New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-30

been not only tremendous but desperate. To CRITICAL
eyes the race lost while Harvard was still good
length ahead. Their rowing grew wild, their form,
hitherto good was lost, their time forgotten, and
saddening symptoms of distress in the American
boat became evident not far beyond Hammersmth.
Oxford second time began to draw up on the lead
ing boat never accelerating their stroke but rowing
with that final test Of perfect Craftsmanship, spirit
without haste 1t was the last real struggle Of the
race. Harvard had little left to answer Oxford's
challenge, the dark blue drew swiftly level, then
ahead then full length ahead, and off Chiswick
Church took Harvard's water From that moment
Oxford had clear lead. The race was over.
There remained two miles and more to
row, but the last chance and hope of Har-
ward was gone Thence they rowed on, as brave
men will row, hopeless race-a race they
know to be hopeless and yet contest with
heroic courage. Burnham frantically threw water
over Lorng checking the boat without relieving the
crew, and his Nd steering still went on.
Barrens Bridge was passed in IS minutes, Oxford
apparently several lengths ahead, and Harvard
vanly squirting before and beyond the bridge. To
tell the plain truth Oxford they liked after
passing Hammersmith. To the passionate efforts OF
Harvard, Darbishre was content to respond with
just effort enough TO keep the lead undimnshed;
and so the two brave tours rowcd on.
At the final moment, Loring in no hope of success
but for honors pure sake rallied the last energies of
his exhausted crew, and they drew to within length
and half of that still vigorous, indomitable,
| terly Oxford four And within a length and half
of opponents whom they bound to respect in
defeat Oxford rowed steadily past the judges boat
as the signal gun heavily doomed ont victory to St.
George and defeat to the Stars and Stripes.
From beginning to end the race was fairly rowed
There was no suspicion of foul and no real trouble
The course was kept perfectly open and no attempt
was made to obstruct either crew. The umpires,
referees, starter and police all did their work per-
fectly. Neither from spectators nor from the
crews was there any hint of unfairness Harvard
| frankly own themselves fairly beaten.
| Why were they beateni For many good reasons
The hour of their defeat and chagrin is no time to
say harsh things nor would any one wish to do so ;
but tho truth must be told. What carried them so
well through such race was their unparalleled
physique and endurance. In style, form, knowledge
| Of rowing diet, method of training and method of
instruction, Harvard utterly inferior to Oxford
| Had the race been won by them the credit would
have belonged TO Lorng, the captain and despot of
the crew. Being lost, he must equally bear the
| blame man Of extreme selfreance which par
TALLY neutralizes his high qualities Of intelligence
generous devotion and real capacity, but experience
| limited by knowledge of American rowing only, he
| persisted in adhering to American methods.
lie would coach the crew himself from the inside
Of the boat thing radically impossible to do. He
would not change the diet of the crew. although the
climate required n change and the diet manifestly
impaired his own and Smmonss powers 1t was
sheer madness to go on eating currants and milk in
| this or any climate but even diarrhea and other
symptoms could not effect change in the captains
| stubborn opinion.
To have taken Blaikie or any other good coach on
n steamer during the last three weeks would have
| added % per cent to Harvards chance Blake is
| not responsible for my opinion, and probably disa-
grees with IT, but ii Is true nevertheless. Harvard
upon arriving had nearly every fault young crew
| could have, aud retained many at the last moment.
Good coaching would in three weeks have eradicated
most of them.
Loring 10 the last believed that rowing could be
taught inside the boat j still think Harvard were
tho finest men, physically, and had it in them 10 beat
Oxford. They had marvellous stamina, endurance,
| and force. Oxford the heavier, doubtless, but
weight alone is not advantage; mere strength will
| not win a race. To row in a modern out-rigger de-
mands most exact scientific application Of force.
Strength unsklfully applied is wasted, and there is
no more delicate machine than racing boat ard
crcw-none where power goes for so little If wrongly
excrted.
Harvards stroke was fatally quick and fatally
|
varied often twice IN 60 seconds. With q coxswain,
no living crew could have pulled the stroke with
which LOring led off through four miles In fact
the crew was rowed TO standstil In less than two
miles their power was gone. After that it was only
hertis courage and resolution that carried them
through; and n system that exhausts the crew at
the end of tvs miles in q fsuI-me race cannot be
sound.
Icannot too often reiterate my admiration of the
marvellous pluck Harvard showed in their efforts
during the last two miles to redeem lost race. IL
was beyond praise In many years experience
novcr saw a losing crew row On with such untinch-
ing determination. They more than atoned for all
| faults by their chivalrous fidelity and bravery.
tbongh the race is lost it is dscredit to them.
All England admires their gallantry simplicity, and
| ouiet GOOD SENSE In the behavior which Harvard
has shown nothing could DO better than their de-
meanor from the beginning OF the project. opposed
their enterprise Quixoc, but after their defeat
| acknowledge my mistake, and affirm that no Ameri-
can need regret their attempt Laures of victory do
not crown their daring. but universal applause re-
| wards their sincere endeavor.
Oxford, in my judgment, rowed within themselves
durne the last half of the race the first half they
had nil they wanted to do yet the race was never In
doubt after Chswck Church, and they won as they
liked. For short distance only their stroke varied
from as 10 40 from Chiswick to the end it was 40
| steadily.
| Harvard has been beaten by the finest four ever
seen ON the Thames SO perfect was their condition
that Oxford could have rowed the race again half an
| horr afterward In fact. after the race was over.
they rowed down to Putney, keeping pace with the
| press steamer Harvard came down on the umpires
boat and an hours rest brought them round. In
| ,he oxford boat as they rowed down. no distress
vas discoyerable. To have led such crew over
nearly half the course was in itself an honor touching