Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-20
CHARLES COURTNEY AND
EDWARD HANLAN.
Brentanas Monthly.
BY PROFESSOR WILLIAM WOOD.

Brentana's Monthly.
For DAYS and weeks the public press
/ has teemed with notices and comments
| editorial and otherwise concerning the
| great AQUATIC contest between Courtney
and Hanlan. Courtney has been inter-
viewed at his house, at his place OF bus
mess, and in fact wherever he could be
found; and this in the face OF his eX-
pressed desire To be let alone; for the
public will remember that after his de-
feat by Hanlan, one year ago land it
was an honorable defeat, tor Courtney
tells us under solemnity OF an OATH, he
gave notice through the press OF his IN
tentiOn to withdraw from active scull-
ing from that date, his business requlr,
Ing his whole time and attention, and
he thought there was more To be made
in that way than in boat racing. This,
as the sequel shows, he was not permit
ted to do.
A representative of the press went TO
Union Springs, 10 the quiet home OF
this once great Oarsman; interviews OF
great length ensued and were published
i'm one OF our morning papers; this was
the opening wedge to the late lamenta-
bic fiZzle. Had Charles Courtney been
as he should have been at his honest
employment of sash and blind making,
himself, family and many friends would
have been spared this last reflection
upon this powerful Oarsman.
Why, one of these writer's gave him
TO understand that he was not only able
to defeat Hanlan with ease, but that
Trickett, Higgins, Elliott, Boyd, etc,
would have no chance in competition
with him. We are not sure that he has
not vet changed his opinion, but we are
very positive that the public has.
We saw Courtney for the first time on
the afternoon of September 10th, 1873.
He was returning from row over the
course. We thought his style OF scull-
inc was crude in the extreme; but IN
physical strength and power OF endur-
ance his equal was not TO be found, at
that dav i'm any part OF this country.
This was his first public contest against
the best amateur scullers OF our coun-
try. There were many good judges OF
rowing present who thought he had not
the slightest chance TO win. Our inn
preston was, and we so expressed 1t IN
his presence, that II his boat was able
10 carry mis- weight and power
he need have no fear of the result. Sub
seQuently we met again on our way
from the lake; he bore on his broad
chest the diamond badge OF victory; he
thanked us for our words OF encourage
ment and hoped that in the future he
would be able to retain better form and
time while retaining the proud title Of
champion.
Three years later we again met him
when he was i'm the zenith of his fame
made so by his repeated victories in tina
amateur ranks; but to our mind he was
not the same modest and unassnmlng
Charles Courtney that had made 30 many
friends and such favorable Impressions
upon all three short years before.
Wholesale tlattery, il nothing more, has
evidently left its impress upon the man;
the word "invinCible" seemed to be
stamped on his every feature. Again,
as a friend and as lover and devotee
OF the manly and fascinating exercise of
rowing, we took the liberty TO venture
a word of caution; we deemed that for
ty years of practical experience in boat
ing and athletics in this country war
ranted US in offering a few words OF
suggestion and advice. And here let
me saw that the moment an athlete is
made TO believe he is invincible from
that moment his fame and prowesS is
apt to vanish. The history Of the world
makes mention OF many thousands OF
athletes but only OF one who never
found his equal.
Charles Courtney is to-day fine
l.. In
three years since. Vertigo and plenrisy
have created their weak spots, however
slight; still, the fact remains that it
detractS from his powers OF endurance
and units him 10 compete, on level
terms, against a thoroughly sound man.
Courtney has won more races for the
time he has been before the public than
any other Scullcr i'm this or perhaps any
other country. But it should be remem-
bered that these victories were gained
over amateurs. We have been an eye
witness and a close observer OF most OF
his races; we are personally acquainted
with most of the amateurs he has van
quished. 1t is not to be expected that
these competitors could be compared
either i'm their skill or power of endur-
such as smith, Ross, Morris, Riley, and
others. These men from the very ma
ture of their misunderstanding for
livelhoOd-have become strong, rugged
and enduring; while the amateur has
been rowing for exercise, pleasure and
practice.
The fact is, that while Courtney has
been victorious over our best amateurs,
Hanan has met and conquered the
hardy and most renowned professionals.
But his record Is too well known TO re-
uuire repetition: all who take any in
terest i'm Craftsmanship are familiar with
his accomplishments at Philadelphia,
where he met and defeated the best pro-
feSSiOnals from both sides of the Attain
tic. His victories in England stamp him
as the greatest sculler the world has ever
known. We say this without fear OF
contradiction. The last fifty years OF
sculing for the championship OF England
shows nothing to approach it either in
speed or execution.
Hanlan in his match with Elliott start
ed with a stroke of forty TO the minute
he leads by three open lengths in the
first ali-mile-then he drops his stroke
to thirty-four and passes the mile flag
over four open lengths in advance; the
two-mile flag was passed in I'm. S., he
having slowed down TO thirty-twO per
minute, with five lengths OF clear water
i'm his favor. The full distance was
rowcd by the victor in 2lm. S., just
- seconds faster than the best time ever
before made. Ii Hanlan had never
rowed but this one race it would place
him AT the head otall others as sculler.
The speed and skill he exhibited was
something marvellous. In speaking Of
this race one OF the English papers
SAYS:
'Nevcr before in British waters has
such performance as llanlan'S been
seen; Elliott rowed in splendid form
from start to finish, but to no avail
against the magnificent powers OF the
young Canadian. Hanlan may fairly be
described as a sculling phenomenon,
and it will be long ere We look upon his
like again
Withouta solitary exception the press
of London pronounced llanlan's sculling
as near perfection a. it could be; and his