Evening star., 1951-06-17

mind. the desperate struggle OF
the crews and the intense excite
ment of the crowd of interested
spectators. Here is The Stars ac-
count of the race and what hap
Epened:
THE boat race this afternoon
between the Potomacs and Co
llumbias has called forth the
greatest interest among boating
men. It will undoubtedly prove
a very close race, and the finish,
which can be seen from the boat
houses. the Aqueduct Bridge and
Analostan Island, will be a fine
sight.
1.-THE first race, senior fours.
for the championship of the river
and Star and Post Cups, was con-
Tested by the Columbias (Nute,
Kintner. Kindrup and Snyder)
la nd Washingtons (Smithson,
Baker. Ryan and Sweeny). The
Potomac lightweights did not put
lin an appearance. The two crews
started on nearly even terms. the
Washingtons rowing IS strokes
and the contestants 40. The for
mer soon dropped to 40 and the
latter to 38. The Columbias pulled
in magnificent form, with the long,
swinging stroke that Ward has
taught them"
But Of all the sculling matches
in this vicinity, one Of the most
memorable was the boat race be-
tween Edward Hanlan Of Toron-
to, Canada, and Charles E. Court
ney, who hailed from Union
Springs, N. Y, both regarded as
phenomenal oarsmen. The purse
was $4,000.
Hanging by Their EyeIids
On the day of the race, May 10.
1880, all sorts of rumors were
afioat about Courtney having be-
come suddenly i'll. But, however, j,
as early as 1890 o'clock people
began to flock to the river front.
They went on foot. in street cars.
and in all manner of conveyances.
At 2 o'clock people were hanging
by their eyelids to the streetcars,
which were hot, crowded and
dusty. The uptown hotel lobbies
at half past 2 o'clock were hardly
bearable. You could hardly get
along in them. Very few people
knew of the postponement of the
race to $50. There was seldom
a boat race in this country wit
messed by more people than the
contest attracted to the banks OF
the Potomac.
The two men were in position
at the starting line. and went away
at the word "go" from Mr.. Blake
at sos o'clock pm. Hanlan had
the Virginia side, having won the
toss. From the very start Court
ney's boat wobbled and he pulled
He did not steer at all.
This was soon noted on the ref
eree's boat. and the newspapermeRI
who were counting the strokes of
the two men and taking in all the
minor details so interesting in al
race, dropped notebooks. watches.
of the course and every
thing, and impatiently watched
Courtney paddle and Hanlan pull.
There was the sickest crowd on
this boat ever seen. Referee
Blaikie's lower jaw dropped away
down on his breast.
Foul After Foul
AS Courtney fouled flag after
flag. going slowly down. HanlanI
pulled clean, clear and strong.
Courtney stopped rowing now, and
then mopped his head with his
handkerchief, dipping it in the
water. Hanlan stopped pulling two
or three times also. It was a re-
lief to see Courtney drop out al
tOSCUAICA, AOAlS OC4O4C WIG Jul 144l1S L
dag was reached.
"He bathed his head again and
again, working his way slowly back
up the river. Hanlan went on,
burning the flag. and came back
up in fair time. When the referee'3t
boat passed Courtney on the way
back Mr.. Blaikie asked him If
there was anything the matter
with him. He said Yes but did
not reply to the further question
as to what the trouble was. Court
ney went to the Potomac boat
house. Harlan pulled to the fin
sh. in 36.462s. All the steamers
blew their whistles as he crossed
The line. The noise they made was
,he only enlivening thing about
The great fraud of a race.
"Riley pulled over the course
ahead of Hanlan. He got $500
lnder the agreement" |