Evening Star Newspaper, March 23, 1930, Page 91

allowed to accompany the referee dver the course. A judge for each man shall be chosen by mutual consent to see that the ‘turning buoys are not molésted or changed; also a judge at the finish, with a referee to decide which crossed the winning line first. “‘Hanlan agrees that from the moment the word “Go!” is given he will waive all rights which he has or shall then have to the $6,000, provided both he and Courtney start in the race at the word “Go!” and the $6,000 shall go to whomscever the referee decides to be the winner of the contest. But in case either he or Courtney fails to start at the word “Go!™’ then it is agreed that Hanlan dces not waive such rights under his claim for the $6,000. “«A central line of flags an eighth of a mile apart shall extend throughout the center of the course, the expense of surveying and flag- ging the course and the referee's expenses to be borne by Hanlan and Courtney, share and share alike. Any commissions, percentages, donations or income of any sort whatever from any railroads, hotels or outside source what- ever shall go to the winner of the race.’ “The race was fixed for December 9 to give the men three good weeks of training. Han- lan, Ward and Douglas start today for To- ronto; both Hanlan and Courtney expect to start for Washington early next wek. Hanlan will be the guest of the Analostan Club and Courtney of the Potomac Club.” BUTu:emcedldnothkephceonDeoem- ber 9, as scheduled, and there was still much work to be done before new terms could be decided upon and another date selected. As the time approached everybody was all keyed up and right on his toes in expectation of see- ing the greatest of all boat classics up to that time. May 19, 1880, was a perfect day in Wash- ington, and the Potomac River was in ideal condition for the much-heralded boat Hanlan being a two-to-one favorite over Court- “Hearts of Oak” was being played at Pord's Opera House, the old building which stands back to the west at Ninth street and Louisiana avenue. “Humpty Dumpty” was at the Na- tional, while “a very strong bill” was at the Comique and might have included Jake Budd THE SUNDAY' STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 23, 1930. . e A scene in the rotunda of W'le s Hotel, Hanlan’ lwadquers before the race. part of the arch of white carna- h appeared a large letter “C” in ) anchor, which was also large, of red and yellow roses and pink sentative husband was aiso a member of the House, serv- ing from New York; Mrs. Blair, Mrs. Lord and Mrs. Davis. Some of the ladies in the hotel called upon the oarsman in person before he started for the race, and later said that they had found him suffering severely from pain in the head, and that he was apparently greatly exhausted condition, some of his friends stated, was- result of a sunstroke he had received & years before, which always caused him to have a headache when exposed to heat or the direct rays of the sun. He had found this necessary during his training for the event. All sorts of pathetic stories were circulated LT 553355;; LEH the first notification that most of those as- sembled there at 4 o'clock had of the post- ponement. “The river was crowded with small craft, banked along the shores. The big steamers, with spectators on board, hugged the shores, as directed by Mr. Blaikie. There was intense excitement. The stands along both sides of the river were crowded. There was no vacancy anywhere. Every once in a while somebody, cramped from being long in one position, rose and changed the dull look of the stands. “All the heights around, every elevation, every spot from which a glimpse of the race could be had, were occupied. As far as the eye could see there was one blask mass of human- ity. The roofs of all houses within eye distance were packed. The word ‘packed’ should be applied to everything connected with the race from a sightseeing standpoint. It seemed as if all the world and his wife were out. The variety and number of vehicles that carried out folks was unlimited. “WHEN the rereree’s boat started from the wharf, a shout started from the spec- tators nearby. It was taken up, and went along the banks of the river to the crowded Aqueduct above, and to the no-less-crowded Long Bridge below. The police boats were on hand, and did good work in keeping the course clear. The crowd in the big steamers rushed to the side of view. and the boats keeled over His was a paper shell, built 4 3 Troy expressly for this race. She was not named. She measured in length —From an old sketch in Leslie’s Illusirated Newspaper. 31 feet 6 inches. Her beam was 113 inches. and her weight slightly over 29 pounds. 1t is the intention to give the boat the name Spofford, after the proprietor of the Rigegs House, where Courtney puts up, if he wins. In case of victory for Courtney, Mr. Spofford will have the boat taken to his hotel and sus- pended from the ceiling in the dining room. Courtney weighed in his boating clothes, 168% pounds. 6'T'HE two men were in position at the starting line, and went away at the word ‘g0’ from Mr. Blaikie at 6:05 o'clock pm. Hanlan had the Virginia side, having won the toss. From the very start Courtney’s boat wabbled and he pulled listlessly. He did not steer at all. This was soon noted on the ref- erce’s boat, and the newspaper men who were counting the strokes of the two men and taking in all the minor details so interesting in a race, dropped note books, watches, diagrams of the course and everything, and impatiently watched Courtney paddle and Hanlan pull. There was the sickest crowd on this boat ever seen. Ref- eree Blaikie’s lower jaw dropped away down on his breast. “As Courtney fouled flag after flag, going slowly down, Hanlan pulled clean, clear and strong. Courtney stopped rowing now and then and mopped his head with his handkerchief, dip- ping it in the water. Hanlan stopped pulling two or three times also. It was a relief to see Courtney drop out altogether, long before the turning flag was reached. “He bathed his head again and again, work- ing his way slowly back up the river. Hanlan went on, turning the flag, and came back up in fair time. When the referee's 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. Courtney went to the Potomac boathouse,. Harlan pulled to the finish, in 3648 2-5. -All the steamers blew their whistles as he crossed the line. The noise they made was the emn- livening thing about the great fraud of a race. “Riley pulled over the course ahead of Han- lan. He got $500 under the agreement. “Willard’s hotel was crowded last night; so was the Riggs House. There was one general, unanimous damning of Courtney. Very few would believe he was really siok. S FJANLAN was serenaded at Willard's last night. He made a short speech, in which pull. It is unfortunate for will believe that such was the case.’ Tfllwfimmtcdwkno'vhtmshrb editor thought of this way of flunking the part of . and here's : - . Courtney. what he and Courtney, on the Potomac yesterday, every requisite was present but the race itself. The day was simply perfect, the course was ad- Continued on Sixteentn Page