The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-29

care, came together last week on the Connect
cut, and rowed a race in many respects the
very finest ever seen on American waters.
Ever since 1852 Winnipiseogee Springfield,
Worcester and Ingleside have at times seen
students from the two best known institutions
of learning in this country matching them
selves with each other in friendly strife at the
oar, and fast have they improved since that
date in their boats and their appointments,
their training, skill and speed. Occasionally
some other college would take part, but never
till recently successful part, and the opinion
was widespread that it was idle for any others
to try. Nor is it too much to say that, with
the exception of 1869, this is the first year the
crews in the intercollegiate contests have
really been matched, the winner always here
tofore coming in so well ahead as to throw the
Others out of the race At one time the dis
parity in boats, at another in strength, endur-
ance or skill, would account for this or maybe
combination of these causes; but fact it was,
clearly and unquestionably.
This year-thanks, however, to no happy
foresight in any one of the conference.-the
race has been excitingly, marvellously close.
| Not until the last mile, or even the last half
mile of that hot work, could the Oldest oarsman
on that river or the shrewdest have singled
out the winners. Quietly, modestly, but with
fatal certainty the Amherst men stayed at their
stroke, never wavering or doubling, or think
ing it was too slow, and from the rear ranks
overlooked, forgotten, they crept steadily but
| linz Nv inch hu incl "
foot, rod by rod, until proud and justly ia
nous Harvard, which had already grandly re-
deemed her promise to lead them all, as was
her wont, found, despite her most gallant, her
best judged, her mightiest efforts-efforts such
as the delicious inspiration of hard-fought,
well-earned victory can almost alone bring
that these sinewy, tireless strangers were,
right before her astounded eyes, COM
ing up-overhauling her-now along
side-now actually ahead-now cleaf-and
so maintaining and even increasing the lead
until the goal is reached Nothing like this
has before been seen in all these twenty years
of college racing. Harvard saw Oxford pass
her after leading the latter for two whole miles;
but Oxford had been rowing that same track
for over forty years. Well may Mr.. Beecher,
the foremost athlete of his day at Amherst
what communicative bow oarsman he would
have made in the agonies at the finish of q hot
race!-and every other son of that same insti-
tuition. rejoice in the orthodox fashion in which
their alma mater in these latter days deals out
discontinue and slaughter to these earthly
enemies! Never was their dear old college so
well advertised -. 80, -- ~ ss.ey>.s.-
But there was more than this superb sur
prise to prove the truth of our first remark.
The day was clear and bright; the course am
pie and in good order. No professionals were
allowed on the course There was no jockeying;
there was no fouling We hear ofno complaints
at the arrangements-no ifs and butts. It
was genlemans race-fair, clean, conscien-
tious work throughout, each man doing the
best he knew and each spurred by the pres
ence and best announcements of numerous
friends and companions. Defeat was taken
kindly, and no man grudged the leaders their
splendid victory; and not only was this re-
gatta in itself SO unusually good one, but it
was even better in the hopes it raises for its
successors. Now it seems highly probable
that the question twenty years have failed to
settle is at ON end and the course fairest and
best suited to oil at last found. If there is
plenty of water in that part Of the Connecticutit
looks as if the Springfield course will soon be-
come as well known as the famous one in Eng
land from Putney to Mortlake, over which, by
the way, it has many marked advantages
| Ar1 tba IF fha
Springfield to Hartford have no better motive
in view than the filling their company's purse
alone, they would make no mistake in running
train parallel with the racers along the whole
race course; for it can all be easily seen from
the cars, and here would be facilities for care
full observation of race such as men would
pay we'll for, and that would be unequalled
anywhere else. Gs'ssjss ,ss,s ,~s.-.
Again, if the reported figures are correct,
but four out of these thirty-six rowers graduate
this year, and three of these are from the VIC
torious crew, 90 that the chance Of remark
The Harvard men, though really beaten the
other day by men much older, will have abun-
dant time to learn where, in this almost new
kind of course, to save and where to spend
their strength, and have already the advantage
of the hint Oxford gave and Amherst endorsed
in this respect And they will doubtless have
at least one good relay ready in case Of break
in their number late in the day, such as they
had this year.
The "Aggies' will, if they study the same
lesson and can prevail on Josh Ward to give
them an ample allowance of sensible food and
drink, instead of tying them down to ever
lasting meat and almost no liquid at all, take
home word more like that of last year. Bow
doin, il she can chance to find that, on this