The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-29

boat Nj. Henry Barclay ana two ieutenants OF
the Hussar.
On starting the star TOOK the lead, the Dart
shortly came up and Tapped her, on which the
whitehall boys applied little more power TO their
oars, forced their boat ahead, ana maintained the
advantage the whole distance coming IN to the stake
boat between three and four hundred yards In ad-
vance OF her competitor.
Both the stake boats had the American ana
British nags dying lana when the Star came in the
crew OF the British launch gave her three hearty
cheers and struck their nags. The distance. four
miles, was performed In twenty-five minutes In
heavy swell. 1.-The distance or the time win OF
course be doubted.l The boats started from the
vicinity OF the frigate, which lay or the Battery,
and r0wed around boat stationed OF the old
North Battery 1t Is reported in the papers OF that
day that upwards OF dfty thousand persons assem-
bled TO witness the race.
A dinner was subsequently given by prominent
citizens to Captain Harris and his officers and
during their stay they feted in every possible
manner. The public dinner was given at the old
Chatham theatre
The whitehall boatmen made every effort to pur-
chase the boat American star, that they might
present her to Captain Harris; but her owners re-
fused to part with her on any terms. Failing in
.
Informed Captain Harris Of their regrets, to which
he responded IN suitable terms. The Ii ussar put to
sea on the 18th December, 1924.
The American Star was rowed by Messrs. A.
Commeyers. Cornelius C0mmeyers, Richard Rob-
bins and Charles Beatty; coxswain, John Magness.
The Dart was rowed by English sailors, who were,
as the above account states, famous for their su-
perb Craftsmanship.
Ccuo~c uy~u.
The same authority, "The ROwers Manual ana
Boat Club Reaissern by Putnam, supplies a history
OF the boat clubs OF Harvard College, with resume
OF their main achievements to the year 1858. This
matter comes equally 0prOpOs with the above Just
at present. 1t Ii given thus in the words Of the
authOr:-
Boating, as an institution at Harvard College, in
Cambridge, Mass, dates further back than the
fall Of 1874. Previous to that time there are no
traces OF the existence OF boat club. During how
ever the summer Of 1S43 regattas had been held at
Chelsea between boats pulled by mechanics, and it
perhaps the success which attended these races
that the idea Of introducing rowing boats
Cambridge In September OF 1874 boat called the
STAR which mad been built for the Chelsea races was
purchased by thirteen members OF the class of
40, who had formed themselves into boat club.
This boat probably the first club boat of the college,
oars. Her former name was discarded, and that OF
oneida substituted. Bearing this latter name she
was handed down from one college class to another,
remaining in Harvard until about the year 1857.
when she sold to boat builders in Boston. Her
namksake now glides upon the waters Of Charles
river Boston. The Oneida Club had hardly got into
good working order before club also arose in the
senior class Of 1845. THIS club bought the Red
Michael, boat which had obtained some renOwn at
the Chelsea Her name was changed to Iris She
was thirty feet long ana pulled eight oars. The
members Of this club graduating the following sum.
mer sold their boat to Boston club. In the spring
OF 1916 another boat thrtysix feet length rowing
eight oars and called the Undne, purchased by
club Of the class Of 4s. and in the succeeding fall
still another eight cared, called the Huron forty
feet in length added to the st Of college boats
She belonged to club Of the class OF '47 The fol-
lowing spring us4o the Oneida Club sold their boat
to the class Of 40 and built gig thirty
SIX feet long, which they named the ATLANTA.
Thus, O little more than year from the organza-
ton Of the first club five boats had been owned in
the college.
We now pass on to period about three years
later. In September. 1s49, two Of the before men,
toned boats had disappeared, the Huron being
sold at auction in Boston, and the ATLANTA sold
| to persons who sent her to Rio Janeiro. But or
the other hand two new ones had been added to the
list, the ualcyOn. eight oars, and the ARIEL six
both then belonging to clubs of the class OF 1851
The undine, eight and the Oneida, eight were q,
this time owned respectively by clubs OF the classes
Of 1860 and 1852. During the season of $4,000
much interest was exhibited in boating ct Har-
ward, the above clubs being all well supported
and considerable rivalry existing between them
The Undine Club terminated its existence in July
1850, with the class, and O few months after this
the Ariel Climb was disbanded by order OF the col.
lege government. The Ariel was subsequently sold
to a club IN East Cambridge The Halcyon Club
continued until the next July uS5l) when il disap-
peared with the graduating class, and the boat
was sold to members OF Yale College. From this
time until the spring Of 1854 the boating spirit was
at an ebb but one boat, the Oneida being owned in
the college. About the commencement Of the year
1854 the iris, thirty six feet eight Dared boat
was built, which, however, the spring 1855 was
sold to club In the class of 1867, ana her name
changed TO Huron. She still survives bearing now,
however, the name OF Ariel.
The class OF 1856 then bought new forty feet,
eght-oared boat christening her the IRIS. she soon
afterwards was the victress at Springfield. During
the spring OF 1868 Also the class OF 1885 having
vi0usy sold the old Oneida to club OF 1858, oh.
tanned four-oared boat from st. John, which they
called the ''Y Y" This, however. as well az an.
other which afterwards arrived, the Thets, owned
in the class Of 1857 had but short stay in college;
the one persisted through neglect and the other dis.
appeared. About this time tsprng Of 1861, also the
Undnc, four cared was built by club composed of
members Of the classes Of 1866 and 1858. She is stu
owned by '5s.
Soon after this came the contest with Yale Col
ege, at Springfield, the result OF which gave the
already increasing interest in aquatic sports a strong
fmn A nbar ,,at It.vi,s
than had formerly fOated upon the bosom OF Charles
river were soon added TO the Harvard nee and that
number has steadily increased.
In June OF 1856 fast eight cared boat, fifty-one
feet in length, was built for the college. She was
paid for by voluntary contribution of the under.
graduates and christened the Harvard She won
the second prize at the regatta in Boston the fol.