New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-31
THE Ross-CoURTYEY RACE POSTPONED.
WIND AND WATER TOO OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
OF GREAT CROWD.

WIND AND WATER TOO ROUGH-DIsAPPolNTMENT
OF GREAT CROWD.
Fifty thousand people who went to Oak Point yes
terday to see the boat betGeen Wallace Ross anu
Charles H. Courtney came away disappointed. In the
afternoon the time that the race was TO be rowed'
the wind from the east was blowing half gale and the
water was so rufled that shell could live through
IT, The referee 5 b. Hazard. of the Dauntless Boat
Club therefore declared the postponed until to-
day, should the weather prove favorable, or until the
fret day that 1t is possible to over the course
The day began as favorably as the most cxacting
oarsman could have wished light breeze was blow
ing from the westward which hardly ruited the water
and II was Just sufficiently cool to make it pleasant for
the oarsmen Both of the went TO Harlem and re-
turned TO Oak Point in time to take pull over the
course about / o'clock The announcement hao been
made that the race would be rowcd aboat o'clock,
and early in the afternoon the grounds began to fill
The Southern Boulevard from Harlem Bridge to Oak
Point was crowded with people and the stages were an
full The Iron steamboats, on their later trips carried
full loads and there were at least twenty tugs ana
barges chartered by outside persons which were
crowded The East River between the Nestchestcr
Shore and the Brothers Islands full of craft OF all
sorts and sizes. The KnickcrbOcker Yacht CuDs re
gatn which was finished about o'clock, left large
number of sail boats the river. There was sond
mass of barges opposite the starting point ana tho
referees boat had hard work in clearing the course
Nearly every amateur rowing club on the Harlem hat
row boats of all kinds made their way in and out be-
tween the larger craft anchored in spot where
view of the race could lie obtained The grand stand on
shore which accommodates S,COO people, was CrOWdcu
and the shore for half mile was lined with people
) o'clock the referees boat went over
the course and set the stake boats AT this time the
wind wa. blowing hafa gale and had shifted around TO
inc southeast, and the water was rough AT o'clock
Wallace Ross Of he bOathOuse with hlS shc
ON his shoulder. Every steamboat whose Whistle
vould work started a whistle and mighty cheer went
up from the crowd. Ross clad in his regular SUIT
of black in which he all his races. His boat was
fitted with windsail. He thought at first that he
conclusion that it might catch scawced and retard nus
progress After he had padded around for about hVe
minutes Courtney appeared on the float and was also
greeted with cheers from the crowd anu chOrus OF
whistles from the boats He r0wcd up tn the referees
boat and shouted 10 the referee: " on are not gong
Ia order The race in thi, water, are your Why, no
shell could live five Minutes with such sea on" The
referee said that he would wait until the last minute
before he would declare a postpODement Courtney,
who did fancy the chilly breeze, padded back TO
the boat-h0usc and waited for the decision Ross III the
meanwhile padded contentcdly around. The referees
boat took another the course, and the reteree
came 10 the conclusion that the race must be post
poncd The opinion was freely expressed that the men
should be made row. The information was shouted
Ross and he replied Right You arc, rs ne pointed
hi shell for the boat house.
The crowd shore dissatisfied. but when II was
explained to them that their tickets held good until the
rowcd they submitted with It GOOD grace 10
the inevitable
The conditions of the race provide that il shall be
r0ved in of postponoment on the first fair day
afterwarl. The arrangements for to-day, should the
weather prove favorable. will be- the they were
Yesterday except that there viii be no extra charge Tor
seats the grand stand.