Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-11-10
O,CONNOR AND TEEslER.
A Chat With tho Canadian Oarsmal
About tho Boat Race.

Oarsman VIM. O'C0nnor was manfully At
lacking beefsteak in the breakfast-room Of
the Morgan House this morning when Q stan
reporter made an invasion and asked for o
brief interview with the water-cutter. The
athlete besought fGw minutes more time in
which to conquer the steak and then placed
himself at the disposal Of TIE STAR man. He
was dressed in dark gray suit and wore derby
hat. There was nothing particular about him
to attract any immediate attention, but his
movements had in them . hint of the great
strength Of his muscles. He has q pleasant
face, finished of by q dark moustache, and
his gray eyes are clear and bright He first
armed himself with toothpick and took q
seat on q high stool, with an air of resignation.
The reporter climbed up on another similar
perch and began to ply his questions
"Well," said O'Connor, II know that am
working pretty hard getting ready for this race
between myself and Teemer. Irow about four
teen miles day, all over the river. Before
breakfast take a sharp walk, and then, about
or 10 O'Clock, walk over to the river. I pull
pretty briskly for some time, and after rubbing
down walk back here. In the afternoon take
another walk over, another spin, and another
walk back. The greatest trouble with me is to
keep my weight down. At present weigh
about 178, but want to get into the boat on
the day Of the race at 165. That, suppose.
will be about Teemer's weight, from what your
paper said about him yesterday. Now weigh
myself four times a day, before and after break
fast and supper, and usually find that gain
about pounds at each sitting. have hopes
Of getting down, however. My trainer, Mr..
Lee, is with me here"
THE COMING RACE,
"What do you think Of the result of the
racer" asked the reporter.
''Well," smiled the athlete, 81 don't know.
I'm going to pull my best oar that day and I'm
going in to win that 81 900. 1t will be straight
race from the start. You see never rowed
against Teemer before. and so I shall be on
new ground, like. My best three-mile record is
1912. l made that when beat Gaudaur in
Canada. l shall try not only to make that time
on the oath, but to break it. This course here
i, nso beautiful sea. one' and we both ought to do
'Do You think that there will be many people
to see you?"
81 understand that there are great many
folks coming here from other cities. There
will be large excursion from my home, To-
ronto, Canada to see me pull. But it won't
make any difference whether we have any
audience or not. We are here to race for the
stakes and the championship, and the question
of spectators don't count
"WhO will referee the racer"
"We have asked Mr.. VIM. H. Gibson. of the
Columbia Athletic Club, to act as referee. In
case he does not accept he is to select some
body else. We have not heard whether or not
he will serve"
The conversation then drifted on to the sub
ject OF other Oarsmen and OCOnnor remarked:
Il see that Hanlan is going to row Beach in
Australia. In my opinion he is getting too
old. l entered that road-sculling match in
New York last month. but dropped out before
the finish. don't think much Of the machine
for fast man, but for an amateur it is a very
good thing. 1t has all of the motions Of the
boat and is a good muscle developer"
well, hope that the people of Washington
will have chance to see a good race" re-
marked the reporter as he hoped down from
the perch and started for the door,
They will see hard race, at any rate" was
the parting reply.