THE HANLAN AND COURTNEY SWINDLE.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5206, 5 November 1883, Page 2

THE HANLAN AND COURTNEY SWINDLE.

. ♦ ■ - The Globe Democrat (an American paper) publishes an interview between one of ita reporters and one of Hanlan's chief backers in the match which was to have taken place at . Chautauque on the day following the cawing " in two of Courtney's boat. In their inter* view Hanlan's backer is credited with saying that in 1878 Hanlan and Courtney came to a conclusion by which they should row three races ; that Hanlan was to win the first, "; Courtney the second, and they to settle ; after the first two were rowed as to which would get the third. The first race too;k place at Lachine, October 3, 1878, and was for a citizens' prize of GOOOdol. As per previous agreement, Hanlan won this race ; out , Courtney, according to the statement of , Hanlan's backer, received 2500d01. of the capital prize. The second race was -to . have been rowed October 16, 1878, and was for the Hop Bitters prize of 6000dol. Courtney, it is alleged, told his friends that 1 he was sure of winning. They told all theirs, and a large amount of money was raised and < placed upon him. When Hanlan arrived at the lake he is said to have been" . much alarmed at finding so much money upon the race, and that if he lost he would swamp his friends and exposure would follow. He then backed out of his previous contract, and told Courtney that he could not give him the race. Courtney, it is alleged, knew that he could not win, and seeing that if he rowed • he would ruin every friend that he had left in the world, took the only course he had left out of the difficulty, and sawed his boat ' in two. The interview is crammed full of facts, and the statements are such that it will be hard to refute them. Perhaps they would not be published now but for the recent angry meeting between Courtney and Hanlan.