The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-24
THE INTERNATIONAL BOAT RACE.
changes I'm the London Crew-The New
Man-Tiis Rowing Recortl-What the
Londoners Say and How .Doco Withers
Feela-

OsscEs Say ana HOW "DOc' winners
Feels.
BY the last mail there was received the following
i,.rmation with regard 10 the changes in the crew
who are ., row In the London boat against the
Atalantas at the forthcoming race. AS drst cncsen
.,,o ,. man, IVAN bow; I. S. Gulston,
No. 2; Albert de Lande Long No. 81 william Stouv,
stroke full description OF these gentlemen, with
their rowing histories has already appeared in our
columns.
On the sth inst. the committee decided upon sub
shutting Mr.. John Is. Close for Mr. George RYAN as
bow; and upon communicating with the latter gen.
tleman he at once agreed to make way for his
junior. Mr.. Close rowed No. in the Cambridge
crew. the winner in this years University race ana
No. in the last years crew, when they were also
the conquerors, beating the Oxford after
most determined Struggle. He rowed stroke in his
college boat club First Trinity and won the Fours
and Fights last year. He won the Cambridge Uni
versity pairs in TO with G. l.. Rivers, and In III
with his brother James b. Close. He also won the
University Sculls called the "Colquhoun" Souls, In
1862 and the Diamond Souls in 10, beating Long
and other wel-known amateurs belonging to the
London Rowing Club. He and his brother,
James b. Close rowed for TIE pairs called
'The Goblets" at Henley, and for the
pairs at Maidenhead, and were beaten upon both
ston. Mr.. John b. Close is about twenty-five years
of age, five feet nine and half inches in height, and
weighs about one hundred and siXty-two pounds.
He has passed his degree and left Cambridge. He
was taught rowing by one Of the London Rowing
Club and has been member Of that club between
two and three years. His style Is exactly the same
as that Of the gentleman whom he succeeds. This
change in the crew Is done solely to obtain the
strongest four, and In no way reflects upon Mr..
George Ryan. 1t is considered by some members Of
the committee that Mr.. Ryan is, what is called in
rowing language, "getting stale" and might not be
able to pull such long distance as four and quar-
ter miles. He has won q great number of races,
and retires to make way for man who consider
ing the time he has been rowing has as brilliant q
racing pedigree as himself.
The London Rowing Club crew will therefore be-
Pounds.
Mr.. John b. Close, bow. 100
Mr.. F. S. Gulston, No. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1913
Mr.. A. DE Lande Long No 3.................... 1876
Mr.. VIM. Stout, stroke. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1874
This, contrasted with the weights of the Atalan.
tas, gives great advantage to the London men, II
weight tells In a race without coxswains.
In speaking of the American crew the Londoners
say, "ihey swing well together and appear to row
In excellent time, but there is no shove from the
strctchers, the basis of operations consequently
there Is no hole made behind the oar ut the first
part of the stroke. They also dwell very much at
the finish OF heirrush forward instead ofeXpending
the same amount of time in the whole recovery.
DR.. Withers appears to feather rather under
water, and bow, Mr.. Edward Smith, has an extra
ordinary movement OF the right arm, working the
elbow out in the recovery that gives anything but
Il finished look to his performance" The Londoners,
however, arc not inclined to undervalue the quail
ties OF the Ataantas, as they have shown by their
anxiety in substituting Mr. Close for very good
man, and none OF them are confident that their
crew cannot be beaten.
The American four have caused quite sensation
upon the Thames, and the race Is looked forward to
with great anxiety by all the clubs on the river.
BY last advices our boys were in excellent health,
and have just as much to say about 1.-THE style of
the Londoners rowing as the latter have about
the Ataantas. Dr. Withers Is very quiet, and
does not indulge in many remarks about his oppo-
nents but says "if the London men can be beaten
his crew are the boys who can do it."