The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-26
MORE INTERNATIONAL ROWING.
The Atalanta Boat Club Challenge the London
Rowing Club-Probable Acceptance and
Prospect Of the Most Excit-
ing Of Recent Contests.

At special meeting OF the Ataanta Boat Club, Of
New York, held at their boat house, at the foot OF
Christopher street, North River last evening, 1t was
resolved unanimously to invite the London Rowing
Club to compete In fOur-oared shell race during
the coming summer III English waters, for which
purpose the Atalantas will leave here In April as
to be In Great Britain early in the sea-
son. They will send o telegram to-day ap-
prlsng tine London Rowing Club OF their
action last evening, ana the next steamer
will carry out the Atalanta's formal chal-
lenge, which will doubtless be accepted with
aacrity. This race will certainly create greater
excitement and Jrore IN the boating circles Of the
Ole and New World than any similar contest ever
rowed. the Harvard and Oxford match not ex-
cepted The latter event was In reality but for the
college championship OF the two countries, as Har-
ward had won only the championship OF American
colleges, never having at that time met represen-
tative amateur crew outside OF the colleges. And
oxford and Cambridge can claim similar status
only in English waters as II Is q well known and
undisputed TACT that the London Rowing Club com
prses the champion amateur Oarsmen OF England.
1t may 10 considered presumptuous by those who
have historical faltn and belief III the lnvlncibty
OF Brtatn's Oarsmen Tor even 80 good club as the
Atalanlas-lhe oldest and probably The best in this
country-to desire to measure Craftsmanship with an
organization ranking by common repute, as the
tirsL In the word. Yet we Can assure the reader
That the AtalautaS seek and.desire this important
match, with the confident hope ana anticipation
or achieving triumph which Will rebound TO the
reverse the result OF the lsarred though CALAMITY
contested Harvard oxford race.
brief retrospect of the career OF the ATLANTA
CLUB may be oil interest al this time. Organized in
the winter Of lS474S, they ENJOY the proud disCnc-
ZION OF being the Oldest rowing cluo, or continuous
ORGANIZATION, III the Unite States. Their rowing
record Is series OF Victories marred with but lew
revelses. In September, 1860. in the regatta the
Hudson Navy, composed OF the associated boat
clubs Of this vicinity, three races were the pro-
gramme Tne AtalantaS made q tie OF the first race
and won the second and third races. Their SIX
Dared gig races with the Atlantic, Columbia.
and Quick cluDs were exciting cOntests and their
several races, III sx-Oared gigs and Shells with the
famous Mutual Boat Club OF Albany, are familiar to
all lovers OF American rowing. For four years, CON-
menclng In september, 1867, the AtalanJas COM
peted In the annual regatas OF the Hudson Amateur
Rowing Association, which was composed Of the
Atalanta, Atlantic, Gulick, vesper, Waverley, CO.
lumDia, Mutual, BeaverwycK, La Favorita and
colors were credited with frequent and noted victO.
RES or their annual single scull regattas for
the championship OF the club 1t Is unueces.
sary TO speak, as all OF our amateurs
accomplished oarsmen as Russell Withers, M. d.,
captain and stroke; Edward Smith, +. L. LOsee,
Theodore Van kaden, Henry b. LIE Ray, Leander
Waterbury, Alden ). swan and Alexander Handy.
The season or 1871 was one OF the most brilliant
ever experienced by the Atalantas, ana was marked
by their six-oared match races, IN shells, with The
In both OF which the Atalantas won easy triumDhs.
The ale race was rOwed on Lake Saltonstal, near
New Haven, distance three miles. with a turn. Ine
race with The Harvard University SIX was rowed ~
lngesde, on the Connecticut River, distance thIoo
mics, straight away.