The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-11-25
CHAMPION OARSMAN,
O'COnnor, of Canada, Beats
the American Champion.
THE WATER UNFAVORABLF.
to Try His Hand With searle-
Nautical Notes.

WASHINGTON, November 24.-William
J. O'Connor, Canadian oarsman, de-
feated John Teemer, of McKeesport.
Pennsylvania, the holder of the title of
the championship of America, this
afternoon, in three-mlle race on the
Potomac, opposite Washington. for the
championship of America and $1,000
side. O'Connor rowed in splendid
form and led from start to finish,
Teemer at no time being allie to over
take him. O'Connor will now go to
Aus tralia to battle with Scare for the
championship of the world.
The course selected was three miles
and turn.
When the. tir for the race, $50,
arrived, the Dumps Gas Works wharves
aud boat houses were lined with peo
pie, fully 10000 being spectators from
on shore, while many occupied seats
On small river RATS.
THE SPECTATORS sHIvERED
in the chilly. raw air, while the prelim
inaries were being arranged. The water
was smooth but muddy, and other con-
ditions were unfavorable to good time
being made.
Betting became quite lively just be-
fore the race. and considerable money
changed hands, O'Connor men first bet
ting even and then giving odds of 8 to 4,
and when no takers could be found.
offered %.
1t was 4 20 when Mr.. ]. Adler, of the
Columbia Athletic Club, who had been
selected referee, got the men in line.
One minute later he gave the signal
go" O'Connor was off like fash
and was half length in the lead be-
fore Teemer could dip his oars in the
water O'Connor, with stroke of 81
to the minute, gradually gained on the
McMeesport sculler, who pulled about
two strokes faster. AT the half mile,
the Canadians had
A LENGTH OF CLEAR WATER
between him and his competitor, and
slowed down his stroke to 80 to the
minute. At the mile he held his lead,
but was out OF the course. and lost some
distance, so at the turn he was only a
length ahead. Rounding the buoy,
O'Connor put on squirt and with
long, powerful pull of 80 to the minute,
he rapidly gained on Teemer and
dropping his stroke to %, was good
three lengths in the lead. When two
miles of the course had been gone over,
the Canadian sculler was fresh, and
every stroke seemed full of power, while
Teemer, though pulling 80 to O'Con-
ner's Is, moved ahead slowly, and
seemed in labor. From this point on
O'Connor
INCREASED HIS LEAD,
and slowing towards the finishing line,
he crossed it winner, about ten lengths
ahead of Teemer. The winners time
was 20 minutes, SO seconds. Teemer's
time was not taken, but was estimated
to be % seconds slower. O'Connor
pulled over to the referees boat and in.
Quired if everything was all right. Elder
told him it was, and that he had won.
He padded off quietly to his boathouse,
without word. His hackers were,
however, jubilant, and loudly gave vent
to their feelings.
Joseph Roe ers, of Toronto, a hacker
of O'Uonnor, said as soon as the race
was over, that he now proposed to go to
Australia and wrest the worlds cham
pionship from Searle.
O'Connor was trained by George Lee
and Teemer by Albert Hamm.
THE CHAMPION,
William J. O'Connor, who, by to-day's
race, becomes the champion oarsman
of America, was born in Toronto, Car -
ada, about twenty-five years ago, and
| first ca he into prominence in 1882 as q
member OF the Don Amateur Rowing
Club of Toronto. In 1888 he won the
senior single cha npionship of Canada
a. Hamilton Ontario. having short
time before with his partner, Enright,
won the cham 0ionship for the double
from the Lang brothers. He BEGAN g
professional oarsman in 1885,
by challenging RITZ, of Pittsburg,
to race for $1,000 a side, but the
later declined to row. I ] 1887 he d }
feated Hamm, but IN his next race, at
Buffalo, his boat vas swamped and he
only took third place. HanlOn winning
In March, this year, he defeated Peter
son, Pacific Slope champion, at ian
Francisco, and subsequently met and
defeated George Lee, Gadauer End
other good men. He is five feet ten
inches in height. and weighed 163
pounds to-day.
Honoring the American Minister.
CoNsTANTISoPLE, November "a. - A
bopnuet was given last evening at