OARS DIP THE HUDSON

College boat crews racing at Poughkeepsie in 1895.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 26, 1896.

OARS DIP THE HUDSON.

Varsity Men Lock Horns Today at Poughkeepsie.

CORNELL CREW THE FAVORITE.

Little Enthusiasm on Account of the Unfavorable

Weather—Corbett Issues a Challenge.

   POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y., June 26.—The spirit that pervades the college contingent in town is not of a very cheerful nature. In front of the weather bulletin boards bearing the dubious words "rain," youths in bedraggled white trousers, and still more bedraggled college colors and badges, have stood with disconsolate faces. The wind has remained in the southeast and it is a cold, nasty wind that makes overcoats and mackintoshes very comfortable. It is an unfavorable wind for rowing also, for it takes the usually placid water of the Hudson and whips it into short, choppy waves that go diagonally across the course in a vicious way that proves disastrous to clean rowing or feathering.

   But it is the general understanding that the race will not be postponed despite the condition of the weather unless the water is so bad that the crews cannot row at all. River men say that the weather will not change for two or three days, for when the wind gets in the southeast, it stays invariably. And so it is doubtless true that the race will be rowed today, rain or shine.

   It may therefore be assumed that the crews have taken their last practice rows, that the months of careful practice are over, that the insistent work of the coaches has ended, that the crews are prepared for the final struggle, and that today as a result of all this preparation there will be seen a struggle between Harvard, Cornell, Pennsylvania and Columbia that will excel anything in the history of 8-oarded contests ever seen in this country.

   The conditions under which the race will be rowed can be given. There will be a strong ebb tide at the hour of the start, and the water will swirl down to Krum's Elbow and, hitting against that projection, will strike out sharply toward the center before it goes into its natural trend southward. That will give the outside crews, Columbia and Cornell, the advantage of the current's aid, while the inside crews, particularly Harvard, nearest the shore, get no such advantage.

   This advantage for the outside crews is likely to be handicapped, however, by the choppy water that a southwest wind would bring and the inside crews, Harvard and Pennsylvania, would have smoother water in which to row.

   These conditions will exist for the competing crews until the three-mile mark under the bridge is reached, when the fortunate crew that is far enough ahead to take the center of the waters swirling around the abutments will have a decided advantage. If, however, the crews are close together at this point, Cornell and Pennsylvania will have the advantage, while Harvard and Columbia will catch the eddying waters close to the abutments. The expectations are that it will be a hard and stubbornly fought battle, for even if any one crew demonstrates superiority by a long lead the other three intend to fight hard for a place.

   A Cornell freshman, a member of the winning crew of Wednesday, is responsible for the statement that "'there are two men in the ' varsity boat of whom we have a slight doubt, as to their ability to hang out until the finish of the race."

   When asked who these men were, he refused to divulge their names or positions, but the story when repeated to several Cornell men was not denied.

   Harvard will row in a cedar boat today, but all the others will pull in paper shells.

   It would seem as though the bookmakers, who are already the center of non-enthusiastic groups, had made preconcerted arrangements as to the odds which should govern the betting. One of the most prominent bookmakers was governed entirely by the following odds: One to 3 on Columbia against the field; 1 to 2 on Harvard against the field; as for the Cornell and Pennsylvania's chances, odds are not being given, the betting remaining even.

   Cornell is plainly the favorite, but individual betting, as crew against crew, predominates.

James J. Corbett.

Corbett Issues a Challenge.

   SAN FRANCISCO, June 26—James J. Corbett has answered Sharkey's verbal challenge for a fight to a finish, made at the ringside after Wednesday night's contest by himself announcing his intention to issue a challenge to all comers, Fitzsimmons preferred. If the latter does not accept within two weeks, Corbett says he will make arrangements for a fight with Sharkey to take place on agreed territory, Mexico preferred.

   Sharkey is the ideal of the sporting world today and the most extravagant predictions as to his future are made. Sharkey bears his honors modestly, but reiterates his desire to meet Corbett in a longer battle.

   He received a challenge from Maher for a contest for $5,000 a side. Sharkey says, however, that he will make no other plans until his meeting with Corbett has been arranged.

PENNSYLVANIA'S DICK TURPIN.

Something About the Exploits of a Man Famous as a Robber Years Ago.

   The recent find of gold coin on Goat hill, just below Lambertville, N. J., is supposed by old residents to be plunder secured by Joseph Hare, the famous highwayman. This revives a curious local story that goes back to 1832 and will be remembered by many old citizens. A merchant doing business on Chestnut Street below Eighth had to visit Now York and he was requested by a friend to take charge of a large sum of money in coin and notes. The amount was said to be $18,000. This merchant was an Englishman and his credit and integrity were unimpeached, but after he took the New York stage, which crossed the Delaware above Lambertville, nothing was heard of him for a year, when he wrote to his friend from England, stating that he had been robbed of the money on the road to New York and was ashamed to return to Philadelphia.

   It was true the stage had been stopped by a highwayman, but it was not believed that any such sum had been taken. Henry Light, a very dangerous ruffian, an associate of Hare, the robber, was blamed, but he proved to the satisfaction of Willis Blaney, then high constable, that he was in the city at the time of the alleged robbery and declared that no such sum was taken or he would have known something of it. The merchant's affairs were found to be so arranged that his wife, a shrewd business woman, owned everything of value. Three years after the defaulter returned here, and with his family moved to a farm in Lancaster county where he died.

   Twenty years ago the writer was accosted by a wretched looking tramp seeking relief, and under questioning he turned out to be the only son of this man and the last of the family, all of whom had come to poverty.

    Joseph Hare generally operated south of Pennsylvania, but for the latter part of his career he spent much of his time in the neighborhood of this city. In 1833 a man named Stevenson kept a grocery store on South street above Tenth, then in the country. He was returning home on foot from a visit to Darby when he was stopped by two men where Mayland's creek crossed the road. One was a tall, powerful man, the other an Irishman, who was about to strike the victim with a club, when the big man interfered and protected him. This was Hare. The plunder amounted to a small silver watch and a few dollars. Stevenson remarked that the watch had belonged to his father, and he would redeem it if given a chance. Hare answered, "Well, I'll give you a chance. Keep the watch, and if I send an order for $3 you will act square."

   Stevenson said he would not speak of the affair at all, gave his address and walked home. Three weeks afterward a girl came to the store with a paper on which was written an order for $3, but no signature. Stevenson, without a word, paid the money and years afterward gave the robber's order to Dr. W. J. Duffy, who had a cast of Hare's head taken after his execution.

   Hare's last notable exploit in this state was the robbery of George S. Scott above Lancaster. Scott was a drover, a very powerful and fearless man and quite a fighter. He had been drinking in Lancaster, and about 3 o'clock in the afternoon mounted his horse to ride to Harrisburg. He had $1,900 in notes in his coat. He was a mile on his way, passing through a bunch of maples, when with a bound a big man sprang on him. His horse reared, and in a moment he was on the ground, but he regained his feet, and the two men fought. Although weighing 230 pounds Hare was as nimble as a cat and a famous wrestler. Scott was thrown on his head on the turnpike, and before he could recover Hare had the money and was gone. John Hare was cutting wheat near by. He heard the noise and with his hands gave chase, but the robber escaped and next day his hiding place was found in a field of rye close by.

   Four months after this Scott met Hare in Baltimore jail, heavily ironed and under sentence of death for stopping the United States mail just outside the city. He laughed about their encounter and said that he had lost the money in two nights of card playing, but gave Scott an order for a sorrel horse, saddle and bridle stabled in the town. Scott died in 1865 and was fond of telling of his adventure with the Dick Turpin of Pennsylvania.—Philadelphia Times.

Secured a Trainer.

   Deputy Sheriff James Edwards was quite electrified last night to read in The STANDARD that Dr. L. T. White, who is to run a footrace with him on July 4, had secured ex-Sheriff John Miller as a trainer. He knows that John is capable of setting a pretty hot pace if he only imagines he is on the trail of a fugitive from justice, and if the doctor trains steadily under the direction of the ex-sheriff he will be a formidable rival. Consequently Jim has decided to secure not one trainer, but two, and he wants the swiftest men in the place. He has made arrangements with the two well known sprinters, E. S. Mathewson [100 yards in 10 seconds] and William Riley to give him points.

   Hereafter until the eventful day he will get up at 3 o'clock in the morning and steal away with his two coaches and train till breakfast time. He takes this early hour so that "Doc" shall not get out on his trail and steal his points or time him. He says he is going to beat the doctor if he has to train himself down to a skeleton to do it.

The New Pavilion.

   The new pavilion at the [Cortland-Homer Traction Co.] park is nearly completed and will be a very great addition to the attractions at that popular resort. No one who has not seen it can imagine how fine a building it is. It stands among the old forest trees in the midst of the north grove [across the Tioughnioga River near the former Elm Street bridge--CC editor]. It is commodious in size and substantial in structure. The first floor will be given up to a refreshment room, and general sitting room. A piazza fifteen feet wide extends along three sides of the building. The entire second floor is given to the dancing hall which will have a first-class floor. The sides of that building are shingled down and make a very pretty effect. Only a few days more will be required to complete the building.

   Superintendent Mooney has engaged Officer Goldsmith to be present at the park upon all special occasions and assist the regular daily officers in keeping order.

BREVITIES.

   —There will be a dance at the park tomorrow night and McDermott's orchestra will furnish music.

   —McDermott's orchestra of four pieces goes to Mclean to-night to furnish music for a dancing party.

   —Mrs. Leroy M. Head is entertaining a number of the members of the Clionian society at her home on Clinton-ave. this afternoon.

   —New advertisements to-day are—Bacon. Chappell & Co., a general scaling down, page 5; G. F. Beaudry, wanted, page 5; Tanner Bros., July sales, page 6.

   —Ten dollars or ten days was the sentence pronounced by Justice Mellon upon an offender in police court for public intoxication this morning. Not having the required ten dollars he was sent to jail.

   —The members of the Academic department of the central school to the number of nearly forty are picnicking to-day at Little York. Miss Eleanor E. Miller, principal of the department, and Miss Galusha accompanied them.

   —At the special meeting of the Water Witch Steamer and Hose Co. held last evening the company voted to participate in the Fourth of July celebration and will invite one or more companies from adjoining towns to be their guests on that day.

   —Mrs. Almira T. Peck, who suffered a shock of apoplexy at the home of her son Mr. Chas. T. Peck yesterday morning, died last night at 12 o'clock. The funeral service will be held at the house Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial in Cortland Rural cemetery.

   —The editorial article republished in yesterday's STANDARD from the Troy Times headed "What Free Coinage Means," has received wide and favorable notice. It is decidedly the clearest, most concise and comprehensive—and at the same time one of the fairest—statements of the question which we have seen. It is well worth cutting out and saving.

   —Mr. Emmet E. Hunt, son of Mr. George Hunt of Moravia, formerly of Cortland, died yesterday afternoon at the custodial asylum in Rome of tuberculosis. The remains were brought to Cortland on the 1:42 train this afternoon, and were taken to Beard & Peck's undertaking rooms. Brief funeral services will be held at the grave in the Rural cemetery to-morrow afternoon at 8 o'clock.