The New York herald., 1869-05-31
TIE uTEaslrIoxiL ROWING RACES.

The HarvaY0 Untvor0nty CFeW-WbO They
Are, Where They Como From-Their
Weight, Size and Record-Their Standing
as Students-lMethod Of Training and Pre-
parufiOus for the Races-Wbom They Will
Meet-Their Chances.
BOSTON, May rs, 1895.
As the interest IN the coming inter University
races is constantly the increase not in these
par,s alone but doubtless throughput the country,
now that the time begins 10 draw near, yOu may
care to know at some length as To who and what
Rarvard's chosen representatives are, what they are
dong, whom they have 10 meet and their probable
chances. The race, as yOu already know, is TO be
r0wed "in ontrigger boats, each boat to contain
four rowers and cOxswan.m The Harvard crew.
IN all Its races with Yale. have for the last fifteen
years uniformly contended In six-oared boats,
without cOxswains though such an appeDdage
was carried as late as 1859 by Yaie crew.
This change from a SIX to four was made, IN the
present instance, for double reason; first, because
the six cared shell is exceedingly rare concn in
England. and secondly, because the only kinds Of
club boats patronzed by the Oxford and Cambridge
men being "eights'' and ''fours,n 1t was manifcsty
more easy for Harvard, with her GOO only to pick
from, to secure four good men than eight. while
Cambridge, with $780, and oxford with 1000, could
quite as readily obtain eight.
The organizations the three clubs are not unlike,
the oiicers'of each being president and captain.
The former performs the duties of the president,
treasurer and secretary combined, while the captain
has the sole power OF eecting placing in the boat IN
their respective positions and training the men, AS
much OF the blame of defeat would attach 10 him
so his share Of the hOnors OF victory are from his
responsible position c0rrespondingly great. In the
present "four'' this once IL held by
ALDEN PORTER LORING OF BOSTON.
Nearly twenty-five years old, but half an inch
under six feet in height, tOlerably straight with
black hair. mustache and goatee could tell by the
keenness and power OF his eye alone that he was a
man OF wire and endurance. And he is singularly
So Weighing except in the very hottest weather.
about 100 pounds trained he has the long, clean
build OF Josh Ward, rather than the Short stubbed
makeup Of Hamill. No Harvard Oarsman ever
had q more varied and thorough experience at
his favorite exercise, he having been very lively
hand with the SOULS In a twelvench shell for some
time before he came to college at all. nearly four
years ago. His reach, too-a matter OF Importance,
each inch on the arc described by the handle Of
the oar is nearly as good as three outboard-s very
great; the distance from tip TO tip OF his longer
from his side being nearly five inches greater than
hls height. But his forte Is elegant rowing. Like
veteran gymnast on the trapeze hts work seems the
easiest in the world until II Is tried. fancy that he
would prefer to row q dozen miles on any pleasant
day rather than to walk them. There Is a snap ana
kick about his rowing that never come TIL after
years OF severe training. Look at the eye aud the
action Of the famous horse Dexter In the ordinary
photographs or prints and you will get some idea of
the spirit that governs every such perfect piece or
machinery. But yOu Will find nothing sensual IN
the mans face strong intellect and determined Will
without acOxswain, might safely be matched against
any four professionals in Europe. 10 carry his
quarter Of the coxswans weight he is hardly so well
fitted as the stroke oar VI the crew,
WILLIAM HAMMATr SIMMONS, OF CONCORD, MASS.
While Loring pulled number five in the Harvard
crew of 1865 and stroke In those of 1857 and 1865
the latter fastest amateur yet turned out In
this cOuntry-Simmons was in the waist during the
two latter years and OF late has shown himself the
strongest man at an oar ever known in Cambridge.
or exactly Loring's height and almost OF his reach.
he looks coupe sizes larger and is manifestly
OF any SORT he has exceedingly well shaped face,
while physically correspondent OF one OF our lead
ing dates described him last year as far tbe hand;
age, has chestnut hair and beaYtlless chm. His
rowing is almost a fac sinte Of Lorings, having
pulled together so long, while his great strength
renders 1t difficult to procure for him an oar which
he does not soon ind weak spot tn having smashed
M sn The bow oarsmaS was neara requesting aa
TO 'pull easy while rounding the stake At Worcer-
men between him aud I.orng had had the expert
OF the two latter, few people need fret the
selves at the result of the coming struggle Oh these
the older IL
SYLVESTER WARREN RICE OF RosEBURG OREGON
being the patriarch Of the crew. having already
TO say, he too does not vary an eighth or an inch
from his bow stroke oarsnian in height, while for
weight he is midway between she two, Simmons
scaling l7s or ia pounds when In fine condition..
while Rice reaches about l66. He has the medium
arm OF Lorng rather han tine Pondhercus h one OF OF
his upper works, though his chest IL round and ca
pacious. He Is not unwieldy or clumsy In his
movements, but sinewy active handy fellow and
one who takes to his work most kindly. His back,
while at work. is OF the straghtest In the boat
and he lies out over his oar when forward in very
There "A aDDarent .tcliDr the UeQ1n-
ming OF hts stroke, though 1t IL PLAINLY becoming less
SO, and Loring Will undoubtedly eradicate 1t within
a short tlme The least noticeable man OF the four
for strength when In his cl0thes-he strips almost
a 'heavy welght''-though he has lived in Oregon
siuce 1862 he IL native OF Illinois. SO that Massa
ch,isetts and Illinois furnish all the men-Messrs.
Simmons, Lorng and Fay hailing from the former,
while Rice, Bass and Willard can claim the delicate
soubriuuet OF suckers
GEORGE BASS, OF CHICAGO, ILL.
will probably pull the starboard waist oar next to
bow. ABOUT i've feet ten and half inches high,
though slouch In his walk makes him look
less, he Is nearly twenty-four years old and
very strongly made man. Both he aud Rice
have pulled IN four races. and he has always
been found plucky, determined pulier. HIS
"form' is the most open to objection OF any In the
crew, pulling with round back. and with, per.
haps a trine too short reach forward. But the
'.grif OF the man stands out prominently, not less
so in his face itself than in every undertaking ne en-
cages In, rowing an oar included, and from being
very strong. long distance runner his WIND Is found
equal to almost any pace his muscles can stand. He
IL much more muscular IN his back ANA arms than
Mr. Rice though the latter's thighs are The largest
In the boat. simmons and Bass are really powerful
men: the others. though very strong, can hardly
have as much said OF them.
Here, then. is a crew averaging between twenty
three and twenty -four years In 1853 or 64 pounds
at the time OF the race IN weight two OF whom
have pulled score OF races between them, have
had -four years experience and three years Of those
NJ least in the peculiar stroke now practised by
them-a most beautiful a. well a. effective one. TOO
and the others have about completed their second
year Of rowing, who are remarkably well matched
In height ana reach and who undoubtedly include
within their number The Two best OarSlnen Harvard
ever had. They outweigh the oxford men man Tor
man, except Rice. whose companion, Time being
heavy takes the average OF his crew mp To just
one pound more than the Harvards, a difference of
no real Importance.
II has been claimed that the English oarsiuen
though perhaps not more muscular than ours have
vet managed TO develop more endurance, more stay
ing power, by rneir superior method OF training
But the Harvard crew are not men OF gnared aud
rigid muscles such az the raising OF immense dumb
bells and other weights producein fact, have'no
one among them claiming any ability or skill as