Dennis Donohue (abt. 1865 - 1923)

January 3, 1912 Where Canada Has It On the States Many Great Oarsmen developed in Canada and one of the Greatest was Dennie Donohue of this City. There is one event, at least, in which the Canadians will not have to take the back water of the Americans at the Olympic games at Stockholm, and that is the single sculls. In an American exchange this morning is a lengthy article dealing with the United Sttes chances in this event, and it has a most optimistic tinge, despite the fact that at the present time a Canadian holds both the senior single scull championships of the United States and Canada. Just where the artist responsible for the article figured that the States had a better chance to land these events is hard to understand, particularly in view of the beating which the Canadians gave all the American competitors at the last national regatta held at Saratoga, N.Y. The writer goes on to name several prominent American single scullers, notably Titus, Fred. Shephard, Fred. Fuessel, and George Carter--all of whom have been beaten by Butler, of the Argonaut Club of Toronto, who at the present time holds three United States senior single scull championships, senior, association and quarter mile dash. Without Butler, Canada has another man who is superior to all the American amateur scullers, that is N.B. Jackes, also of the Argonaut Club. Canadians seem particularly well adapted to the rowing and their success in the great aquatic sport has been remarkable against countries with ten and fifteen times it population. Hamilton has not been without its heroes of the sliding seat, the most successful of whom was Dennie Donohue who is still in the city and frequently lends valuable assistance to the Hamilton Rowing Club. He was undoubtedly the greatest sculler ever developed in Hamilton and in his time the best in America. He came of a great family of oarsmen and was noted the continent over for his "heart," that essential quality that every athlete must have in abundance to reach the top in any line of endeavor. His wonderful gameness won him many a race under adverse circumstances, when another man would have quit, and perhaps received no censure for doing so. He was the only Hamilton man who ever won the right to be called undisputed single scull champion of America and this honor he captured at the national regatta at Chicago in 1889. His brother Jerry also competed in this event and finished second. At this time the brothers were the class of the single scullers of America. Dennie stroked the famous Nautilus four that kept Hamilton to the fore in the rowing world for so long. The crew was composed of D. Donohue, Furlong, Wark and J. Donohue. In 1885 this crew won the senior four-oared championship of the United States at the national regatta, which was held at Boston that year. They were also champions of Canada. As a double. Dennie and Jerry could beat anybody in America at that time. During the past few years Hamilton has not been very successful on the water, but the Hamilton Rowing Club has developed some mighty good oarsmen, and there is reason to believe that it will not be long before the feat of old will be duplicated. An idea of the superiority of Canadian oarsmen over their American cousins can be gleaned from the fact that at the last National regatta, held at Saratoga, at which twelve championship events were pulled off, the Argonauts club, of Toronto, alone won six of them, or just half, against hundreds of the best trained oarsmen in the United States. In Butler and Jackes the Argos have two of the best single scullers in the world, and Butler, it is confidently expected, will win the Diamond Sculls at the Royal English Henley this year, as well as the senior single sculls at the Olympic games at Stockholm. Towards the end of the article referred to above, the American writer gave Canadians the following credit, but the paragraph was at the end: "Although Butler of the Argonauts is the champion sculler of the United States, having won that honor in Saratoga last year, the American scullers understand that he cannot possibly be selected to represent this country, in asmuch as he is a Canadian. There is a chance that he will row under the British flag in the Olympic. Canada believes that, in Butler and N.B. Jackes of the same club, who won the intermediate single sculling championship in 1910 in Washington, it has the two fastest single scullers in the world." Another part of the article says: Leading American amateur scullers are speculating on their chance of being selectged to represent the United States in the Olympic games at Stockholm. There is to be a single scull event in which two entries will be accepted from each country. Scullers from Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore and several cities in Massachusetts would like to be selected as the competitors. Such celebrities in the American rowing world as Constane S. Titus, the two time champion of the United States and Canada; Frederick Shepheard, of the Harlem Rowing Club; Frederick Fuessel, of the same organization, and George S. Carter of the New Rochelle Rowing Club will probably seek selection. A formidable array of Boston oarsmen consisting of Cary Faulkner, son of the once famous professional, who is a member of the Riverside Boat Club; Ernest Smith, of the Union Boat Club, a former Harvard oar, and E.L. Pope, of the Boston Athletic association, have a longing to represent the United States in the Olympic games. Samuel F. Gordon, concededly the best sculler in Philadelphia, will be in the fight for selection. Gordon won the association single sculling championship of the national regatta in Washington in 1910.

Hamilton Times Scrapbook vol S4.01 p. 11 March 18, 1911 THE GREATEST SCULLER EVER DEVELOPED IN HAMILTON Dennie Donohue, the subject of this week's sporting biography, has the undisputed and enviable honor of being the greatest sculler ever developed in Hamilton, and one of the best of the many great oarsmen that Canada has given to the world. A brother of Jerry Donohue, whose aquatic career was published in these columns three weeks ago, he comes of a great family of oarsmen. That essential quality, "heart," which is one of the most necessary things in the make-up of every great athlete, was possessed by Dennie to a remarkable degree, and his gameness won him many a race under adverse circumstances when another man would have quit in the early stages of the race. He is the only Hamilton man who ever won the right to be called the undisputed amateur single scull champion of the American continent, and this honor he captured in 1889 at the National Regatta at Chicago. His brother Jerry also competed in this event, and finished second. The brothers were drawn in different heats, and in the preliminary dashes both won handily. They were the class of the single scullers at the regatta, and beat the competitors off by several lengths in the final. The same summer Dennie and Jerry met for the Canadian championship title at the Beach, and again Dennie carried off the honors. It was a magnificent struggle from start to finish, and its details still remain fresh in the memory of those who were fortunate enough to witness it. The brothers were members of the famous Nautilus four-oared crew; composed of D. Donohue, Furlong, Wark and J. Donohue. In 1885 this crew won the four-oared senior championship of Canada, in a regatta at the Beach, and later on in the season won the senior championship of America at the National Regatta at Boston. "Athletic Sports," a book published in New York in 1889, has the following to say of Dennie: "The public career of Donohue does not extend back many years. It is only within the past four years that he has taken a prominent position in aquatics. It was not until 1880 that he took a fancy to the single sculls. The sweeps are not calculated to better the condition of the average sculler, but Donohue appears to have been greatly benefited by his trials in company. The sweeps gave him his first genuine lesson in the knack of rippling the water properly and also taught him how to best utilize his wonderful burst of strength. When he finally turned out good speed with the sculls he made up his mind to "hit at the biggest tree, and finish the job one way or the other," as he himself characteristically put it; so in '87 he went to Chautauqua Lake and won the junior single championship of the National Association. He is a faithful athlete to his admirers, and to himself, and he has already mastered that which Psotta, with his many hours of daily practice, has not yet learned--the knowledge of a graceful and accomplished stroke. To an experienced eye the movement of Donohue on the water looks professional all over. There is a clearness and finish about it that few men in the amateur ranks can attain. The "life" of the stroke is just as powerful at the finish as at the catch. At the last national regatta on Calumet Lake his most formidable opponent was his brother Jerry. It was the same way at the Mississippi Valley Association regatta on the same sheet of water. Corbett, the Chicago sculler, who was Psotta's superior while the good game lasted, was in both of these races, but in name only. The Donohue boys made a show of him. Dennie is two years older than his brother, but the younger has been rowing for ten years. As a double he and C. Furlong, another handy man with the blade, won the double-scull championship at the Canadian regatta in 1881, and at Sunbury in 1888 he captured the junior championship of America. Thus it may be seen that the Donohues are a great rowing family. There are very few honors left for the older Donohue in the amateur line, and it may be that one of these days he will launch into the professional ranks. If he does I venture the prediction that a great many good men will have to give way before his skillful oar. As a double he and his brother, Jerry, could beat anything in the amateur fold."

The Hamilton Herald Scrapbook, Vol S4.01, p 99 SPORTING COMMENT February 7, 1923 Dennis J. Donohue, who died this morning, was one of the greatest of the many great oarsmen that Canada has produced. He was the stroke oar of the famous Nautilus four-oared crew, which thirty-five years ago had no equal on this continent. They won many prizes both in Canada and the United States and held the Canadian as well as the American senior four-oared championship. From the time which they made in training trials and at the races which they won, many experts considered them one of the fastest crews that ever sat in a boat in this or any other country. Dennis J. Donohue, or more familiarly know as "Dinny," was also a sculler of internaional reputation, and held both the Canadian and American senior sculling championships in his day. He won the American championship from Corbett, the famous Chicago sculler, in 1890. On a previous occasion the finish of the American championship race between him and Psotta, the American millionaire sculler, was so close that he and many of his friends always thought that he had won, although the decision was given to Psotta, whom he afterwards decisively defeated. After his race with Corbett he was induced to turn professional and a race was arranged between these two which took place at Hamilton Beach and which was won by Corbett, "Dinny" being in no condition to do himself justice that day. He was very much over trained having reduced his weight over forty pounds in the two weeks preceding the race, which he never should have undertaken at that time. This was his first and last professional race and he always regretted having left the amateur ranks. He was a man of splendid physique and extraordinary endurance and invariably won his races in the last one hundred yards. Always cool and confident he rowed his own race irrespective of the lead his competitors might have in the early stages of the race. He took a great interest in rowing and was always willing to assist in coaching and developing young oarsmen, and many young scullers were developed by him. Unlike the majority of famous athletes he not only made good in sport, but also was successful in business life. Warm hearted and generous to a degree, he was always willing to assist others less fortunate than himself, and there are many in Hamilton who will greatly miss the possing of "Dinny" Donohue.

The Hamilton Herald 2/7/1923 (Scrapbook, Vol. S4.01, p. 100 DENNIS DONOHUE CALLED TO REST Proprietor of Park Hotel Died After Month's Illness He Was One of Greatest Oarsmen of America in His Youth Dennis Donohue, one of the most prominent hotel proprietors in this city, died early this morning at St. Joseph's Hospital after a month's illness. Three weeks ago he was removed to the hospital. For the past week it was known that his death was but a question of a short time. He was born here about 58 years ago. For several years he conducted the Wellington House at the corner of Wellington and Cannon streets. Later he conducted a cigar manufacturing business on Merrirck street, which after a few years he give up, taking over the Park Hotel at King and Locke streets, of which he was proprietor at the time of his death. His wife died about a year and a half ago. A Great Oarsman Dinny, as he was more familiarly known to his many friends, was one of the greatest of the many oarsmen that Canada has produced. He was stroke oar of the famouse Nautilus four-oared crew which had no equal on this continent thirty-five years ago. This crew captured hundreds of trophies during it's prime and was considered one of the fastest crews that ever "pulled" a boat. Deceased also had an international reputation and held both the Canadian and American senior sculling championships in his day. He won the American title from Corbett, the famous Yankee boatman, in 1890 at Chicago. He also had many close races with champions previous to capturing the title, among them being one with Psotta, the American millionaire sculler. Although the decision was given to the American the Canadian's friends were of the opinion he had won the race. He made up for his defeat shortly after however, by scoring a decisive win over the same man. Not In Condition Following his spectacular race with Corbett, Dinny was induced to turn "pro." and another race was arranged between these two, which was held at Hamilton Beach. The Yankee won easily, as the local star was in no condition to do himself justice that day. He had probably overtrained, taking off about 40 pounds in two weeks, and this left him in a very weakened condition. This was his first and final professional appearance. He was a man of splendid physique and was always capable of putting on a great sprint when the "home stretch" in a race appeared. Brothers Survive Two brothers, Jeremiah and Patrick, of this city, survive him. the funeral will take place on Saturday morning at 8:30 o'clock from the Park Hotel to St. Mary's Cathedral. Interment will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery.

The Hamilton Spectator 8-10-1889 p.4 CHAMPION OF AMERICA DENNY DONOHUE WINS IN THE SENIOR SINGLES J. Donohue Finishes Second-- HURRAH FOR THE DONOHUES. To a Hamilton boy--D.Donohue--belongs the honor of being the champion amateur oarsman of America. With the best amateur scullers in the country to row against Denny proved too fast for them all at the national association regatta held at I'nllman, Ill., yesterday. His brother -- Jerry Donohue -- who tried for the honor several times before, finished second. The Hamilton delegation which accompanied the oarsmen had great confidence in Denny and fully expected that he would win the event. It is not many years ago since he first tried his skill in the single-scull, although he had previously rowed in the four. In 1884 he won the junior singles at Chautauga, beating J.H.Lovell, another member of the Nautilus club. Last year Denny tried his hand in the senior singles at the national regatta, which was held at Sunbury, PA. He led over the greater part of the course but by a magnificent spurt Psotta, the Cornell college oarsman, beat him by a neck. It was a very close finish. Many thought that it should have been called a dead heat, while there were a few who claimed that Donohue finished first. Denny did not haave a chance to meet Psotta at Pullman. The latter, who is a millionaire, went to England in the spring. He won a trial heat in the Henley regatta, but was beaten in the final. It is too bad that he was not at Pullman, as Denny wasa anxious for another go with him. Donohue had to beat a number of good oarsmen. Corbett won the senior singles at Chautauga in 1887 and was considered a fast one. Shea and Ryan, of Toronto, and Monahan, of Albany, are also good ones. Jerry Donohue has started several times in the senior singles, but he has not the pluck and perseverance of his younger brother and never got to the front. The members of the Nautilus clan and Hamiltonians generally have reason to be proud of Donohue's success. He should be given warm welcome when he returns home after such a glorious victory. It is a matter of congratulation that the Nautilus club did not go under last spring, and that a few citizens came to the rescue and placed it on good footing. The representatives of the club have always given a good account of themselves at every regatta in which they took part. In their time Furlong and Donohue were the champions in the double-sculls. The Nautilus four have held the championship of America, and last year they won the championship of Canada. They did not row at Pullman for fear that it would spoil D. Donohue's chances of capturing the senior singles.