The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-10-13
COURTNEY And HANLAN.
The Coming Race on Chau-
tauQua Lake.
DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE.
Arrangements Made to Accom-
modate Spectators.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD


JAMEsTowN. " Y, Oct. IL. 1870
A brief review Of what has rendered Hanlan aud
Courtney famous as oarsmen will make it
easier to understand the deep interest so widely felt
in the approaching struggle on Chautauqua Lake,
especially among the young men OF both this coun-
try and Canada. For nearly dozen years Court
ney has been sharing in almost every race
he could get into and whipping every
who came in his way. saving always Hanlan.
Even Riley. who is probably his most dangerous
rival in the United States to-day, he defeated
away back in 1872. at SYRACUSE; but after his fame
began to spread. and he had won the championship
of the State OF New York he still further added to
his the championship Of the nation, at Pha-
delphia. actually playing with all who faced him.
So far he only amateur but shortly after the
affair at Greenwood Lake with Riley he out an
openly avowed professional and began looking for
business. Riley and Plaistod soon cut it out for
him ut Saratoga, where he whipped them
handily. doing the three miles in 20m. Aiss..
the fastest time on record then or now for tho dis
tancc. Riley had another taste of him later at
Owasco, and another thrashing, and then came the
great fight with Hanlan. The record of the Canadian
more brilliant than Courtneys. for he had
entered tho professional lists earlier and beaten
everything that would face him. winning the pro-
fessiona championship of America at the Centennial
times disposing of such good men as Eph. Morris.
Wallace Ross. Plasted Luther Brayley. Hosmer.
Davis Kennedy. McKon and others Of scarcely
less note Matters were now rife for crossing Of
swords between these two champions who had
fought their way up brilliantly to the front ranks
of their respective countries. The HERALD opened
the ball by suggesting that it would be well for some
city. with good track near by. to offer generous
purse for open only to these two men. Hardly
had the paper reached Auburn till back came
tho word that she would give purse
Of $4,000 to have the rowed Ler
Owasco Lake. But the Southern Railroad.
which ran to the lake. and was to mako most from
tho had in accordance with practice not then
questionable. gracefully fallen into the hands OF
receiver SO. OF course. bond other satisfactory
guaranty could be given that the money would
really be forthcoming. Montreal then stopped for
ward raised the money and got the race naming its
suburb, Lachine. the field Of battle Rough water
sadly interfered with the practice work of both
men, and when the day came found them but
partially acquainted with the course. They
rowed on water unfit to race on. played
tag all the distance, often one ahead.
often the other Both steercd the course
near the hnish and were almost the boom OF logs
which enclosed the track when Hanlan. seeing his
danger. turned sharply back directly across Court
neys bow. forcing the latter either to foul him
'.for they were in Hanlan's water"-or to stop
ing. He did the latter. ana Hanlan Mingled
excitement and Indignation over the country at
Courtney. who was openly charged with having
sold the race. and the curious way it had
been rowed, combined with unlimited Canadian
Willingness to their ut long Odds lent color
to this ramor. Courtney, however, never for
mont hesitated. but always and everywhere stoutly
denied it. Many and searching investigations fol-
lowed and the story sifted down to an admitted
deavor the part Of Mr. Brister one Of Courtney's
hackers. to influence the betting few days before
the race which. in his locality (Auburn) ut least
was then in favor Of Courtney. and to sending cipher
dispatches to that effect to his brother at that place.
Meanwhile Courtney hal to undergo an agony OF
mental suffering. which. he says freely now he be-
lieves IL repeated would kill him. He gave up
ing apparently forever, stuck steadily his little
planning mill ut Union Springs. with John. hisA
brother and there was every prospect that Americas>
and cloud which he did not deserve.
PRESENT MATCH.
Hnnlan had no notion Of stopping, however but,
looking for other worlds to conquer. crossed the
briny Atlantic. met and whipped Hawdon. good
second-rate man shing all England at the ease
with which he did it, In the middle of June he met
Elliott. the English champion, and bestowed the like
favor on him. winning his title away from him
easier than 1t ever won before. Very naturally
all Canada. on his return. received him with open
arms. and but once since his return has he had
q
mined and steadily improving Riley. who.
catching him of his guard and out or condition,
rowed him dead heat In the trial heat of a four
mile ut Barrie. Ont, In the wonderful time of
27n. Is, but to the surprise OF all he did not meet
Riley again IN the final heat. tho first time he had
ever been known to waver. SO the latter won the
race. At Courtney's mill one day man named
Trip was killed by accident. This aroused the
scuier. and he rowed for aud won prize of $500.
beating Riley in 27m. 81 AS. giving the money to
Trips widow. Then came this Chautauqua purse.
and Hanlan will again meet Courtney at the sculls
THE oARsMEN AT WORK.
Both men came up here not feeling very we'll,
Hanlan. before starting. even announcing that he
to row. while Courtney had an abscess. some aguc
and a sore hand. but they came on. nevertheless.
high lands and plenty OF vigorous work soon
brought both into shape again. There Is little
doubt. however. that each is IL anything
port. and Gays that he weighs 162 pounds.
and doubts II he will go below 1855 pounds He looks
fresh and ruddy. though. ana decidedly fuller in tho
face than on the day he returned from Europe. In
his boat he looks larger than land. aud man
can watch hinr long there without concluding that
he Is wonderfully handy at his work. but there arc
points readily detected which show that he plainly
would be the worse for daily faithful coaching
The pcculinrities which arrested the atten-
ton OF the British experts or. rather. 80 soon
after he beat Hawdon. are Enthusiastically here. IL no
gets his scat started on the slide ckward before
he gets his shoulders and back on. he has on the
other hand the marvellous shortening up his legs
actually almost scratching his armpits with his
perccptibly when about to catch tho water, and
feathers irregularly. sometimes high. sometimes
low though the lumpy water ut the time
what to blame for this. Besides tho splendid of
his legs. there is thing which no great oarsmcn
yet ever did without aud won. but which Is always
lacking In men of any but long experience and that
IL that. pick him up whore you will, he is always
throwing his back out. not only simply. neatly aud
gracefully. but with dash and slam as IL hc
going to break all the rvets out of the boat ut
stroke. SO no makes her dance along at his ~ .
minute. An impressive thing about his style is
the astonishing length of arc his souls travel
through tor a man of only medium height
and reach Nor Is 1t owing to unusually long SOULS;
In fact his are hvc inches shorter than those for
mcrly 80 popular. measuring only nino feet scven
and half inches, with blades six inches wide. I'M
like Courtney who prefers paper. Hanlan sticks
ully to tho wooden boats. none OF his three
being paper, aud tho Louise, which had \ hole
knocked In her side the other day. has now come
back from Toronto all right again and IL still the
Canadians favoritc craft
Neither he nor Courtney went out rowing ycstcr-
day morning. noticeable thing so close to so inn
portant race. Courtney said he il u trihe fine aud