Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-08
A REVIEW OF SPORTS
Opinions About the Searle-
0'COnnOr Boat Race.
WH0WILL BETHE WINNER?
Interesting Comparisons of Rowing
of the Past and Present,
LOCAL BASE BALL CLUB AFFAIRS.
The Proposed Changes in the National
League Playing Rules.
WILL BETHE WINNER?
LOCAL BASE BALL CLUB AFFAIRS.
FEW WORDS ABOUT THE PUGILlSTS

itself, and really there is considerable inter-
esting truth in the old and oft repeated
statement. In the sporting world history is
Just on the eve of repeating itself In an ex-
ceedingly interesting way. Australia and
Canada will, before we are very much older,
have another contest for the scull-
ing supremacy of the world. 1t
seems Just the other day that Hanlan and
Trickett the two Eds, struggled for the same
great title on the same course on which Searle
and O'Connor will fight it out this week And
vet it is nine wears since Hanlan, then in his
glory, defeated the big and powerful Austria
liam and won wagon load" of money. In
that race both countries thought they had
wonder. Hanlan, undoubtedly, had the best
record, but Trckett had vanquished all the
scullers of his native land and had received
good forfeit from William Lumsden, then
promising young English rover. Old Jimmy
Taylor and ]. H. Clasper had, on the quiet
found out that Trickett was flyer" and
Inmsden was at once unable to 60 on with the
race because of an injured thumb" This in
spired the Australian party with confidence
and as a result the betting on the Trickett-
Eanlan race was very great indeed. We all
know how Hanlan and how Canada re-
ioiced over the great victory, and also
how the pocFet books of the Antipodeans
were emptied. Well now, the approach
ing big race between Searle and
O'Connor is in almost every respect a repeti-
tion OF that between Trickett and Hanlan. Ot
course the result is not known yet but the
probability is that the result will be similar to
that of 1880; that is Canada will likely be to
the front again. 1 have often said that there
is no direct way by which we can measure
Searle; this to a great extent leaves him AS an
unknown quantity. However, if there is man
outside of Seare's trainers, and Searle himself,
who knows what he can do, Edward Hanlan
ought to be that man. He has stated definitely
that he thinks O'Connor will win. but the ex-
champion predicts a very close race; indeed, so
close that it would seem that Hanlan is not at
all very confident of his countryman' success.
Hanlan thinks that OConnor will win by about
a length. Now, when it comes down to a
point as fine as that in four-mile race, to
name the winner is an absolute guessing
story The odds in England are in
favor of Searle, but this is entirely because
of the large amount of Australian money in
London, Just as the preponderance of OConnor
money a. Toronto makes him favorite there.
However / am still inclined to favor the
chances of O'Connor. state this conclusion
because reviews or comments would be worth
less without conclusions of a definite kind.
We cannot hit the nail on the head every time,
but I'll be content with hitting it a majority of
times Certainly am aware that Searle is a
SPEEDY man, and so is O'Connor. But advices
from the Thames state that Searle is not much
speedier than Matterson and taking this as
criterion il may be safe to say that Searle's
speed will not take him away from O'Connor in
the early part of the race. If Searle cannot
get away from O'Connor in the early part of
the race, the Canadian, if all accounts about
him are true, ought to outstay the Australian.
Then and Now.
Few. if any, of us can think or talk about
the big sculling events of to-day without
thinking of the good old times" that have
gone by and the changes. that have taken place
in the meantime Probably in no branch of
sport has there been so many changes during
20 or 25 years as in rowing. Going back to
1863 when Honest Bob Chambers beat G. w.
Everson, the Australian, over the Thames
course and in the same wear when Chambers
defeated r. Green, the other Australian, we
can see a most wonderful transformation that
has taken place in the rowing world between
then and now. Since that time America,
Canada and Australia have all left the
mother country, wherein scullng originated far
behind. In the present instance, however, 1t
may be little consolation to English people to
know that two British subjects are battling for
the proud title, and whoever wins America will
still be playing second fiddle. But although
times changes have been great in the localZa-
tion of champions, they Just have been as great
in the styles of sculling. Would space permit,
many interesting things could be said on this
feature, but may resume the subject some
other day.
Among the PueiIIsts.
There has been remarkable quietude among
the pugilists during the week. words, words,
words" have been about the full extent of the
doing in the fstic world. Cardiff and Mike
Conley were underlined for battle but the
terrors of the law have kept them out of the
ring This fully bears out the prediction
made when Sullivan received his sentence l
coutended then that the effect of that sentence
and of Governor Lowery's action would be to
put a damper on prize fighting throughout
the country. So far this prediction
has been amply fulfilled. A week or so ago I
also said that the Marine would take his own
time in responding to Dempsey's challenge,
and now the Marine comes defantly out stat
ing that Dempsey made him wait three years,
and now Dempsey must be content to linger.
Nobody need be surprised at this when modern
pugilism is taken into account. The show busi-
ness and pugilism are SO closely allied that
nowadays everything pugilistic is arranged
with the ulterior object of making money IN the
show. The Marine is certainly aware of this
fact, and doubtless he will not try and kill the
goose that lays the golden eggs as did Dempsey.
The Marine is the vanquisher of the great
Dempsey, and undoubtedly the Marine will re-
main soas long as he can without entering the
arena again. The latest about Slavln. the.
Australian is that he is matched to fight Jem
Goode with gloves. If the Goode party really
believe they have any show at all their estima-
ton OF Slavin would prompt us to say: SlavIn,
don't come to America. However, one of the
most interesting battles would be one between
Slavin and Jackson. They may meet before
long,
Local Baseball Affairs.
Iknow that it is to some extent wearisome
talking about the local club when il is losing
as it has been doing The team is now in a
position in the race that tends to kill all en-
thusiasm about il. To be in sixth place is not
at all inspiring, and the probability is that the
team will finish notch lower. Manager Han
lon is doing Just as good as anybody else would
under the circumstances. Nobody will be un-
reasonable enough TO say that the defeats are
due to bad management so soon after praising
him for the late victories. several DAYS ago 1t
was announced in this>paper that Manager
Phillips was on the way of recovery. President
Nimick has verified this announcement. but
the President adds: Nobody but Mr.. Phil
lips brother is allowed TO visit him" 1t is
TO be hoped that Horace will be
an right again, The team will return from the
East at the close OF this week, and il the pitch
ers can only get in good condition there may be
hope of many good victories yet The pitchers
their work, take it all round has been of a very
unsatisfactory kind. This may mean that we
may expect to see one or two new faces in the
local box next year.
Dirty Ball Playing.
During the latter part of this baseball seseon,
as far as IL has gone, there has been something
like q remarkable increase Of what is termed
dirty ball playing. A notable feature Of these
much 10 be lamented scenes has been that the
disgraceful work has been participated in by
sone of the most prominent nlayers in the