Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-08-05
At Hotel Lafayette.

The events at Lake Park hotel. as above,
completed, the oarsmen and others at that
resort for the purpose of enjoying the
sports, we're speedily transferred to Hotel
Lafayette, by the Belle of Minnetonka and
other boats, opposite which the final con-
tests of the regatta were to take place. .
TIE HANLAN o'BRLEN WAGER.
While the skulling match announced at
this point, was one of the most attractive
in the entire series, the master attraction
proved to be the wager of $20Oa side be-
tween =. b. Hanlan, the champion oars
man and John OBrien of Saltwater; that
the latter could not sit in P1aisted's she'll,
cleared of its outriggings, for the space of
one minute without upsetting. Previous
to the trial Hanlan and his brother profess
SIGNALS declared the feat impossible. So
confident did theytalk that theO' Brien party
in which were included quite number
Of residents of Saltwater, were very chary
about putting up their money, notwith-
standing the fact that O'Brien had four
years ago, and the first time ever
stepping into shell, accomplished
What he had wagered to do. After the race
it was stated that this faint-heartedness on
the part Of the O'Brien party, arose from
the fact that on Friday he made three
unsuccessful attempts to keep the she'll
right side up for the specified time. How
ever, there was some betting, generally at
odds, as high as two to one being
given in some cases that
O'Brien would fail, and altogether
it is probable that from $500 to $500
changed hands on the result outside of
the original wager.
The contest took place in the bay imme-
diately in front of Hotel Lafayette. The
judges were John A. st. John, of st. Louis.
for Mr.. Hanlan and James O'Brien of
Saltwater for his brother John. These
two agreed upon Engiehart of New York,
but for several months making his home
in s. Paul. The trial was called for 5
o'clock but it was ten minutes late when
Mr.. O'Brien appeared with his shelI-the
one Plaisted rowed in the first day, and
which O'Brien bought for 800. O'Brien
is man about six feet in height and
weighs 225 pounds. By the terms of the
bet, he was to sit in the she'll stripped of
all out rigging, and with one paddle keep
the shell right side up for the space
of one minute after giving the word
''ready," for which word be was allowed
fifteen minutes, he not to touch the bottom
with the oars. The shell st-ipped
weighed twenty seven pounds, feather
weight as it were. O'Brien was dressed in
white un6ershirt, short tights, and wore
red skull cap. 1t was twelve minutes
past when he took his seat in the shell.
the lake shore and the Belle of Mime
tonka and other boats in the vicinity being
covered with people to witness the effort.
With little if any delay O'Brien seated him
self, took the oar, and balancing him
self at once commenced to slowly push the
boat away from the dock. Once fairly
clearly and the frail she'll he gave the word
ready" and the trial had commenced.
Lifting his oar slightly he would SLOWLY
slide is forward on the surface of the water.
and then dip it little pull it backward.
sending the boat forward. So steady did
he sit, and so perfect was his balance, that
there was scarcely tremer observable in
She boat, while at steadily advanced out
into the lake, going twice its length in the
specified time. When the referee called
time, O'Brien to show his perfect mastery
Of the frail craft, lifted the oar clear of
the water with his right hand, and at the
same time dipped his left hand into the
lake, filling his palm with water which h
lifted to his mouth and drank, which
brought from Hanlan the exclamation.
''Look at the fellow, he not only wins nv
money, but steals my drinking dodge.n
MIR. Hanlan at once declared the vaoer