New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-20
THE COLLEGE REGATTA.
WESLEYAN AT WORK.

STORY BOAT-HoUsE-A DASH on THE coNSEcfi-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES or INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
OF CREW.
lFRoN THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBuSE'l
MTDDLErOwN June 13-Wesleyan has in one re-
spect the advantage of the back country colleges
Dartmouth. Bowdoin. Amherst. and Williams 10
fit ont crew and carry 1t successfully through,
regatta requires, beside the muscles of men, the
sinews of war-greenbacks well as strong backs
OF the two. students generally have more OF the
muscle, and if the result be anticipated that the
number of crews entering the regatta will never
again be large last year, the ue-
crease will he due unquestionably more 10 VAIN
of money to pay than of men to pull. wesleyan
to this important respect is fortunate IN the sup
port of Mddletown. II is essentially New-Engiand
little town. healthy, wealthy and wise. with good
deal of the hamlet yet about it. The main street, OF
imposing width. is not guiltess of grass, and be-
meath the rows of ma gnifcent old trees which shade
its walks nobody hurries. The river rolls not
more quietly few hundred yards to the eastward
than the people move the street itself.
Back on the gentle rise of the Connecticut VAL
ley stand hundreds of comfortable modest homes
on streets most cool and shady, and in spacious
courts full of verdure where conservative old peo-
pie i've Many have retreated hither from the
towns 10 get out of the way Of progress. Many
Others live here who from the modest gains attain
able in Mddletown, have by themselves OF with the
aid of their fathers savings amassed comfortable
subsistence and retired. Portly old men may be
seen tinkering leisurely about their yards and
gardens or sitting lii dignihed ease In
front of the MacdonOugh House-a hotel
fragrant with the memories of Commodore
Macdonough and the war of 1sl2-at hours when the
lean man of progress running the hot stones
of Broadway with an armful of samples. or is wiping
ratio ha ralG md
Stock Exchange. Wesleyan stands back among
the houses in a wonderful rural street. with the
waviest of grass and the tallest and breeziest OF
ems No people value institutions of learning as
do the old time New-En CHAMBERS, and in addition to
having been themselves amused by the students IN
society and instructed by the faculty in the pulpit
most of these families have in time past or present
had sons In Wesleyan, and have felt personal in
terest IN the college.
PREPARATIONS UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
When it became understood, therefore, that boat
ing was So entirely legitimate that the President
himself in a private capacity could make a contribu-
ton To its support, and member of the faculty as
IN Columbia also be a director in the club, tight
purse-strings were loosed. and MiddletOwn came
down handsomely to help the boys 10 tit themselves
out for Springfield. The remarkable success of the
first class crew which sent IN winning
the Freshman race. and the still more notable
fact of the University of last year being
victorious over Harvard and only two seconds be-
hind the winner in a field Of twelve, have encOur-
aged the supporters of the plucky little College TO
new efforts. and she forward again prepared,
financially and otherwise for determined contest.
The burden of a with all its paraphernalia and
expenses however though light enough for Yale
and Harvard with their half thousand and more OF
wealthy men, is heavy one for a college of eight
of SRI nd 1 f1ega
fellows had not extraordinary grit" they could
not with all their friends aid go to the regatta at
all. But they work cheerfuly under obsta-
cles and excel in spite of them. The shell
in which the University crew is train
ing, for instance, is a cast-oh class boat from
Yale and is so badly sprung under the strokes out
rigger that she yaws almost down to the gunwaie
every time he takes his stroke But he sways over
TO the other side and bobs with his head, and one
way and another they manage to make her co.
IF YOU WANT THING DONE WELL Do IT YOURSELF.
The Connecticut is rather u treacherous stream,
beng given to sudden rises and freshets, and the
shore at Middletown is peculiarly exposed Last
year a new boat-house was built, which taxed the
resources of the Club severely 1t stood on stone
piers some four feet from the ground. When the
Spring rains descended, the hQod came aud rose
above the floor of the house, and it came very near
going out with the tide That it must be raised was
evident or some morning the whole concern would
be sailing through Connecticut to the sea.
But no money could be spared. 80 the
boys got jack screws and sent that two
story house, IS by -, up into the air
five feet in jfy and under Boss Downes. the bow
oar who is a briclayer by trade, they built dozen
or two stout brick columns, which now hold her
high and dry. Thel they sunk some great rocks
between the brick columns bored them. and
anchored the house to them by inch irons well
clenched Then, under Boss Eustis, stroke car, who
Is a wheelwrlght by trade, they boarded all around
fine pjers and built doors and ladders and the house.
which before had two stories, now has three. Ihey
don't sion for triiies \ New-York oarsman went
out the other day in pair oar with one of Wesley
ans rowing recruits who jabbed round with his oar
in such a furious and unregulated manner that he
Knocked the New-York gentleman's seat Oft the
slides As 1t fell il opened crack IN the bottom of
the she'll through which big stream Of water came
bubbling more rapidly than pleasantly, as they were
in mid-stream. They got ashore somehow; the men
GOT ont tacks tools and little sheac. and IN tif
teen minutes she was on the water again tight as
ever.
Its matter OF regret that but a single man of
last years fine is TO be found in this one. Mr.
Neale was graduated and Mr.. Lyon, another very
strong man. left college account of weak eyes
Nr Nash left al the end of the last year. and Mr.
Stowe the captain and an excellent oarsman, went
at the beginning of this Mr.. Dorchester de-
clined to row for family reasons. Mr.. Eusts, stroke
was alone left but of all the men IN that powerful
crew he was perhaps the best-a pattern OF strength
and activity. resembling Eidred the famous AgIl-
cultural stroke in make up, but a heavier and much
more powerful man. Mr.. Eustis believed that If he
had had such boat for instance Trinity bad, he
I / .b. 1azf md p def r