The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-20
The Washington pon..Raee.
THE BANLAN.c COURTNEY CONTEST REGARDED
FARcE-DIsGUsT OF THOUSANDS OF SPEC
TAT0RS-HANLAN AN EASY WINNER.
fSnecial fe,eeran 10 tho Iaan.tnh


THE BANLAN. COURTNEY CONTEST REGARDED
fARcE-DIsGUsT OF THOUSANDS OF sPEC
TAT0RS-HANLAS AN EASY WINNER.
Especial telegram to the Dispstch.1
WASHINGTON, ID. c., May 19.-The great.
est farce and fraud Of the kind ever per.
petrated on the American people was in the
pretended boat.race to-day. About one
hundred thousand spectators, some OF whom
had come hundreds OF miles, assembled
upon the Potomac-river course to witness
the Hanlan and Courtney row. Greater
preparations had been made for The contest
than any one that ever occurred probably
In the world. The course had been sur
veyed az a cost OF nearly a thousand dol.
lars, and staked of with flags stationed at
every quarter OF a mile-an unusual thing.
Hanlan took the lead at the start and soon
gained several le1gths. Courtney turned
around once or twice to see how far Han
Ian was ahead OF him, and finally, when he
reached the two-mile flag, stopped short,
turned about, and slowly padded back to
TO his boat-house, to the disappointment Of
Hayes and bis Cabinet, who were in the
referees boat. as well as the hundred
thousand spectators who had places
in the crafts upon the water and
who lined the shore for the whole
length OF the course. Courtney pretended
10 be sick, but nobody believes he was, and
hold that he is not only an inferior oarsman
to l%ianlan, but a moral and physical cow
ard. Disgust was depicted on every coun-
~tenance at the result OF the tiasco. Hanlan
came off with flying colors, being carried
into his ~bOa,-house, after having rowed
over the course, and applauded by the
throng.
This evening Hanlan was serenaded at
Wizards Hotel, and said, after thanking
the people of Washington for their courtesy,
that be would row Riley, although he was
no gentleman, having rowed over the course
In front OF him during the race.
ASSOCIATED Press Reports by telegraph to the Dis
patch.l
WASHINGTON, May 19.-On account Of
the severe heat this afternoon, Mr.. Blake,
the referee, announced that the Hanlan-
Courtney bOat-race would be postponed
UNlli U.oU L. VI. tl'uIS DtiOIt lIdl TIME,
however, the banks OF the Potomac, for the
distance of a mile below the starting point,
were black with people, and the river
itself swarmed with yachts, barges and
heavily-laden steamers. IL is estimated that
the spectators numbered more than 100, 900.
The weather, although warm, was almost
perfect, and The surface OF the Potomac was
hardly broken by 4 ripple. Owing TO some
' 6ulay aausp1 nv rho nrlSS-hOaf II ugns aimnsf
G O'Clock before Hanlan and Courtney pulled
up from their respective lighthouses to the
Starting line. Hanlan won the toss for 30,
sition. and chose the inside or Virginia
shore, which gave bin a slight advantage.
The course was from the Aqueduct bridge,
Georgetown, TO a point near the Long
bridge-a distance OF two and q half miles
and return.
THE wOED "GO" WAS WEN
at six minutes past 6 O'Clock. The start
was a beautiful one, Courtney catching the
water a t,ifie ahead OF Hanlan and pulling
a steady, even stroke OF &c 10 Hanlan's Al.
For a few seconds Courtney's boat showed
in front, but in less than ten strokes Hanlan
overhauled him, and at the first flag, mark
ing one-eighth Of a mile, Hanlan was lead
ing with clear water between the stern OF
his boat and the bow OF COurtney's. AT the
three-quarter-mile flag Hanlan was fully ten
lengths ahead, and the excitement Of
the race was over. Courtney was evidently
beaten. AT the end OF the first mile Hanlan
led by fifteen lengths, pulling an easy stroke
OF 81 TO The minute. Courtney was pulling
a labored, unsteady stroke OF 2S. steering
wildly, and stopping frequently TO wet his
head. Hanlan reached the two-mile flag in
10 minutes 13} seconds, just one-eighth OF
a mile ahead Of Courtney. The latter finally
stopped entirely and
CAV UP THE RACE
one eighth OF a mile from the turning stake,
or two and an eighth miles from the start
ing point, and, turning his boat round,
| pulled leisurely back TO his quarters at the
Potomac boat-hOuse.
Hanlan rounded the turning stake in II
minutes 81 seconds, and pulled leisurely
homeward. As he nesred the finish he
! Quickened bis stroke to 40, and exhibited a
splendid burst Of speed, crossing the line
in SO minutes and 40 $40 seconds from tue
time OF starting. He then pulled up TO the
! referees boat and was awarded the race by