The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-04
THE SARATOGA REGATTA.
How Cornell University Will Be
Represented.
THE SELECTED CREW.

this year. And so II seems stwce told tale'' 10
write that the rival Universities are soon again 20
meet in annual contest TO settle in the usual way
the always recurring and never finally decided
question OF superiority. Mainly Ia consequence OF
these races, however, rowing in The United States
mas been elevated into something between fine
art and science, and Tor q long time mas held a
conspicuous position among our national sports.
In the twenty-five years which have elapsed since
the nrst College race, boating has undergone q
great change. Then 1t was in its rude state, so
much so that the appearance OF the Harvard crew
and the eignt-oared barge Oneida which carried
OF these early honors would excite nothing but
laughter by the side OF the slender cedar shells
and trained crews which so often since have
glanced like fishes uuder the shadows OF Quin-
sigamond and the Connecticut. But 1t deserves
TO be kept In mind thar the excellence OF to-day
grows out OF that earlier EFFORT, ana nearly all the
subsequent emulation which has so advanced
both the style and strength or the college crews is
fairly rraceable to the nrst slow race on Lake
Winnipiseogee. 1t Is by no means to be inferred
That the position which rowing has reached in our
colleges has been without Its trials and hardships,
as the cultivation OF the art required the severest
exertion which successive college generations
have undergone to give them that hardness OF
constitution necessary TO properly tit them for the
struggle so apt to tax the system more pitiessly
than any other continued physical strain
Again, the young men who, from time to time,
have engaged in these e1orts-men or manly quail
tiles and OF intellectual gifts as well-have been
surrounded and beset by enemies who could or
would never any virtue in this business OF
rowing races. Early and late and on every
occasion the unmuscular Christians made loud
protests against the sport because OF its possible
tendency 20 dissipation. They would not believe
that the health, and therefore the capacity OF the
students In the colleges longest engaged in boat
ing was much greater than before the pastme
became popular and persistently proclaimed tnat
1t and kindred athletic amusements work no good
in an educational process. But fortunately, this
objection on the part OF the powers that be" in
our universities no longer exists to any great
tent, ana the Faculties or the majority or our dis
tnguisned seats OF learning inclined to promote
rather than hinder the yearly regattas.
or the latter class. have reason to believe, is
tine boating was first suggested by the stu
dents and tue COrnell navy was organized until
the presen., It's memoers have received that caar-
acter of practical encouragement which is always
pleasant 10 youthful enthusiasm and which stmu-
lates to determined effort. And now the spirit OF
generous rivalry that exists among the more
prominent OF the college 0arsmen Is educating
them ior meritoriOus work IN the future. Here
are a number OF young men or fine physical devel-
opment and OF unlimited pluck, who are STRIVING
to become excellent oarsmen, and VINO believe
1aas mere IS ne , spot N Inc world which affords
university boat race. or sucn men winners are
made.
THE CORNELL NAVY.
In the year 1871, believing that there was suf-
fcent material III the college TO organize boat
fully TO work and founded the Cornell Navy. The
enthusiast created among their associates, and
tae desire T. De taught the use Of the oar was
suffice proof That wise thing had Deen done,
and step taken III the right direction The menu
oersnip rapidly Increased, and soon the entire
college, at some time or the other, desi ed to weld
the spruce: and many lelt thai they hai sufficient
muscle. TO become sklliul handlers OF the blade,
and ut last driit INTO some enviaole niche in the
temple OF aquatic lame. The young oarsmen were
lrrepressble, and although Obstacle were Gu.
countered, they began to accumulate property,
made lor class races, each crew WORKING
hard to secure the victory in the Inauguration OF
rowing contests on lovely Cayuga Lake, at the
head OF winch ruggedy picturesque Ithaca Is STU
ated. year passed on and The experiment. had
elegant boathouse on the corner OF the lake."
lortytwo eet BY seventy feet, and 1t is nlled with
one six-oared outraged gig, one eight.
cared barge. one slx,oared barge, three
boat ae total ana vauas sna
boatnouse and boats, being about S. $50. the ON
GERS OF this association. which has won an enyIa-
Emilius o. Randall, IA.
Lit, oil Columbus, o.; Vice Commodore r. b.
Charles stoner. rs, opt. o. Amsterdam, N.Y. n. r.;
signal onicer, Winfield s. Arten. '7d, s., OF OIL
Ctty, Pa.
Beside the several class organizations, each fav-
ing Its own officers, there Is the Tom Hughes Boat
Club, with lo2 members, and distinct governing
and IN training for college events display as much
enthusiasm as their fellow students entered lor
from the Beginning Of the boating agitation to the
spring u last year the pastime Was settled insti-
futon on Cayugl Lake, and but lew colleges can
present sucn an aggregate oil bone and muscle rs
Cornell Can turn out In ncr 496 students.
CORAELL's FIRsT UNIVERSITY CREW.
In the winter OF lS72, the Leading aquatic spirits
having become satisfied that they sufficiently
indicted INTO the mysteries OF the art OF rowing 10
crew TO the reunion of the next year:
Tue gymnasium contemplated TO tie erected
was not yet within their reach Tor preliminary
training; but they lolnd, in running and waking,
exercise sufiicient 10 put them IN the condition
Through the cold weather these men worked with
good will 10 develop their powerui arms with
the intention OF performing great deeds Of
When the spring term began they renewed their
work. and, ABOUT the middle OF May, Harry Coul-
ton TOOK them III charge and III little over month
sent them 10 the connecticut the toughest SIX
among the whole eleven crews. All were well
formed OF good height yet not too tall, with square
shoulders and well developed CHESTS and loIns
and IN the boat they exhibited good form, but
somehow or otner their craft did not seem 20 move
rapidly through the water, and they were beaten,
the college boys say, by only three crews-Yale.
Wesleyan and Harvard-out the recent of1clal
publication OF the contest gives them the sixth
position, which the Comedians viii not like.
Beaten, but not cast down, the crew returned
10 the Cayuga, ana IN september, when the col
lege renewed Its regular exercises, the navy held
u meeting III Military Hall, elected officers Tor the
year and discussed the prospects OF this season.
III men ever went INTO an aquatic battle WIN de-
sire to win, that feeling actuated the number WAC.
were thus cary got together Tor this years row.
ing duty. Throughout TIE college there was pro-
found aspect Tor tue defeated crew, and the ex-
pressed feeling that 1t wasn't reasonable 10 pre-
sane that the college could do as much III two
years as their sister INSTITUTIONS with score OF
years experience IN the practice OF rowing boats
anu sending their men TO the fed OF strife.
PREPARING FOR IA.
In January work upon tue ~ mnasium was begun,
and IN the latter part OF February the building was
finished and largely patronlsed, ihe candidates Tor
admission to the c.ey OF IA worklng diligently
TO the END OF being accepted Why, some OF
the number wound rather be winning oar IN this
years boat than 10 be Senior Wrangierl IL was
soon decided that three OF the '73 crew VINO ex.
hiolteu Such dauntess courage that, their hrst
University race, should be retained and represent
tne college IN tile great race to come. FIRST Of
tuese WAS King, then tue Old stroke Ostrom who