Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-15

The Teemer-Gaudaur boat race has been
declared off and Gaudaur, Hamm and Mr..
St. John have left the city. According to
arrangement the referee met some of the
parties directly interested in the race at
The DISPATCH Office yesterday afternoon
| at o'clock. Mr.. st. John was the only
representative present in the interests OF
the st. Louis sculler. Neither Hamm nor
Gaudaur put in an appearance, Mr. st.
John stating that he did not understand their
presence was needed Teemer and his judge,
| Mr.. Nickerson, were present, together with
numerous newspaper reporters. The meeting
was an improvement on that held at Nc Kees-
port on Friday evening as far as order was
concerned.
Teemer renewed his objections at length, to
the effect that Hamm had interfered with him
SO much as to break his boat, and also that
Hamm was on the course as a guide for
Gaudaur. There was lengthy exchange of
opinion regarding the first charger Teemer
stated Hamm crossed his course three times
and forced him into midstream. On one of the
occasions, Teemer claims that he ran into
Hamm's boat, breaking his, Teemer's. The
latter wanted to produce testimony relative to
matters previous to the race, but the referee
refused to admit it.
MIR. ST. JOHNS REPLY.
Mr.. st. John replied that Hamm denied in
toto that he interfered with Teemer at all, or
that he was within SO feet of Teemer. st. John
argued that Hamm was on the course to keep
it clear for the rowers.
Teemer said: "Mr. Referee, 1 ordered my
judge to warn you that Hamm would be on the
course, and that you should look out for him.
Did my judge warn you about it?"
The refprne answered.. uT told ST JOhn that
your judge objected to Hamms presence on
the course and Mr.. st. John said that Hamm
would not interfere with the rowers."
The referee then overruled Teemer's claim
regarding the foul, and asked st. John if he
did not think Hamm violated rule 16 by being
on the course for the acknowledged purpose of
keeping Gaudaur clear of snags. At first Mr..
st. John doubted whether or not Hamm made
this admission, but finally granted that he die.
The referee-Well, now, Mr.. st. John, do
you think that man on the course guiding
contestant from running into snags is not as
ssting himf The rule forbids assistance.
Mr.. st. John-Well, if Hamm did say that
his object on the course was to keep Gaudaur
clear of snags he did not do it.
The referee: "But he says he was there for
that purpose-and it is impossible to tell
whether he carried out his purpose or not
He could do IL in many ways, and at any rate
it is fact that he was very close to both
roWers.
HIS OWN WORDS
must be taken into account, and he positively
said be was on the course for the object
named"
After further exchange of opinions the ref
cree said: II think under the circumstances
Hamm's presence on the course was violation
of rule l6, and the fairest way will be to row
the race over again on Monday at o'clock"
Teemer objected. claiming that his boat was
broken and that he could not possibly get a boat
to row on Monday. The referee, however in
sisted on his decision. ST. John then stated
that Gaudaur's life would be in danger if he |
rowed at McKeesport, and 1t was suggested |
that the race take place on the McKee's Rocks
course
Mr.. st. John-I would not have another race |
here for SIC, 600. The money to me is nothing. |
We have won the race once, and object to |
rowing for the money a second time. |
After some more talk Teemer offered to in |
any lake course. To this Mr.. st. John OBJ. |
jected, and finally they agreed to each take his |
Sl, 900 stake money down. All bets were then |
declared of. !
THEY FELT INDIGNANT.
Mr.. st. John naturally felt indignant about I
the decision, and subsequently didn't hesitate |
to say that it was one of the most outrageous |
he had heard during his long experience In |
boat racing He, Gaudaur and Hamm, last |
evening. all emphatically declared the affair a |
bold robbery in daylight. Mr.. st. John wired |
the latter opinion to the st. Louis papers,
Anybody can well understand the strong Ian |
guage, but bitter words are one thing and ,rea- |
sonable argument is another. THE DISPATCH |
held the stakes and acted as referee with the |
determination that fair race from end to end, |
a race strictly in accordance with the rules,
should be rowed. There was absolute. |
ly no object whatever to induce THE
DISPATCH to deviate from the rules. and the |
latter were enforced without any considera-
ton as to who was the superior rover. There |
was not yesterday afternoon the remotest argu- |
ment to show that Hamm's presence and ac-
knowledged actions on the course was not vi |
olation of the rules. If the decision was costly
and disappointing to Mr.. Gaudaur. it was GER
tainly the result of his own trainers actions. If
a race has not to be rowed according to the |
rules it is useless to have any at all.
Mr. st. John and Teemer each received a |
check for 81, 900 at THE DISPATCH business |
office and the matter was ended. The decision |
gave general satisfaction and was looked upon |
by the majority of people protection to the |
public. There undoubtedly were many things |
that led practical sporting people to think that
there was in some way business connected |
with the affair. The decision at least leaves |
the public neither loser nor winner.
1t was stated last evening that Hamm will |
enter suit against Teemer, charging the latter |
with mayhem. Hamm claims that during the