Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-05
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DrsPArcH.i

FsPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.i
ST. LOUIS. November AL Hsmm,
the Nova Scotia oarsman, has given up
seethiDg secret, that has been boiling in his
bosom for two months. The motive for
Mr.. Hanm's sudden desire to share his
knowledge with the world can be found in
special to a morning paper from
Boston relative to the Teemer-Gaudaur race
rowed at McKeesport last September. The
went preeipitated disagreeable scandal,
and on the day OF the race there was rumor,
both in St. Louis and Boston, that
it was fixed for Gaudaur to win.
The odds here on the day of
the race were 20 to on Gaudaur, though at
Pittsburg Teemer was the favorite. The
race precipitated fight, in which Teemer
and his brothers assaulted Hamm for alleged
fouling on the course, and the referee de-
clared all bets off and ordered the race rowed
over again.
THERE WAS AN UGLY SCANDAL.
This was the end of it, as far as rowing
went; but everybody began to talk, and
we're made.
In the special from Boston, already re-
ferred to, was a very compromising letter
from Hamm to Teemer, saying everything
was fixed and st. John would furnish s., 900
70 back Gaudaur and the winnings should be
divided. In offering himself up for sacrifice
tonight, Hamm said:
1T is true. wrote the letter, but Mr.. st.
Mr.. st. Johns name without authority, and he
never knew anything about the letter until to-
day. Now propose to tell the true story about
this whole business. On February 26, while
was at Oakland, Cal, with Gaudaur, Peter
son, O'oonnor, and other oarsmen. L received
A LETTER FROM TEEMER,
in which he proposed that 1 arrange a race
with Gaudaur. He owed me S26S at that time,
and promised TO pay me if the race was a sue
cess. I want Gaudaur to win,' he wrote land
have the letter now in my possession; but 1
don't care about giving up all its contents).
''Teemeris reason for wanting Gaudaur to win
was that his friends in Pittsburg would back him
for about 5000, and he asked me to raise the
same amount ard take the bets, and he would
then pay me what he owed. His words were:
If you get the race on and get it going will be
able to square up
81 laid the matter before Gaudaur, and he
said: we can't go to St. John with any pro-
position like this; we'll have to work it in some
other way
"Gaudaur returned to ST. Louis, and went
mp in Washington Territory with Lee and
Peterson and rowed some races. Meanwhile 1
received several letters from Teemer about the
sure thing returned here in August, and it
was then wrote him the letter published this
morning. in which used Mr.. ST. Johns name |
without his knowledge or consent.
BOTH POOLING SAINT.
"Gaudaur told st. John that he would like to |
be matched against 1eemer, as he felt that he |
could beat him. Mr.. st. John agreed to back |
him if he showed good work. and we settled |
down to training. After four weeks Jake said |
he was ready to show Mr.. St. John a |
trial and the course was staked and /
Jake covered the three miles in 1S.sT |
There was nothing crooked about the |
time CT the distance, and Mr.. ST. John said he |
would back Jake against any man in the world |
His best time, previous to that. was l94S. The |
match with Teemer was finally MADE and |
felt confident that Jake would win, no matter
what Teemer would do.
SAW IT WAS ALL Up.
Several days before the race Jake rowed a
trial with Teemer and beat him badly. This
was tough on Teemer, who intended to double
cross us from the start. Two nights
before the race Teemer invited Jake and |
down to his house, to make what he called
final arrangements, though the arrangements
had long before been completed. He was
hroke, and had given him $50 TO buy boat
to row in, and we talked about that for a
minute. As we started to 20 Teemer said:
Hold on, boys, have some fine
blackberry brandy here that I want YOU
TO try He poured out 4 glassful and Jake
downed his and said: We'll, that's the fun |
niest blackberry brandy ever drank swal--
lowed only couple of mouthfuls. A few
hours later we were taken deathly sick. l ran
for a doctor, and, after pumping and examin-
ing us. he said: you fellows have been drinking
lobelia.'
DIsNTERESTED WITNESS.
''Mr. Nickerson, of Boston, was with Teemer
when we were drugged 1 told St. John about
the drugging but did not say where it occurred.
knew then that Teemer's object was to beat
us some way. When the race was coming off
advised Gaudaur not to row, as he was not
strong enough; but he said he was strong
enough 20 beat Teemer.
"Ieemer told me to 90 out on the course and
keep small craft out Of the way, and the state
ment that 1 Intentionally fouled him is not
true. ] never told ST. John about the matter
because dldn't like to tell the whole story
Teemer thought st. John furnished the money
70 take the Plttsburg bets; but he did not.
That is the whole story of the race"
Hamms manner and language was that of a
man telling the truth, and the story shows. if
il be true. that tricky Teemer was beaten at