The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-10-17
an AB0RTIVE AQUATIC EVENT.
oourtney's Curious Conduct,
His Boats Rendered Unfit for Racing
the Night Before the Race.
Hanlan Rows Over the Course and
Claims the Stakes.

with rumors that Courtney's boats wer
, stove. A visit to Courtney's quarters dil
closed the facts that, as asreported by Cour
> ney' y's nephew and Burt Brown, who ha
been with him as attendants. Last evenin
about six O'Clock they left the boat house
, locking 1t on the shore side with padloc
and on the river side simply breaking
I and driving nail over the hook. RI
, turning about eight o'clock they ioun
, that the river door had been forced, tn
nail broken and the boats both cut with
saw. The one made for the race was GU
two.thirds through, twelve feet ten inche
from the bow. The working boat was Gu
entirely through, six feet four inches iron
the stern. The men kept the matte
secret from Courtney until this morning
What will be done Is not yet known. Tn
referee, officers aud hackers OF the tw,
men, are now in consultation.
Many believe that Courtney or his mel
are not in Ignorance Of the person VIII,
ruined the boats. FrenChy johnson, It /
said, was at Courtney's quarters at min
o'clock this morning and polished up bOtl
boats that were cutand knew nothing o
the affair.
4large number Of people came in thi
morning from different sections. Every
thing is excitement. Blake, the referee
SOule, who put up the stakes, and J. Fl
Brister, his financial manager, none O
these men will be intervie we'd until the,
have consulted together with Hanlan'
friends. Hanlan is reported to be- in fin,
condition. Courtney claims that John
sons boat is too light aud refused one o
Hanlan's as being unsuited to him
Courtney's hackers loudly declare that he
himself, caused the boats TO be cut.
Courtney, it is understood asks ten t.
twelve days postponement.
New YoRK, October 16-A spe
cial to the Telegram from Mayvill,
says: The great contest of the oars" be
tween Hanlan aud Courtney, tina
great aquatic event which, for month.
past, has been the theme Of conversation
In sporting circles, is now u thing Of The
past. Hanlan rowed over the course Al
at 8 o'clock, at the rate OF thirty stroke,
70 the minute. The time was not fast
Trouble Is anticipated over the prize
Courtney is strongly condemned, and
should he make his appearance he woul1
be roughly handled.
About 5000 people will have to remain
here over night. Courtney, owing to botf
his boats having been destroyed by mali
cions or interested parties during tn.
night, was out OF the race, there being nc
boat available that would suit him, 81
lanlan rowed over the course and Claim.
the 81, 900 purse.
|
When it became generally known thai
Courtney's boats had been tampered with
and rendered useless it was thought tht
race would be postponed 10 future date
but the referee, Blake, decided that the
race should take place at the time appoint
ed, hence the 'walk.over" for Hanlan.
There was dissatisfaction at the Referees
decision and hundreds left the lake by
every train long before the hour set dowl
for the race, every body except Hanlan'l
hackers and friends giving vent freely tC
their disgust aud disappointment.
A meeting OF representatives OF the
press was called for three o'clock for the
purpose OF ascertaining what fraud exist
at the bottom OF the lizzIe. Mr.. SOule was
present, and said that the $1,000 would
not be paid to Haalan unless Courtney
rowed. The agreements show that there
must be race before the prize could bt
paid. MIR. Soule says this prize was offered
expressly for the people to see one honest
race between the two men. The affair has
been branded by all newspaper men as
gigantic fraud. Mr.. Ssule, the giver o.
the prize, has offered a reward OF ST ,OOC
for the conviction OF the parties who cu
Courtney's boat.
A committee has been appointed OF the
representatives OF the press TO call OF
Courtney and ascertain, II possible, tht
object tor which the shell was cut.
MAYvILLE, October l6.-At nearly four
o'clock Blaikie, referee, accompanied b,
John David, Of Windsor, Ont, Judge fCI
Hanlan, members OF the press, tlmekeep
ers and so Oh, called at Uourtney's quar-
Iers. BIaikie sent word TO Courtney tha
he wished him to come out and row IL
Johnson's or one OF Hanlan's boats, ever
at a loss Of the race He absolutely re
fused to come, as did his hacker aud Judge
The boat then steamed To HanlaH'.
quarters. He was on the lake all rugged
out and ready for start, aud at sixteen
minutes to five, after clearing the course
the word was given and Hanlan started
amid cheers, rowing at the rate OF thirty
TWO strokes TO the minute. This stroke
was only slightly varied throughout tht
row. The course OF five miles was roweC
in 9S minutes and SGT seconds,
Blake requested Charles NJ. Calvin. o
the New YorK Clipper, TO act US Judge fol
Courtney, which he consented " and a
the close oil the race declared Hanlan tn,
winner OF the race and purse. The tim,
made by Hanlan is the best five mil,
time by one minute fourteen and one
fourth seconds.
! Tonight Courtney makes stalemen
that when he went to Rochester, in Sep
tember, to arrange preliminaries for thC
race David Ward, OF Toronto, and Haulal
called at his room in the hotel, and aite
some talk Ward said Hanlan would not u
TO Ohautauqua; that ii seemed pity for /
was nice sum to row for, and they coul,
divide the purse.
Courtney made no reply, and visitor
soon left. He did not sec them again un
til he met them here When Ward sait
Hanlan could not be drawn 10 row with
log chain unless he was sure OF winning
and proposed TO Courtney that il he woui1
let aRnlan win he would have half, n,
purse, or 5000, Courtney rejected tn,
proposition, saying he believed he coul,
beat Hanlan and certainly should Il il Ia,
in his power He was willing to stake hi
| lie that none OF his men cut the bnat. |
always had been the custom TO leave m,
boat houses unRuarded. Ward afterward
offered Courtney the prize and division
Of pools to let Hanlin win, and he hal
been offered $40 600 aud an interest In To
pools by other parties II he would ALLOW
Hanlan to be the winner. These offers b
refused, being determined to win the rae
. II possible, and saying that there was no
money enough in the United States +
make him lose Il 1t were possible for hin
70 win. Courtney said 1t was the mos
yillainous scheme ever concocted, and
expect to be able to prove that War
. wrote to New York that II b
l could Hx the race he would telegraph
. II have bought q horse;" II no