The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-04-28
HANLAN'S SECRET.


HANLAN's SECRET.
How an Invalid Defeats Mighty Men
OF Muscle.
San Francisco Chronicle.
A new theory in explanation of Had Tens
wonderful success as an oarsmsA was
furnished Cronlcle reporter recently by
Horace j. Wildner, member Of the Lon.
don rowing club, who has visited California
after hunting trip through Canada, Mon.
tans, British Columbia and Oregon. Mr.
Wildner was spectator of Hanlan's race:
with Hawdon and Elliott. the English
champion, whom he defeate with such ease
AT the international regatta last +. year
when Hanlan rowed against Boyd, the En-
glish champion, Wallace, Ross and other
great oarsmen, Mr.. Wildner was also an
interested spectator. The impression
which Mr.. Wildner received from these
races WAS that Hanlan had some unknown
agency to increase his speed, and never won
on genuine merit. When Hanan made his
debut on English waters, and rowed away
without the slightest trouble from Hawdon,
no was looked upon rs phenomenal sculer.
Later, when Hanlan defeated Elliott, the
champion, with even greater ease, it was
suspected that he had some concealed motor
in his boat. II was thought that he NIL ht
have attained his wonderful degree of speed
by filling the air tight compartments of his
she'll with gas, but some experiments dem
onstrated the fallacy Of this theory. Hanlan
himself assisted in disproving this theory
by taking the bulkheads out of bis boat,
thus making it impossible to fill her
with gss, and then rowing her faster
than ever. The great secret Of his speed is
that AZ the end of each stroke of the oars the
boat does not loose Roadway. Racing souls
are so light that they usually dwell after the
oars have left the water, whereas Hanlan's
boat keeps her course steadily until his OARS
have been dipped again TO give her fresh mo-
ton.
AN EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY
eater watching the man critically" said
MIR. Wildner, - was convinced that he had
something to assist him besides swivel row.
locks and sliding seat. In practice he did
not seem to row particularly WELL
but the moment no started on his
race his pace was altogether diff
ferent. | examined his boats several times,
but could detect nothing strange in them that
would explsin the secret. | was almost A
convert 10 the belief that the man was
wonder when went to see
tho Barrie regstts. About s O'Clock
in the morning, when there was hardly a
soul around, went down TO Hanlan's head.
quarters and found the trainer bending over
the champions shell, with tho oil can in his
hand. The shell was turned bottom up, and
four brass wheels about three inches in diam
e,er were sticking out of her keel. The
trainer seemed to BIO greatly discounted by
my unexpected visit, and turned the shell
over with jerk that knocked big hole in
her forward deck. was not disposed to let
the matter pass, however, and asked what
was tho idea Of having miniature water
wheels in the bottom of u racing shell. Just
then one Of Hanlan's hackers came in, and,
seeing how matters stood, proceeded
TO explain that the wheels we're an
invention Of his own. "But," said
no, "lhey are more harm than
good. They don't work ut all, and stop the
boat instead of helping her along wanted
them to show me how the wheels worked
but they protested to be late for breakfast,
and showed tho shell up on the rack, and
went oil, locking the boalhouse after them
On accoust of the break in tho deck Hanlsn
was obliged to use another boat, and though
she WAS a very shell no only rowed dead
heat with Riley of Saratoga, a second-cla
sculler, who had poor boat and was in the
worst possible condition"
HOW IT is WORKED.
safer that exhibition" said Mr.. Wildner
I'll made up my mind that the wheels in the
keel Of the boat did tho business for the cham
piop, and that without his trick boat he could
not hope to defeat any good second.clsss man
In tho International regatta at Providence
last July he rowed in boat which could po,
possibly have been rugged with secret ma
ohinery and he got beaten most disgrace.
fully. From what saw of that boat at
Barrie | am satisfied that tho CHAMPION
rows all his big races In trick boat with
wheels in the keel. The wheels arc worked
BY the sliding seat. You know how man
rows. He slides up along steel tracks %
inches long and then slides back again.
pressing his feet against tho stro,eher with
force enough 10 raise half n ten. When tho
champion Is ready to start no touches A
spring In tho stretcher with his foe. and Tho
wheels fly down. The moment no slides
down for the stroke the wheels
commence to revolvo with lightning rspIdity
and help him along wonderfully. The great
gain, however, 10 In the recovery, for AS he
slides back for the stroke the wheels Keen
working and the boat retains her head way.
Ia this way he gains probably foot or per.
haps moro on each stroke, and Il 10 easy 10
calculate how much more powerfully his An.
t!s.gonist must row 70 keep up with him
This explains why all the men lIanlan row.
with are exhausted 10 the frat mile
HANLANs PROFITS.
Don't you think no is u wonderful a,h.
lete" tho reporter asked.
mot AZ ALL" replied Mr.. Wilduor. HE 4,
= mediumsised man Of delicate constitution.
Inc trips acros, the ocean nearly killed
oim, and no suffers from pal
pi.asion Of tha heart and An
Ill