Daily globe., 1883-08-06
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, were speedily transferred to Hotel
Lafayette, by the Belle of Minnetonka and
other boats, opposite which the final con-
tests of the regatta we're to take place.
THE HANLAN o'BRIEN WAGER.
While the skulIing match announced at
this point, was one of the most attractive
in the entire series, the master attraction
proved to be the wager of $500 a side be-
tween j. H. Hanlan, the champion oars
man and John O'Brien of Saltwater that
the latter could not sit in Plaisted's she'll,
cleared of its outriggings, for the space of
one minute without upsetting. Previous
to the trial Hanlan and his brother profess
slonals declared The feat impossible. So
confident did theytaIk that theO' 'Brien party
in which were included quite number
Of residents Of Saltwater, we're 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 a shell, accomplished
What he had wagered to do. After the race
it was stated that this faint-heartedpess on
the part of the OBrien party, arose from
the fact that On Friday he made three
unsuccessful attempts to keep the shell
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 S400 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 OBrien of
Saltwater for his brother John. These
two agreed upon Englehart 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.. OBrien appeared with his shelI-the
one Plaisted rowed in the first day, and
which OBrien bought for 500. O'Brien
is a 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 he was allowed
n1G66n minutes, ne not TO tOucn The DOttOm
with the oars. The she'll stripped
weighed twenty y-seven pounds, a feather
weight as it were. O'Brien was dressed in
a white undershirt, short tights, and wore
a red skull cap. It was twelve minutes
past when he took his seat in the she'll
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 tn,
boat away from the dock. Once fairly
clearly and the frail she'll he gave the wort
s'ready," and the trial had commenced
Lifting his oar slightly he would slowly
slide it forward on the surface of the water
and then dip it little pull it backward
sending the boat forward. So steady die
he sit, and so perfect was his balance, tina
there was scarcely tremer observable II
the boat, while IT steadily advanced ou
into the lake, going twire its length in the
specified time. When the referee called
time, O'Brien to show his perfect mastery
of the fail 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 he
lifted to his mouth and drank, which
brought from Hanlan the exclamation
"Look ct the fellow, he not only wins my
money, but steals my drinking DODGE
Mr.. Hanlan at once declared the wager