The New York herald., 1873-07-11
THE COLLEGES REGATTA.
Springfield SquariDg Up for Manly Contest
and "Square" and Fair Race.
THE COURSE LAID OFF
Street scsnes and Aquatic science-Build Of the
Boats and Styles Of Rowing -Coultsr's Cha,-
lenget to the WinnerEThe Bennett Cup
Entries-The Ward-Biglin Race.
SPRINGFIELD. July 10. 1873.

More ana more lively grows the scene daily on
the river opposite this city as the time for the
gatta festivities OF next week draws near. End the
excitement produced among the denizens Of this
inland town, or halfway station between New
York and the "Hub," is immense TO the store
Keepers and newspapers it is a Godsend; the
former for the first time, should judge, since
they set up in business, have dared, in anticipa-
tion OF the coming crowds, to put in fresh stock
OF goods adding, by way OF seasoning, "iresh bit
to the pine" while Springfield journalism for once
is able, by dtnt OF much labor, to iii its Initiative,
diminutve blanket sheets without recourse TO in
Vulnerable personal pufs. column directories, mer-
chandise receipts and dead advertisements.
The ball will open on Monday, If there isn't some
slip up In the arrangements, with grand ball tour
nament between the freshmen mines of Harvard,
Brown, Williams and Dartmouth. BowdOin and
Amherst were to be represented; but the former
backed out and the class OF the latter became dis
gustod at the poor preparations OF their represen-
tatves and concluded to keep them at home. In
the midst Of the ball tournament, and Two days
before the grand college regatta, comes
THB wARD-BIGLIN RACE,
which, although little mention has been made OF 1t
heretofore is really attracting almost as much at
tention among b0atmen generally, and more prob
ably among the professional oarsmen and the
sporting fraternity, than, the college con-
tests. Already large number OF sporting
gentlemen have arrived in town, ana may
be seen daily saunterin9 along the river bank
In quiet and mysterious confab with the two rival
contestants or their friends, endeavoring to learn
the prospects and probabilities of a square race
and the relative merits and chances Of the two
oarsmen, and otherwise putting up ''poinJs"
preparatory to placing their surplus cash and
chance credit where 1t will do the most good.
BETTING.
Thus far there has been but little betting on this
race, partly because Of the big odds wanted by
Wards hackers and partly because Of the degree
OF uncertainty which still seems to pervade the
minds OF the betting fraternity respecting the COM
parative chances OF the two men. l have heard
OF some bets being made with the odds in favor of
Biglin as high as 8 to l. but no such odds exist
between the men or their chances From a careful
observation Of the men, their physical condition
and practice, should deem 10 to 8, or 10 to 7, in
favor Of Bign all that the law OF chances indicates
as the proper difference, II any there is, existing
between the rival scullers.
TRAINING.
Both men have been In ira lining now for NUM-
Der Of weeks, Biglin commencing the lst OF May,
when he went to Hanover, N. H., to take the Dart
mouth College crew In hand, and Ellis Ward be-
ginning soon after at Amherst, where he COM
menced like service for the Amherst men. Both
men are in better condition than when they rowed
their match last Fall, but Biglin has slight advan
tage In this respect. Ward, who is naturally
ambitious, trine nervous and rather too hard
one calculating to do the last well as the first
mile In q hve-me race, and is evidently somewha6
over trained. Biglin, on the contrary, who has
less oxcitable temperament and constitution like
iron, has been holding himself well in reserve and
make " a Hooa e Ss m a he will
and do 1t with as little effort. Both men have done
their own training and weigh respectively
eight or ten pounds less. While in their training
amount OF exercise, &C., they pursue very similar
course, In
THEIR STYLE OF ROWING
there Is marked difference. Both use the sliding
seat and believe thoroughly in Its superiority over
the old stationary seat, but their method OF using
1t ts different Biglin in siding opens his knees
and inclines his body forward somewhat between
keeping at the same time his toes apart,
and heels together on the stretcher; Ward, on the
slides with his Knees likewise pressed close to eac4
other, keeping his body erect and never incnIng
It forward beyond the perpendicular: Blglin
In the air. alter the style OF the late Waiter Brown
Biglin gets his oars In sharp at the beginning with
slides back certainly three inches before the blades
Of his oars are covered, thereby losing the catch
and suffering much loss Of power at the beginning.
Biglin pulls steadily through the water from the
beginning TO the end, while wards stroke Is better
described as a dash into the water and out again.
Biglins, his oars leaving the clean and with.
out the least hindrance while in the case OF his
siderable splash. Biglin's stroke is the longer and
Wards the quicker OF the two. Both pull strong
and send the boat evenly through the water.
THB BOATS THEY WILL USE
are perfect beauties and the finest specimens OF
their respective builders workmanship that have
course by Elliott of Greenpoint and is 81 feet
long by II inches wide, and weighs, with the out
a
one. HIS oars we're made BY Donaghue,
Ward '"s will row "0 in A T Fearon rom shelf. she'll.
which arrived yesterday, the builder himself coming
weighs but 27 pounds, including the outrggers. IL
Is not so stir as Biglin's but, 1t Is claimed, is
bssn @s aoa one race W,n tne o
good story is told in this connection at boat
builder Elliott's expense. Ward was desirous, of
course OF having the best boat possible, and
rather preferred an Elliott model; but knowing
probably nave s'G one Of thai that noted builders
best craft he was at first at loss TO know how
to obtain one one Finally plan was mt mt UPON % and
best that money could buy, were ordered osten-
sibly for two Newburg chaps friends Of Donagnue.
OF course. Ellis appeared and picked out the best
one for his own use, and has practsed IN 1t ever
Was ordered OF the Tonses builders
will probably be the one used in the race. II Is
rumored that the wary Biglin discovered the Joke
tnat was being played on Elliott aud posted him
up, and hence the reason for the boat which Ellis
received not giving perfect satisfaction.
WHAT JOSH THINKS
Both men were out last night, Ellis for the first
and John for the third time, In their new boats.
walking along down the shore about six O'Clock.
happened upon the veteran Josh Ward, squatted
In the sand close to the waters edge and Just be-
low the quarters OF the Columbia crew, and watch
ing closely the movements Of his brother Ellis as he
rowed past-n0w up; then down. Hank also stood
near by, watching with equal brotherly interest
OF the lguess-its right sort Of look, and leaving
to Josh, by Of habit, all the duty OF crit
cism. shade OF keen anxiety was apparent In
Josh's countenancc, as with head upon one side
as usual, he shot out criticisng glance from the
northeast corner OF the under eye. 1.-THE boy could
get away with you now JOSH" we remarked.
''Yesn said the veteran, "a cave; but he couldn't
Il was his age.u isn't Ellis looking rather
thinYn then remarked; sscems to me he Is little
overtrained" "Hes too ambitious" replied Josh.