New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-08
COURTNEY FAILS TO MEET ROSS.



THE STAKES SAID TO DE a MYTH
Wallace Ross rowcd over the three mile course
at Oak Point yesterday afternoon by himself Charles T.
Courtney who was to have rOwed with him. nYs-
tc.iousiy disappeared about l oC.ock, and when
time was called for the race he was nowhere
to be found. After Ross had gone over the
course the referee, M Hazard declared
him entitled to the stakes Ross started at 0Ao p h'''
rowing twcpty.cght s;rokc4 minute, and sending bi;
boat hrou the water easily. He turned the stake boat
u 10 minutes 5734 seconds, aud made the three miles III
% minutes 81 seconds The water was smooth except
in tho tdc-way between the North ana SOHth iif"'r
Islands When Ross reached the stake boat, opposite the
grand stand at Oak Point there were between oooo and
5000 people present Numbers OF steam All sailing craft
wers On the river. He greeted VITA loud ana
long continued cheers, while the nam OF courtney
brought forth a chorus OF Kisses.
Immediately preceding Ro SIS perform Frel Pals
ted and George asel rOvel for purse offered by
PikinetOn and Nsgle The start was made al 400
Plalscd got OF half length in front bu! was quickly
ovcrlaued by Gasel who kept his lead TO the f1iSh'
Galscl rounded the sake-joat at a mile and " hdI IN
1890. with Plasted seconds behind him. on the way
home Gasel increased his lead winning easily
by dozen Lengths 25:i6 33. When ne 'rng the hnsh
Plastcd gave up the Padding mp TO the referees
boat he asserted that lie had lost The race on account OF
there b.ing a knot-hole in Ms paper shell
Courtney stid yesterday morning to TRIBUNE re-
porter: don't know whether shall row TINS alter
noon II l do | won't get a cent for it and am n"'
rowing for fun Nominaliy this is for purse ol
60 500: az a matter Of fact the pure is
myth The arraugcmen: under which the race was TO be-
rowed was get Onc-third al the gate re-
ceipts Ros. onctnd and Plkingon and Nagle ouethrd
That was a private agreement ana have ii in black and
white was willing and ready to row The race on Deco
ration Day bat after that INSISTED that my shell should
he mt in the hands OF some responsible person They
put of from day TO day ana no money mas Dceh pu'
up. yet. 1 do not intend to get IN my no3t
/ ~ ttn
shall be backcuarled rig aud left TOR my action but
mans an beer without getting something it, 1 have
consolation the newspapers eannGt say any'mng
can't inure my reputation more than they nave cone
don't ask you 10 believe my unsupported statement about
| see that i am right. 1t Is nom Pikngton'
The letter referred to was dated ST%6pIS' M pdst
mark and was signed jim The letter
saG sS s5 and tS ISS @ e oad he posted
SO that the race would all II ght. with the under
James PiIkngton, ono of the prorrieors of the oak
Point Course, Gcnicd ever having ;ett any fnch eIte
snd dn yscf ad consd he talk about match between
Conricy and Ross We offered 10 back the for
division of gate receipts hut Courtney was not will
about winning and we made offer 1000 or the win
ner and $500 for ihe loscr The money was put w and
don't know what disposition will be made OF the SOC
Courtney Won't get II If can keen H. rms !ak abo9tthe
money not being Up il simply suberiugf slbce Deco
ration Day Courtney haS talked out Delng aiia 81 .e
Johnny Cree came to me anC wanted 10 know
what he was gong 10 get told him nothing from me-
He then said Courtney would not row unless ne SAID
so told him that il he wanted anything he wOuld have
TO 20 Courtney il. fully expected Courtney 10
row and YOU say cmphatlcaliy Tor me ulat me
money was up precisely called for III the articles OF
agreement"
But Brown, who accompanied Courtney from Union
Syringe was completely at lie SAID: - Inc Wn,n
fanli lies with johnny Cree He has been talking win
Courtney all the week, and prrsuadng nm That MS lie
was IN danger ii he rowed. Courtney did not take mis-
| boat with him."
After Ross had gone the course he said am
sorry Courtney did not show up. 1t was no 1ault OF
mine don't know what took him away except II was
habit he has got after he got here he sug-
rested that had better let him win the race. gave
him no decided answer lie didut offer me any money,
| but O. course ri have got the prize.
Courtney been peculiarly unfortunate since nc ne
came professional In 1873 he was entered for race
in Phi adeph and the bottom of MS boat was cut IN
| 1877 he was matched TO row dempsey on Geneva Lake
and his boat upset ny sunken wires lie aterWaid
| defeated Dempsey easily. In 1877 he was matched
against James Riley Greenwood Lake, and was p0ls
0ncd In 97g lie to Hanlan Al Iachine, aud his
wrist gave ont At ChatauGua Lake, IN the same year. nc
was to have ruwed HsnIan but his boat was sawed IN
| two In 1880 in race with Haulan. he WAS sunstruck
| lie was matched with IIoSmer 10 on Geneva Lake
but did hot row. In 1883 again matched 10 row
against Hosmer Watkins Glen, but he was struck with
! a sand hub and laid up