New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12
THE COLLEGE REGATTA.
A VISIT TO THE CREWS.

RIVAL CREws-THE VARIOUS sTROKES-PBCUI-
ARrrIEs or TRAINING-DARTMoUTH OVERTURNED
-rHK FRESHMAN EkcE-CREw STATISTICS
frRoM rHR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUSRl
SPRMGFIKID, July IO.-The visitor to Agawam, OF
"The River" as tbis stretch of the Connecticut
must now be desie mated, finds himself at once
caught mp into the atmosphere of the uttermost
College Olympus. That muscular student Paradise,
Of which Tom Brown has given charming glimpses,
ia here in reality. Plenty of ROOM plenty Of fresh
cir, plenty of trees. and an unlimited quantity
to eat; high health, hope, enthusiasm, bounding
pulses and keen wits; hundred OF two Of students
Tho best flower of our colleges, the hopes of
hundred families, striving in good-natured emula-
ton each to excel the other in manly and ennobling
exercises. with ten thousand more watching and
waiting for the final struggle and ready to hail the
victor with will-that is the situation to-day. and
he must have q narrow mind and a weak circulation
who can fail to catch the exhilaration of it.
Fourteen full crews are lodged along the river
banks most IF them down below, around the
head of the course. The wind is fresh
and the water trife "lumpy." Moreover, II
ia near noon. The morning row is over,
and the afternoon one will not commence for hours.
Ten minutes pulling in O good boat from Com
rnodore Doherty's float at the foot Of Spring
field street brings us to the bend close to the west
bank and half dozen strokes carry us around into
full sight of the course. The bridges, shabby
dwellings and unTomantic surroundings of the city
disappear behind the point, and the solitude is as
perfect as if one were in the continuous woods
"where rolls the Oregon" / hear no sound, save
the small waves, "chOp, chop" under the bow.
Above by looking up stream between the piers of
the bridge Yae's quarters might have been seen on
the west, bank. Their low-lying yellow bOat-house
can be dimly discerned through the trees flying tine
l. - IL Of Meet
Springfield Yale stock since last year has not been
high among the water dogs" but she evidently
preserves her enyable reputation among the ladies'
II there are pretty girls in the wagon it's two to one
that there is q piece of blue ribbon tied around the
S6bip Both crews are CHARTERED in the old West
Springfield Hotel upon the high bank some distance
back of the bOat-house. The hotel - veteran OF
1912. with spacious piazza, where ali hands take
solid comfort" and the Freshmen camp out all to-
sether in The spacious old dancing hail. -. p.
- B9t IN the exception of Yale they are all around
here within mile of the ferry. The ferry-boat' q
spacious structure run by two men and steam
engine, which will come across and take man over
for three cents and man and beast for dime Is NJ
ITS landing on the east bank. Above on the west
bank, the just-arrived Bowdoins, the last comers
will have their quarters, and their float Will be
within few feet Of the landing The Agricultural
nOat, hOmeSpun aHdlG, pIOJTuues HoIu thc HhoiV a
little way below. and their quarters are above just
scross the road. Now, looking across the river
again TO the east bank of the prn-
cipal points of interest is conSpicuous-the
lighthouses of Harvard and Cornell, Harvards
as usual spacious and expensive. with large scien-
tifoally constructed float, the other which flies
the carnelian and white, is almost good. The
long object at the left Of the Harvard house. which
resembles huge gray caterpillar on stills, IS evi-
IDENTIFY spare race-bOat, clothed with brown
bagging and the strange creature Of similar color
on the float TIE only living thing III sight, Is doubt
less tawny undergraduate Of the Oldest OniVer-
sity" taking a surrepttious swim in PAIR OF old
rowing breeches. The quarters OF these two crews,
which are characterized in the language of this mer
dian a. Enlightened" and every swell are on
the bills above-haudseme brick mansions, hidden
entirely by trees and standing in handsome grounds
100 feet OF more above the river level These houses
and the "ARges comical fit OUT just across form
the center of interest at present.
Pulling along still the west bank, the blue and
white flag hanging high in the trees, are next
reached and this is a good place to land. here the
student characteristics begin TO reveal themselves
Columbia 79.r appears carved in elaborate char
scters ON big tree trunk a the expense OF al least
three hoursI labor. Col Coll is the legend on
another The grass is pressed dry ana nat WIN INC
tread of boating slippers and the weight OF recu-
beDt FORMS and an old cushion Of faded splendor
speAks eloouently of comfort. An old tin cup hang
ing on post marks the location OF saratoga
Sprinosp little well is followed out, and the water
"a an su-nrisingly cold that looks again after
drinking to see if these luxurious metropoiltahS
have not concealed big lump of ice at the BOTTOM
A. the drinker empties the cup, some engraving
catches his eyes on the bottom hap'ilo. '''
Simonds IA" the full names of the crew are all EN-
blazoDed there to receive the future blessings OF all
thirsty drinkers. Against tall limb lean the pol
isbed oars underneath, two single scnls are skill
Lii Iooed On for,ed sticks driven into the ground,
and farther of under the trees skiuuliy pro'ecc0i
Troro careless footsteps lies the long shell which
.. yin fine first water laurels of
Columbia. Back of the tent against ~ tree
:; ,rstic seat of fr-t-Tate workmanship, looking
= 20 Cornell must have sent mechanic across
=. .ss;st in the construction thereof. Ii need not
he added that il bears on nearly every SUCK Oh i'S
fr,,,a tho initials &C. c." or "Columbla, 90 OF
words to that effect The most singular OF al! the
Deculiarities of this spot is contrIVance Oh inc
IDLE but ingenious Columbia mind the purpose
whereof your correspondent vainly attempted
To guess Two heavy poles carefully balanced,
and crossed and tied with rope, hang suspended
from a tree by long hooked rod peeled perfectly
clean. 1t had evidently been constructed ana hung
with the utmost care aud its only purpose seemed
10 be to creak and SWING without ever ceasng, 'he
inference was that some Of the Columbus had Joned
Tho long train of those who have gone mad on the
,subiect of perpetual motion. II might be thought
an original sort of cOthesdTyer if the clothes we're
not banging from the lines high up IN the trees.
This whole place is of the sights OF the RIVER
1t looks more like deserted encampment OF am
.phibious Indians than New-YOrk students haunt
The genii Of the locality live in the clean farm house
just above. across the road.
While examining this choice retreat my eye was