The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-10
Tho American Style OF Rowing Criti-
ciscd-A Word or Two About the Har-
vards-The London Grow Not Altogether
Satisfactory Ono to Their Friends.


ciscd-A Word or Two About the Har-
vards-The London Grow Not Altogether
a Satisfactory Ono to Their Friends.
From the London Standard, May 27l
The ATLANTA crew have now been long enough
with US on the tdeway to give some idea OF their
style and chances; but owing to the uncertainty OF
their time OF practice, which Is known only to
select few, The usual close observation that s prac-
ticable with the University crews is wanting with
them. 1t seems matter OF no moment to them
whether the tide be cbb or food high or low; they
paddle away calmly from the raft, and return in
the same unassuming manner, as II they had only
been out for gentle breather instead OF hard
row In practice. One Of the greatest accomplish
ments OF some rowers Is to disguise the amount of
work they do, so that when seen from q distance
they always present the appearance of padding,
This s the case with the ATLANTA men, SO that I'M
less accompanying in boat alongside 1t is difficult
to tell whether they are working hard or not. Still
their style certainly not one that would give an
idea OF using much power. In the matter OF boats
they have been most unfortunate. The one they
brought over with them got full OF water on the
voyage and was much warped; the other, by the
same man-Roahr, New York-was unluckily
packed In the same way, and she suf-
fered even more than her predecessor. The last
one was built of white pine, and has the thinnest
SKIN we ever remember seeing In four; In fact,
In consequence OF these two boats being UNIT
young Biften was instructed to build another, and
them before the end OF the week. She will weigh
with rtggers on something under ninety pounds
she win not be ON the moulds OF the other two but
little higher and nattcr, and from the experience
the builder has mad In his profession, she will as
suredy be good craft. AS we have only once
before seen American oarsmen on the Thames-the
Harvard crew-it IL not surprising that the public
should continually gauge the style and capabilities
OF the Atalantas by them They were large and
at Putney improved wonderfully In STYLE and
being unsnspicous OF one man Harry Kelley,
adopted many valuable hints from him and pro1ted
much thereby; but their system OF dietary was as
extraordinary 10 was united for the task they had
In hand. Fruit, cold water milk and rice ali very
well IN their way and Mt the proper season but we
should no more think OF training Derby favorlte
on vetches and carrots than man on fruit and
gust The ATLANTA men, however have not come
even ourselves. they fraternlze readily with any
oarsmen, are not 10th to discuss rowing and every
thing belonging to 1t, and, In fact, submit to be
interviewed with grace that at once obliterates
the unpleasant memories or Caesar Auguus, that
sable attendant OF Harvard In whose brain all que.
res had to be dissected before being forwarded TO
the crew. The Harvard men were tall aud sinewy;
the ATLANTA men are slnewy but short; both have
the same weather -beaten, bronzed countenances,
and both rowed In nearly the same style when they
slower in boat that welShea rD so nonn aSn
at the least; but by the time or the
with great regularity. The Atalantas row q steady
stroke, but the forward motion OF their bodies IA
so much quicker than the backward--that ia to say
they row the exact reverse Of what good rowing "a
considered TO be-yery slow on the feather and quick
through the water. The result IL that they hurry
Forward, ana when rowing slow they hang, when
rowing fast they drop the oar In. The biadea are
rowed through evenly enough, but the finish Ia not
wen marked, and the bodies double up over tho
oars. They clip very little In their seats swing
VJs'aht. Dut the boat does not give tho idea or