The New York herald., 1874-07-12
The ArgOnautaS, Of Bergen Point, VS..
the Atalantas, Of New York.
AN EXCITING STRUGGLE.
The "Argies" the Winners and the
Gothamites Heavy Losers.
THE COLLEGE REGATTA.
An Evening at Saratoga Lake Watch
ing the Oarsmen.

The settlement OF question which has long
agitated the boating circles Of New York and
vicinity was arrived at yesterday morning on the
Harlem River, when the four-oared shell race
between the crack crews Of the Arg0nauta Row.
ing Association OF Bergen Point, N. j.. and the
Atalanta Boat Club of New York, was decided;
over stfaigntaway course OF three miles. results
ing IN victory for the ArgOnautas. termination
which the ATLANTA boys and hundreds OF their
friends and sympathiZers regret exceedingly, to
say the least For two or more years. or rather
from the time that the Argonautas became
the champions OF the XIII Won Kuu ana
sought aquatic battles on other waters.
they have entertained the idea Of meeting the
bold Atalantas, and made propositions to that end
but, after prolonged and almost lnterminable DIS
cussons, the clubs were the solution of the
question as to which possessed the better crew, un
I'll, at last, it seemed hopeless to effect the END in
view, getting them together and then deciding
who were the superior oarsmen. Then came
lull, and the Argonautas few weeks since re-
newed the challenge and the champions OF the
Harlem manfully accepted, thus setting at rest all
uncaled for reflections regarding their courage,
which certainly had never given evidence Of falling
them In the hour Of need. Alter a short consuta
ton between representatives OF the respective
clubs 1t was agreed that the race should be rOwed
as already stated. The satisfactory arrangement
OF these prelimllarles was soon noised abroad in
aquatic circles, and general satisfaction was ex
pressed that the two crews were 80 soon to meet
and test In q manly pull whether the magenta OF
the "Arges" or the crimson OF the Atalantas would
secure the victory. Speculation. TOO, Immediately
became rife, and the expression OF this speculative
spirit assumed a financial shape; Tor be IL known
that men OF the material That yesterday met are
| n
feel 1t point OF honor to demonstrate the conf
dence they have In their representatives and
champions by stalking crisp greenDacks on the
issue OF the contest The speculation which takes
place on subjects OF this kind is the speculation OF
sympathy, and scientific authorities on the matter
OF betting declare that the uncer taintes OF boat
race and the multitude of accidents--any one OF
| which may, by it's interpOstion, convert what
seemed like a certain victory into a deieat-re-
move It from the proper province of wagering;
! and in this spirit the Argonautas and Atalantas
! have been using their money on even terms. and
when the rival shells shot out towards the start
ing point it Is withn the bounds OF probability to
assume that S25, 900 were depending on the resuls
CREWS.
II seems supernuOus to repeat here what has so
often been written relative to these excellent
amateur crews. For years every boy IN New York
big enough TO climb over the gunwae OF a boat
has heard of the Ataantas, as from 1Sas when the
club was ushered into existence their career has
been one OF great honor 10 themselves, while their
,ove for and interest in aquatic sport have done
much to elevate rowing into something between
o fine art and science. From the days OF sweet
pleasures at the loot OF Christopher street until
the present these muscular Christians have striven
hard to excel in the pastme, and well they sue
ceeded, though on this occasion, when most of any
other they desired to be crowned the vlctors, de-
feat has fallen to their lot. The crew who repre-:
sented the club in this contest was Russell
Witners, Theodore Van Raden, William Speer and
Edward Blake, old acquaintances, two Of them
particularly, Withers and Van Raden, having sat
IN the Atalanta's racing shell ior years.
Back as far as 1871, when, as members OF the
six-oared shell that defeated the Yale College crew
at New Haven and nve weeks after added another
victory to their long list by "waiking away' from
the Harvards in q similar contest at Ingleside,
they have been 1avoraby known. while Speer and
Blake are accredited with skill equal TO their as
socates Why, then, in the face OF this and addi-
tional knowledge Of the teams expertness with
the oar, shouldn't their friends back them with
their spare Rreenbacksp
Even when the signat ures Of the clubs repre-
sentatives were attached to the articles agree
ment drawn up for mutual guidance on this occa-
SION the Ata!antas were In training, as for some
time PRIOR thereto tneY were expecting TO meet
the present Yale crew, which match Unexpectedly
fell through; but at once they began to put the
finishing touches TO their condition, and, though
the course was over their own waters
to more thoroughly famiarize themselves with
the WORK laid out for them TO do, DR.. Withers
superintended their training and brought them to
the mark In superb condition. For the past week
they have remained, with occasional absence, to
attend TO their private business in IIariem and
when they stepped into their shell yesterday morn
Ing their respective weights were, as will be found
in The table below, which includes other data OF
much service in making comparisons.
The ArgOnauta Rowing Association has not been
IN existence but the short space OF three years,
yet It's record is one OF which any band OF oarsmen
can feel proud. An unpretentlous organization
In 1871, it now holds high rank In the aquatic
world, and by Its well-earned victory Of yesterday
proved the crew worthy the steel OF any competl-
ground OF the XIII Won Kul first br ought them into
pubic notice, as in their maiden race they
endeavored to wrest the championship nag from
the Neptune Boat Club OF Staten Island,
but were defeated. With nerve and pluck rom
which victorious crews arc made the stout.
hearted boys persisted in the commendabe erfort
Of being winners IA the end and with great zeal
went into the stern realities OF training and prac-
tice to send the Argonauta's iuture boating record
up near the front. Still again they were deieated
by the Neptunes, but the ambitious oarsfnen were
not dsheartened, and gamcly continued from
son to season their work with so much enthusiasm
That 1t commanded the admiration OF every man
the Onedas from Jersey City, VISITED Bergen
Point TO give the .'Araies'' race. brimiui OF con-
1dence in their ability to conquer. as had been the
keptunes; but the result was so entirely different
from what they anticipated hat they returned TO
Jersey City defeated and disappointed. This was
the ArR0nanta's first victory and since that
nags. which grace the walls OF their
magnificent boat house ut the "Point,r from
their ncighbors, the Neptunes, and many
other pr,zes 10 various sections of the country.
1t Is Clup made of gentlemen who know and