The New York herald., 1874-08-31
The Favorites and What They Are
Expected to DO.
THE EVE OF THE STRUGGLE.
"A Mornings Trip to the
BOathOuses.
Statistics of Men, Boats, Colors
and Weights.
SARATOGA, August 80. 1874.

Inc second annual International regatta, so aus
piciously inaugurated on Lake Saratoga on Friday
last, promises iair to conclude with eclat and to
give satisfaction to the oarsmen and their friends,
who have come from far and near to take part and
to witness the struggles of the athletes on the
water. This is the first summer since the late war
that the Southern element has shown so cOnspic-
nously in Saratoga. 1t seems like return OF old
times to see the faces Of prominent Southern men
on the piazzas and in the parlors OF old Congress
Hall, or in some OF the other magnl cent hotels
which have made this little village, with its min
eral springs, what it and what it looks forward
be in the 1uture. The College Regatta
brought people here from the New England
States to a greater extent than ever before
in the history of the Springs. but at the
present time there is greater diversity of people,
mailing from all quarters Of the country, North as
well as South, with gOodly representation from
the far West do not assert it was the 1nterna-
1ional Regatta that brought them here, but one
thing is certain, 1t has kept great many from
going away who otherwise would have packed up
their trunks and departed homewards. Thus has
the season been prolonged, and, l am told by
many, that it has been very successful season,
taking everything into account. Between boat
races and morse races, base ball matches and
pedestrian exhibitions, there has Deen plenty of
excitement. People could time their visits for
any Of these amusemenfs, and be satisfied when
they came that they saw the very best the country
could produce. The contestants In any OF the
sports, whether on the turf or on the water, were
not confined to any particular locality
or section of the nation. They represented every
point OF the compass OF our common country. In
this international Regatta, for instance, which
Will conclude tomorrow with the grand four-osred
shell race the Southern as well as the Northern
States will have their representatives, and each
crew which rows will endeayor to win victory IN
ss hardly contested race as has ever been rowed
by the amateur oarsmen OF any country. Canada
has her representatives here, and the crew To-
ronto has sent to these waters has won golden
opinions from every person who has been brought
In contact with them. They will do their best to
carry of the prize. To accomplish this they will
have to work as they never worked be-
fore. They Will meet on the waters OF
Saratoga Lake tomorrow the very best
crews that the United States can pat
N boat. Josh Ward the veteran oarsman
thinks we have the pick oil the country here now,
and feels proud to think that the young men Of
America have taken to a sport which he, a
professional, has done so much to advance. "Let
them take 1t judiciousy," SAYS the old man, "and
It will make your weak men strong and your
strong men stronger"
THE LAST PRACTICE PULL.
Yesterday all the crews were out lor their final
practice pull before the race, ana this has been a
day OF resj in nearly every boathouse on the
shores Of the lake. Tomorrow will witness
the struggle which Will bring the Inter-
nationa. Regatta to a close, provided the water
is smooth and the weather is fine. There
ts every reason to believe that it will be both.
Ola Probabilities has done well by the boys this
time. He has given them fine weather for prac-
tlce and also Tor their more serious work the
race days so lar. Let him but secure one day
more OF fair skies smooth water and there will
be replacement by the rowing men now here.
THE REGATTA BALL THE CONGRESS
last Friday night was a grand success. 1t was the
Last OF the season, but the display OF magnificent
toilets on the beautiful women who thronged the
capacous ballroom equalled any tnat were seen
during the earlier part OF the season. Professor
LOOMS present in al his glory and was as at
tentive and as soIictous 1or the enjoyment of his
patrons as is his custom. To be sure there were
not many oarsmen there, Notwithstanding
that 1T was regatta ball, but there
were plenty OF their trends, and the little
quiet talks about bO Is and Oarsmcn which
Cured during or between the dances indicate
how deeply many OF those who were present were
Interested in the approaching contests. Many
q quiet little wager was made ON the crews about
to compete Hats and gloves and otner articles
were bet on the Argonautas or the Ataantas. as
the case might be, and the Canadians had their
espousers, who believed firmly in them and their
English stroke The Southern crews were not
without their supporters and tile Pennsylvania
men, though a light crew, were never in the
background. Remember, it was light crew that
carried away the prize last year. What has been
done before can be done again.
THE WAY TO TIE LAKE.
Getting out to the lake is not as difficult now.
and the prices are not as exorbitanJ as they were
during the college regatta. You can make the
trip to the lake now for half dollar and get back
tor the same price. This is an Improvement on
July, but the concourse Of people is not nearly
so great as 1t was then. The college boys brought
rich harvest to Saratoga, and the farmers
In the vicinity, believing in the Old adage OF
making hay when the sun shines, went In strongly
on tnat principle. They made their wagons do
transport duty. The hack drivers however, have
run up their prices, and, with few exceptions, the
hackmen in front Of the hotels would sooner let
their teams broil In the streets OF Saratoga than
.''come down. one single dollar from the price
they have resolved to charge. AS consequence
the omnibuses are better patronized, and by
people VINO would prefer riding IN carriage If
they could get 1T ut anything Ike u reasonable
TOUR OF THE LAKE.
made trip round the lake to-day, and had q
conversation with some OF the members OF the
crews VINO Will row tomorrow. Nearly all OF
them feel confident OF being the hrst 6oat IN OF
cannot find one VINO doubts but that they VIII
have good place II their boat Is not the winning
boat. The Argonauts, OF Toronto, are rowing In
good form, but that they will repeat Lambe's VIC
Tory OF last year Is extremely pr0blematcal.
Lambe, who pulls stroke oar In the Canadian boat,
is without doubt a fine oarsman and the best man
IN the crew, but he cannot accomplish all tnat his
heart could wish for. The A.aantas never rowed
petter, and Doc Withers feels very confident IN
the aDlity OF his crew. The Gramercles are pull
ing well, and have plenty of beef and bone
10 push their boat along. Their practice
mas peen very quiet and secluded, and
they nave given nothing away" The Gramercies
are located IN the old quarters made famous by
Coumbia's victory. IL was from this point that
Columbia college sent out her six good and true
men last July to win the victory OF 1874 over the
crews from out colleges OF the land. Few persons
th0ugnt the C0lumbias were going to win, and 1t
may be that on tomorrow crew little spoken OF
may show to the front at the proper time good
many regard the Duquesne crew Iavorably. saw
them yesterday, and there is no discount on their
rowing. viii the PlttsDurgers again carry away
k1xn and HnAn in oafn