The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-03-25

Davis Cinirs e. Nave Isvested Assrt All
the Rsw,ur Outat Except the Mas.

Davis Cinirs e. Nave Isvented Aeeut a"
the Rsvr,ur Outat Except the MAS.
Much that interests oarsmen everywhere,
and some things that may seriously anect
them, are involved In q suit instituted by bike
Davis OF Portland, Me-. against the Union Boat
Club OF Boston. and now on trial before a REL
cree. Davis claims q patent on about every
thing connected with the modern racing shell
and tho oarsman's outfit. He says that he In
vented the swinging rowlock, the outrigRer'
oars, sliding seat. shoes. and about Ill tho
other attachments Of the racing shell. He be-
gan his suit two years ago. but only recently
has been able to get regularly into court with
It. He claims to be actuated by the best OF mo-
tiyes. and to believe that II he forces the recog-
milton OF his patents the other builders will
have to Join with him In getting up a sort OF
rowboat trust. with q large factory and the
means OF nlling orders quickly and much more
choarly than can be done by the present fnctl-
tiles Of tho builders. Oarsmen and the other
builders are inclined to think that Mr.. Davis,
after he gets his monopoly. will be loss anxious
for tho interests OF racing and moro Interested
in his Individual finances than he profossea
now to be, and lending boat clubs through
out the country arc sud to be behind the Union
Club In Its opposition to tho Davis quit
Old oarsmen are inclined also to take little
stock in Mr.. Davis's claims Of priority OF inven-
ton. and laugh at his patents. George Faulk-
ner. the veteran, now retired and living at Cam
bridge. Mass. says:
Il began rowing in 1868. when stationary
soats. stationary locks. and all the other old
rigging was the bcst that WAS TO DO had. In
1soi hut a boat for myself %ilh %oatrisg4TTs
claims a patent. / understand. on the three
hr4,e oatrixser; Tn. four. brace outrigssr was
ten'ennial race. in Phiiadslnh!a III. 1875 i used
both outriegorsa and rowlocks made by Kennedy
.Iuds s.' El i lott o a'f New y Y"rE i bsfor .Se he 's'' Dsv Is
E laGs ' IN Ii. IN race as WITH F Fsed I r I,n, |. Cd sh h f is'9'
the lock. which is THO. means OF ,erahlinS
the scpl'er to reverse his, blade, aud thereby
he could do. otherwise. Bat the outset was
found n ihG kenncay rte; although it was rot
", was ,ne tho f"et . ,,ss.'' DHt . II 'i sln sil, " =" n," !" H Meet
swinging rpwiocks in 1873, md | think l saw
him have thom at Orchard Beach. IL 1874. In
aside siier a short trial. In 1876 | 10, J. $.
johnson 10 make = set OF oars taht | sincarely
Davis cl,lns this also. but | can sec no justice
In the claim. The change in the shape OF the
oars ", made pSGsssary ny the style ., rp%t
Davis claims. but they hnd been used years be-
fore Davis, had the patent ont. | romember
underneath the toes Of their shoes, and in
later years they strapped the shoes 10 the bot,
TOMS o. mo oOhl. INuL pructleHlly covers tHo
Davis claims. The sliding seat wns gotten UP
by WaltSr Brown and ". W. Ruddock.'
It. G. Butler. the champion for many years OF
New England, snvs that he had seen swinging
looks in use long before Davis claims TO have
invented them. and shows recei ted bill from
Walter Brown for n shell. In which specific
mention is.mHde OF a sliding seat that was to
remain tho property of Brown. although pissed
with the boat to Butter. The receipt is dated
Aug ~. 1870.
John Biakie.. the veteran Cambridge boat
builder. says: The outset was not invented
by Davis. because the device was first used by
won at Philadelphia In 1876. ! distinctly re-
member oorsman who were In the habit of cut
ting their shoos and fastening thom in tho boat
long before Davis claims to have invented his
shoes and oarsmen We're also In tho habit Of
putting cork under their toes to mike rowing
easier. Tho four-hrace outrisger WAS In com;
mon use, and had seen the threo-brace kind
used before Davis claims TO have Invented
ton for q part OF the sliding, scat which I In
vented. the runs and casing, but have never
monty used. have no idea tina, Davis can
establish any of his claims. and / think that 1t
would kill the sport II he did, tor he would have
n monopoly and would put the prices at encr-
mOuH 61ur8S."