Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-18


all kinds of manly sports will have much to
be thankful for before the proposed Worlds
Fair is over. That gigantic undertaking
has prompted athletic organizations and
patrons of outdoor sports to propose an ath-
letic tournament which promises to eclipse
anything of the kind that has taken place
in modern times The Romans may have
had something of the kind on a scale not to
be measured, but I am not going to talk
about the Romans Without doubt, as in
almost everything else, the Americans are
going to outdo all other modern nations in
the way of holding an athletic carnival or
tournament
One of the proposals Of the promoters OF
this carnival, according to the reports OF
the week, is to have boat race between
the winning crew of the Oxford and Cam
bridge race and the winning crew OF the
Yale and Harvard race. This, in my esti-
nation, is one of the best suggestions that
has been made in connection with the pro-
posed carnival 1t would be one of the
most attractive features of the entire pro-
ceedinCS There never was a time when in
ternational contests were so numerous, and
I might add so attractive. But it is not
e2SV 10 InlDh OF u luOlC SNblaSsAh0 ASoeNAS
than an international eight-oared race be-
tween the best University crews of Eng
land and the United States Why, were
such race to take place in this country
next year, 1 venture to say that it would
figure as one OF the greatest sporting events
that has taken place in this country.
For some time we have been unable to
measure the comparative merits of the
best English and best American amateur
crews. The United States have had one or
two good ere VS. in England, but they have had
10 meet the Britishers on their own waters.
That is an important consideration because
il is always safe to say that home waters
favorS the home contestants 1t is now ab-
solutelv lair to say that the Britishers owe
the Americans a visit as far as amateur row.
ing is concerned. This holds good not only
in crews but in scullinC.
There is vet some uncertainty as to suit
able course being secured at or near Chi
cago. OF course all possible effort will be
made to get q course near the Worlds Fair.
Still if course cannot be secured where it
is most desired, why shouldn't one be
selected as near Chicago as possible?
Another Suggestion Ventured.
There is another suggestion which I
would venture When everything is to he
done on such large scale why not have
amateur boat races for championship prizes
open to the world? These races could consist
Of pairs fours, eights and sculling races
Races OF this kind would attract competitors
from Australia, England, France and Ger
many. Years ago a such like carnival was
held in Paris, France, and was great
success.
1t NAV Re interesting to point out that
this wear has been somewhat of remark
able one for amateur rowing In this
branch of sport the Britishers have held
undisputed sway for generations, but to the
surprise of everybody both the French and |
the Germans have lowered the British |
colors this year. This is one great reason |
why inducements, and strong ones, should
be maize to have competing oarsmen at the
Worlds Fair contests from every country |
where rowing is at all popular A single |
scull race between the best amateur scullers |
OF England, Canada, Australia, France, |
Germany and the United States would just |
be rs exciting as any other event l know OF. |
Besides. as lar as / am able to judge, it |
would be Just IS speculative as any event |
we could have.
There are many features connected with |
this question, and there is one particularly |
worthy of note, that is the impetus 1t |
would give to rowing here. 1t is useless to |
shut our eyes to the fact that we. are not |
making the progress in rowing that we |
should make. When we consider the great |
number OF athletes this country can boast |
OF il is surprising to find so few good row.
ers. Nobody can point me to better sport |
or exercise. 1 have great faith in rowing |
and l firmly believe that if once an impetus |
was given to it in this country it would |
soon become one of the most popular of |
Eports on the amateur calendar. go still |
fUrfher and saw that soon the United States |
would have the very best amateur rowers in !
the world.
The Charge Against Sprinter Cary.
Quite a surprise has been caused in sport
ing circles during the week by the charge of
professionalism against Luther Cary made
by Harry Jewett, the amateur champion
sprinter, OF the Detroit Athletic Club. The
surprise was mostly caused by the sudden
and UNEXPECTED way in which it was made.
] dare say, not many people nowadays will
be surprised at any amateur athlete being
made out to be professional, ii only some
BODY will take the trouble to do it
Whether or not Cary is professional by
violation of amateur rules it would not be
fair to say until his case has been investi-
gated. So far Mr.. Jewett has not produced
Eny proof. He has simply made an asser-
tion, and added that he can prove beyond
3 doubt that Cary is a professional In
consequence OF this an investigation is to
be made The authorities of the A. A. Q. are
10 take the matter up, and l have the ut
most confidence in their doing what is right
and finding out the truth as far as it Is pos
Eible to find n out. Champion Jewett can
not now refrain from prosecuting his charge
along with that proof supporting it he says
lie has in his possession.
OF course l have held the opinion for
some time that there is very little difference
NOWADAYS between "star" amateur perform
ers and a thorough-going professional
What difference there is the amateur has
the best side of it because he makes the bet
ter and surer living out of his work.
The Quiet Condition of Baseball
Notwithstanding the strong and some
what uoisv efforts that have been made
lately TO drum up an enthusiasm regarding
the national game there is less interest in it |
now than there has been at this time of
wear for a very long time. True it is not |
the baseball season, out of late years even |
at this period of the year there has been |
considerable interest in and lots of talk |
about baseball. Now nobody seems to care
q min about it. As far as the week Just
ended has been concerned it has been re-
markably dull.
The causes for this have been already
pointed out in this paper and matters are
SimDlv being made worse by the ranting
raving and concerted splutterings of the
cIioue's organ IN its desire to have baseball .
90 backward toward the game of FOUNDERS
Il, Al I