will contest its payment to Hanlon.
unless the race be rowed with Courtney as
stated in the original articles.
/ A large number Of people came in this
morning from different sections Every
thing Is excitement. Courtney. about
Dom. was sleeping and adnttance was
refused to everyone except Blake, the
referee, Soule, who put up the stake, aud
j. Ii. Bristor, his financial manager,
None of these men will be interviewed
until they have consulted together with
| Hanlon's friends Bristor seems honestly
daZed with what has taken place, and
Soule expresses the deepest regret at the
turn affairs have taken. Hanlon is re-
ported in fine condition, although not so
good as at Lachine. Courtney claims
Johnson's boat is too light aud refused
one OF Hanion's as being uDsuited to him
and placing him at marked disadvan-
tage. Courtneys hackers loudly declare
he himself caused the boat 10 be cut.
Courtney. 1t is said asks from t n to twelve
days postponement. The lake was never
| more beautiful than to-day, and every
train brings large accessions to the already
large throng. The referee and officers
are still in session aad sno reports are ad-
mitted.
The great contest of the oars" between
Hanlon aud Courtney, that great aquatic
event which for months past has been
the one theme of conversation is sporting
circles, is now thing of the past. Hanlan
rowed over the course at o'clock at the
rate of 80 strokes to the minute. The time
was not fast. Trouble is anticipated over
the prize. Courtney is strongly con-
demned, and should be make an appear
ance he would be roughly handled. About
s. 1000 people will have to remain here over
night. Courtney, owing to both his boats
parties during the night was out of the
race, there being no boat available that
would suit him, so Hanlon rowed over the
course and claimed the $4,000 purse.
A meeting of representatives of the
press was called for three o'clock for the
purpose of ascertaining what fraud exists
at the bottom OF the fZzle. Soule was
present and said the $4,000 would not be
paid to Hanion unless Courtney retired,
The agreements show that there must be
a race before the prize could he paid,
Soule says this prize was offered expressly
for the people to see Que honest race be-
tween the two men. The affair has been
branded by all wspaperssl sslnen as eigan-
tic fraud. Soue, the giver OF the prize,
has offered a reward of ST 900 for the con
viction of the parties who cut Courtneys
boat A committee has been appointed
of representatives of the press to call On
Courtney and ascertain, if possible, the
object for which his shell was cut.
At nearly O'Clock Blake; the referee,
accompanied by John David. of Windsor.
Ont, judge for Haplon, members of the
press, time keepers. &c, called at Court
ney's quarters. Blake sent word to
Courtney that lie wished him to come out
and row in Johnson's or one of Hanion's
boats, even at the loss Of tie race. He
absolutely refused to come. His backer's
and judges boat then steamed to Hanion s
quarters. He was ON the lake all rigged
out and ready for the start, ,and l6 minutes
to five after clearing the course, the word
was given. Hanion started amid cheers,
rowing at the rate of 80 to the minute The
stroke was only slightly varied through bout.
He rowed over a course OF five miles iu 33
minutes and Sc and seconds, Blake
requested Charles NJ Calvin, of the New
York Clipper to act as judge for Courtney,
and at the close of the race declared Han
Ian the winner of the race and purse. The
time made by HanlaD was the best mile
scull by one minute and fourteen and one
fourth seconds.
Tonight Courtney makes statement
that when he went to Rochester 10 Septem-
ber to arrange the preliminaries for the
race, David Ward of Toronto and Hanlan
called at his room 10 the hotel, and after
some talk, Ward said Hanlon would not go
to ChatauQua. 1t seemed a pity. tor it was
nice sum to row for. They could divide
the purse. Courtney made no reply and
the visitors soon left. He didn't sec them
again till he met them here, when Ward
said Hanlon couldn't be drawn out to row
with q log chain unless he was sure of
winning and proposed to Courtney if he
would let Hanlon win, he would have half
the purse, or $4,000. Courtney rejected
the proposition, saying he believed he
could beat Hanlon, aod certainly should if
it lay in his power. He was willing to
stake his life that none of his men bad cut
the boats. 1t had always been the custom
to leave the boat houses ungaroed. Ward
afterwards offered Courtney the whole
prize and division of the pools to let Han
lon win, and he had been offered SO, 900 and
an interest in the pools by other parties If
he would allow Hanlon to be the winner,
All these offers he steadily refused, being
determined to win the race if possible.
saying there was not money enough IN
America to make him lose. if it were pos
sible for him to win this race. Said Court
ney: 1T was the most villianous scheme
ever concerted and l expec. to be able to
prove that Ward wrote to New York
that if he could fix the race. he would tele
graph, L have bought ahorse;" it not, : [
have bought a colt. The Hanlon club
never. did row a square race"