The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-09-25
MAY NOT BE ROWEO
Little Interest in the
Rogers-Durnan
Race.
ROGERS HACKERS WORRIED.
Credited With Less Than
20 Minutes on Pri-
vate Trial.

Although the three-mile match race,
in single shells, between 'Ras Rogers
and Eddie Durham, is only three days
away, little interest is being taken III
the race by lovers of aquatics in this
city, and an impression gained ground
yesterday that it win not be rowed
1t was frequently mentioned at the
lake yesterday that the Rogers men
will not come up today when the final
deposit of $400 each is to be made, as
cording to the original articles of agree
ment. This the Rogers men deny, ard
their denial seems plausible, for they Sc
cured Durnan's consent to have the
stake money posted in this city in
stead of being sent to Boston Eugene
Buckley of Boston, who was agreed on
as final stakeholder, will be asked to
come to Worcester to receive the final
deposit
1t was limited at the lake yesterday
that Rogers is not going fast en0uoh
to insure any chance of success. Ru-
mors of a private trial rowed SATURDAY.
evening went round, and the time was
not satisfactory to the men IN the Rog-
ers pot, SO rumor says. He is credited
with doing something worse than 20
minutes, under the conditions, which
were not favorable.
How much truth there is in these ru-
mors only the future will settle. One
thing is certain, however; Worcester
sports have no confidence in the race.
and laugh when anybody suggests wa
geTing money on the result.
Although Durham did his first real
rowing yesterday, hardly any boating
men We're attracted to the lake to see
now he goes. The few who did make
the trip are we'll satisfied that Durnan
can row. When they heard the rumor
that Rogers would not start, and saw
Durnan put in strokes like prize-w win
ner, they easily believed Rogers back
ers Will forfeit the money already post
ed
A Toronto sporting man recently Of
tered to wager with a friend of Rogers
that the latter would not go to the
starting mark on the day of the race.
1t is only fair to the Rogers men in
this city to say that the offer was not
made IN their presence or to their
knowledge
Durnan and Rogers were on the wat
er together both morning and after
noon yesterday, and they rowed to-
ge'ther To Worcester boating men,
who have been accustomed to amateur
rowing for several seasons now, it had
strange look to see the rival competl-
tors measure blades a few days before
the race, but with two clever profess
SIGNALS like Rogers and Durham il
means nothing. Neither man extended
himself while they were together, so
that the other could get a line or his
speed, and in both rows they separated.
one pulling slowly and allowing the
other to get so far ahead that both
could try out for speed without any
chance of comparison being made.
In the morning row they got together
for two short sprints, when the number
or on-lookers was small, but with such
timers as they 1t would be foolhardy
to attempt comparison. Durham GER
tainly showed far more speed than
Rogers, but it is possible the latter was
not trying. 1t looked as if he was. but
looks are deceiving when professional
seullers are interested. Durham rowed
fast enough to go rings about Rogers in
the two brushes they had
durham is far more clever than Rog-
ers with the sculls He is one of the
slickest scullers ever seen at the lake
and the best of them have rowed on its
waters. He has a short, quick stroke in
which he gets great power. He does not
use long reach and his finish is cut
snort, his body hardly going back of the
perpendicular. He makes a firm catch
which is also as clean as a whistle. Not
drop of water is thrown up when he
sinks his blades in the water. He uses
quick leg drive and finishes with
quick back swing which, however. is
very short. He combines all the requis-
ties for a strong stroke and by shorten
ing 1t is able to put in strokes very fast
His work yesterday would lead a per-
son TO imagine he could put them in 40
70 the minute if he so desired He trims
his shell prettily and it runs along nice
~ the nose gliding through the water
instead of burying as many scullers do
The stroke is one particularly adapted
Tor rough water in which Durham is at
homes for his training ground is rough
water. Although his recovery is rapid
1t is so clean that he does not check the
speed of his boat.
When he came back after his rows
yesterday he was as fresh as if he had
been a spectator instead of sending the
light craft along at great speed. He
looks to be in magnificent condition.
Rogers on the contrary looked as if
he felt his work He certainly is not in
as good condition as Durham. His row.
ing Is much better than when he came
to Worcester over a week ago, showing
conclusively that Rogers has not done
much work on the water this summer
despite reports to the contrary Had
Rogers been rowing regularly as some
people in Worcester encouraged others
to believe, he would appear in better
form on the finish of spin like that of
yesterday afternoon. He didn't hurry
except toward the end and the final
squirt made him look as if he had done
miles of stiff rowing. Durham who came
home lengths ahead of him was as fresh
looking as If he had simply watched
Rogers at work.
Rogers is given credit for being a
clever man in boat in more ways than
one and spectators of the trial rows yes
terday said he might be playing off in
order to deceive people on the relative
ability of the men. 1t is possible that
Rogers did lay off, but he didn't show
Ii. If there is any deception to be prac-
ticed it will take two to make a bar
gain
The race is booked for Wednesday
between 8 and 8 o'clock, depending on
the condition Of the water. At this time
of the year what is known as rough
water at the lake may be expected.
Neither man cares little for what boat
ing men Of this city regard as rough
water. The water on their training
grounds is invariably rougher than 1t is
at the lake, and what Worcester aquatic
sports consider rough, appears smooth
to them. That was the case yesterday
when south wind kicked up waves
which ran at times to whtecaps, yet
when Durham finished his spin he said
1t was that kind of water in which trials
are rowed In Toronto bay.
DRYING PREPARATIONS simply de-
velcp dry catarrh; they dry up the secre-
which n