The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-21
THE NIER-gsiVEaSiTY BOAT RACE.


The Coming Contest Between the Harvard
aud oxford Crews-The Enslishmen's Idea
Of Fair PIay--UngenerOus Treatment Of the
Amcricans--The Two Crews.
LONDON, August T. 1869.
Tho oarsmen OF the oxford University are scarcely
illustrating Ia tneir action towards the Harvard
crew that love Of fair play which has generally been
supposed to characterize the English sportsman.
Up to the present moment In the interesting trial Of
skill between the two leading universities OF the Old
and the New World the Harvard men have been
compelled to yield every disputed point in fayor Of
their adversaries or 70 abandon all idea Of making
the match. Nearly eighteen months ago the main
controversy in regard to carrying coxswain
threatened to put end to the contemplated race,
but the Haryards eventually conceded the point thus
abandoning at the main feature Of the style OF
rowing to which they had been accustomed
ever since they first pulled an oar and agreeing
to adopt the style familiar to the Oxford men. Tue
Harvards then desired 10 stipuate that they should
be at liberty ate their arrival In England TO select
the water on which the race should he rOwed. Tnis
appeared to be most reasonable condition c0nsid-
ering that the Americans were coming to q strange
country and was the nearest approach that could be
made to meeting Of the two crews on neutral
course, although even then all the advantage of being
at home would have still remained with the English.
men, But again oxford was determined to have her
own way and TO grasp at every point she could make
IN her own favor, ana her crew refused to row any.
whore but over the course with which they were en-
tirely familiar. THIS also was yielded by the Har
wards. although it might we'll nave been refused, aud
then the match was made.
The Harvard crew nave now been In London seine
two weeks. Everybody who has tried Or Atlantic
voyage knows very we'll its prOstratjpx effect upon
the system ana how very thoroughly it incapactates
two or three after their ARRIVAL on dry land
rne HaFYaIds can scarcely Ia s s 70 raSs EH
rid OF their 'sea legsu before they are pressed
lndecently by the Oxford crew to to. ax de- de;
s S .a ss@ SG as are said By english
critics to oe unit ISr aname ss our afe match "a,
built. one by Saters, WHO built the oxford boat,
and one by Elliott, an American sn,aer, VINO &C,
WORK upon the crais IN simmoids' yard. TIE Sal.
sers boat was delivered at Putney yesterday, but.
sngularly enough, it was found that her canvas at
into shed for repair The Elliott boat, in which they
vii. probably row the match, is not yet ready aud
unreasonable than to require the Harvards to name
definite hasaoa day iGr h tGe race before they
will have to practise IN her before the match day Is
upon them The Oxford men Of course have their
boat ready, and nave been IN steady practice for
some three months without intermisstOn. Notwlth.
standing this disparity the Harvard men si1nned
their Willingness 10 name day condtionally upon
pOne the race should the weather be stormy and
9niavorable But this does not suit the book of the
OxfOrds and they now Insist that the day shall be
unaerably settled at once, without the privilege OF
pOstponement.
ana with some rcprchcnsiDle buster says, at Is
very strongly insisted upon that one OF the days
lively liked for the race aud that from the date so
agreed upon no deviation shall be made. ANY seri-
Gus difference on TINS point would endanser me
change the day should the weather prove untavOra
bic. The Oxford management is determined to have
tile date unalteraby setted-the possibilities or
wind and weather to the contrary Notwithstanding"
Let 1t be remembered that the Harvards have con-
sented TO row the oxiords in their own style
pressed to short their brief time Of practise and
to ak DAY for tine thy hsv got s
for the pr0visO of "a fair day." because they know
nothing of the Thames In rough, stormy weather,
while their opponents are thoroughly practised over
the In all weathers and that even this reason.
able request Is busteringly refused. 1t is to be re-
ford Is backed up by the London press, and that
the journals are all bounding the Harvards 10 yield
son bames The English newspapers for criticisms on
the ''style" OF the Harvard crow and calculations
but wnen to these added snecrs and attempts at
bullying In order to drive the Americans into con-
cession OF the most unfair demand yet made upon
them, it Is no wonder that the rumOr5 of foul play
should be revvod and that the whisper should 60
round that the Harvard men are TO be beaten any
how.
Now let us reverse the picture and see how 10
would strike an English reader suppose the Oxford
pnrpos s Of rowing the Harvard crew and had BEEN
told by the Americans ave are accustomed to row
without a coxswain and to steer our own boat. We
will not row you with q cOXswan, and consequently
you must Give up the style In which you have been
perfected, and take to ours which Is new to YOU"
suppose, after the Engli3hnien had yielded that
point, they had asked 10 be allowed to see the wa.
tiers Of America and TO select upon what river they
would row the match, and mad been told by the
Charles river, every current and ripple Of which
Il familiar TO us, or We will not race you at
all" Suppose the English had yielded this great
point and after their arrival In America had found
that the river required different style OF boat to
that they had brought with them; had ordered one
to be built and before Its arrival had been pressed to
name the day for the match and TO name 1t irrcvo-
cably without any provision ior postponement in
case OF storm. suppose all this, and then imagine
what howl Of Indignation against Yankee sharp
ness and Yankee cOwardice would have gone up
There are at least some Englshmen VINO deplore the
ungenerous action OF the oxford crew. and who are
manly enough to against the spirit which
take every advantage possible OF the American visit
ors. The better portion OF the riverside boatmen
OF the unfair treatment the Harvard men have re.
ceived Nor Is 1t surprising that the eager anxiety
OF the oxford men to nix the day lrrevocably, and
with long notice In advance, should have revived
some Of those latent suspicious Of an intention to
beat the Americans anyhow, which the American
II has been hoped that match on the river among
gentlemen would be free from anything like foul
play no matter who might be the victor, and there
has been general desire to remove the impression
that there was possibility Of repetition Of the
scenes that were witnessed when Heenan and
Savers fought for the championship. II crowd Of
English bruisers broke up ring and threatened the
life OF an American because he was on the point of
whipping the fayorite English prize lighter, there
was no reason to suspect that hired rOughs
would be ON hand 70 ''foup' an American boats crew
should thew threaten to beat the Oxford men In
fair MATCH that steamers would have the cue In
certain contingencies TO run ahead Of the rowers and
spoil the for the strangers. Yet many persons
are unable TO account for the eagerness displayed In
some quarters for long notice and an unaltaraba
date.
T1e Harvard crew at least doing their best to
deserve success. They arc steadily at work at their
headquarters at Putney and practise daily although
they nave not yet made any extraordinary exertions
or done more than take steady exercise moderately
each morning and evening. They have az yet only
taken their seats IN their ater boat TO how 1t
would ride with them and, has been stated. the
Elilntt hnaL LII which they Will prohahy row the