Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-01
THE GREAT BOAT RACE.
VIII Courtney Row

HANLAN MEANS BUsINEss-HB Is IN EXCELLENT
CONDITIoN-rHE POTOMAC CoURsE-wao WILL
ROW IN CASE COURTNEY FAIIS-THE RACE TO
COME OFF ANY WAY.
The race between Hanlan and Courtney for
the Hop B!tters' prize, $4,000, is to be rowcd on
the Potomac on the 18th of this month. This
race, 1t will be remembered, was ''off" last fall
at Chatauqua Lake on account of Courtneys
boats having been cut on the morning of the
race. There are those who take great interest
In spo' ting matters who predict that the race
fixed here will not come off; but that Courtney
will be found wanting In some way or other.
His declaration that he has rig" on his boat
by which he is certain to win IS regarded by
some as an evidence that ii his 'lig' is not al
lowed he will not row. Others say tnat the talk
about rig Is only for the pur pose oiinfi uenc
be, 1t Is certain that there is nothing yet that
goes to prove that there will be no race All
the the indications are to the contrary. Both Ham
IL by any unavoidable action on their part the
race does not come Of, neither of them, it they
ooh W at evar fault he or aaHsa either who is at
ipate in any future honest contest with oars.
Hanlan, who arrived here yesterday, told TIE
STAR STAR reporter, that there would be race be-
the deciding matter. He evidently means what
he says. His past record is sufficlent to show
that there is no reason for doubling him; and
anyone who saw and talked with him, could not
doubt his honesty In all that he says. The
question OF race or no race therefore develops
upon Court ney. His record has not been such
as to inspire entire confidence as to his inten-
THR POTOMAC RACE COURSE
There could have been no better place Sc
lccted than the Potomac river. In the month
OF May 1t Is very exceptional If the waters Of the
Potomac are not smooth and In every way
adapted for such a contest. The exact course
has not been selected. The race Will be be-
will be chosen. The race viii be five mile
q nd a hQ fp,iIQ on6 firm, nra
Is from Table Rock-abOut two miles above the
Aqueduct Brtdge-tO the boat-house of the PO-
tomac Goat Club and return. This course was
measured ON the ice last winter year ago. and
found to be exactly five miles. 1t is called 'the
upper course" The other course is designated
1.-The lower" 1t starts little above the Aqueduct
TWO and half miles down the river to the red
buoy and turn. The red buoy is a short dts
tance tan above Long Bridge, The fecilities for
are very good. The lower course, however, as can
be seen at glance is Duch the more advantage
Gus from this standpoint. The wharves can De
used by spectators and the boat houses viii be
good places OF observance. With the upper
course the AnalOstan boat house would be use
less Tor this purpose: as would also most of the
line OF wharves 1t can be safely assumed that
for these reasons the lower course will be Sc
lected
COURTNEY HAS TELEGRAPHED
to Mr.. Henry w. Brewer, OF Georgetown. to
survey the lower course and report to him the
result of his work. While both the courses are
excellent there is one drawback though very
slight. Neither OF them are straight away. At
the Potomac boat house there is a bend-a very
easy one but bend nevertheless. 1t is long and
has but little effect. The man who wins the
gain slight advantage. He can hug the shore
along the bend, and avoid whatever current
there may BE- There is no current to speak
shore man will be more slack than of the loser
OF the toss. This advantage though slight viii
every eighth of mile. If the lower course is
chosen stands for the accommodation OF specta-
tors, with small price placed thereon, will be
erected along the Washington bank and on
AnalOStan Island. The water that leads through
the Aqueduct bridge has always been nuis-
ance to those fond OF boating. 1t sometimes
completely drenches those passing under The
water will be drawn OF on the occasion OF
the -vuui v,,cs race. Everything Will be
done to make it a success.
pANLAN AS fiNE AS SILK.
Eanlan arrived here yesterday, as stated In
THE STAR OF last evening. He will stay at Will
lards and use the Analostan boat house as his
boating headquarters He enters into active
training next Monday. look at him shows
s neey an the asg Of
| the race be seen daily in good weather pulling
| over the Potomac. He said last evening to TUE
STAR reporter that he expected to make Better
! time In the forthcoming race Inan ever befora
| He has no fear, and II he had it would be un-
! founded. that he would receive sny but fair
treatment In Washington. He now weighs
| about 164 pounds and expects by training to
| reduce it to 153 or 154 before the race. AS he
| said yesterday he trains himself.
Courtney is expected here on the 10th. He will
train, or rather is training, at bis home, on Guy
ahoga Lake. Frenchy Johnson is his trainer.
| 1t is supposed that bis intentions are to accept
the proffered hospitality Of the Potomac Boat
| Club, and use their house as headquarters.
| He Is also expected TO put up at the West End
| HCtel In Georgetown: He may not have his
boat at the Potomac boat-house as he is look
| ing for accommodations as a bOat-houSe hold-
quarters on the Virginia side. He can hardly
succeed In this search, however. Courtney has
many hackers. There will be large delegatio
| mere from all The leading northern cities. many
OF whom are willing to bet on him. Half of the
New York fire companies VIII be here to bet on
| Courtney
IN CASE COURTNEY FAILS
| 10 row the race, Hanlan and Riley will pull
| against each other for the Hop Bitters' prize In
case both Hanlan and Courtney fail to row
Wallace Ross, Of st. Johns, New Brunswick.
and Riley Will contest for it. Ross will be al
lowed Sloo for expenses to come on so as to be
| ready in case he Is wapted to make race of
some klrd. Referee Blake will be here next
week: IL is expected. The judges. umpire and
| time keepers OF the race have not been selected
| HANLAN OUT FOR PRACTICE
Hanian this morning walked out to the
Analostan boat house. He got out his boat and
took long pull, going about 300 hundred yards
| IL
bridge. BE rowed six or seven miles. He re-
| turned te Willards this afterDoon. In CONVEX
| sat1On with THE STAR reporter he said he had
exenlned the Two courses and was decidedly In
! favor OF the lower course. When he went under
| AqueducJ bridge he couldn't tell where the
water came from that dropped upon him, He
| expressed himself as satisfied with the lower
course. and said it would undoubtedly be
adopfe0. 1t was not 80 good course as he had
r0Wed over, but 1t was satisfactory. He said
| the AnalOStan boat house was the best struct-
| ure OF the kind he had ever seen. and he has
been all over the world. He will probably take
another spin On the river late this afternoon.
| but 1t Is not certain. He is going to do a great
deal OF walking. Mr. Ellemounge also is now
| With him and accompanies him in his walks
Figuring for the Nomination.
| RESPECTIVE CLAIMS OF GRANTS, BLAINEs AND
| SHERMAN'S FRIENDS-sOMEBODY's CALCULA-
TIONS WRONG.
The friends or the three prominent contes-
tants for the republican presidential nomina-