The New York herald., 1874-08-27
An Afternoon Among the Crews During
the Drawing for Positions.
WILL JOSH WARD EVER ROW AGAIN f?
The 0arsmsn Of Tho South Welcomed In
tho North-Western Men Glad
to Meet the East.
EVENING PRACTICE On THE LAKE.

little hoSterie yesterday, which attracted the at
tention vi passers by on the road running in front
Of the house aad on past the old Schuyler mansion,
where the ia.vard's, 1t viii be remembered, were
quartered previous to the great University race in
July last. This gathering was composed OF the
members OF the crews and scullers who Will, on
next Friday, inaugurate the races Tor the second
annual international regatta on Saratoga Lake.
Many OF the friends and admirers Of the boys were
also there, and taken altogether they were as good
looking, as healthy and as vigorous lot of young
men as man might find in long days walk. 1t
was possibly the hrst time they had met together
since they arrived here, and intr0ductions fol-
lowed SO quickly that long before the drawing for
positions took place-the business which sum-
moned them there-all were acquainted, and the
men who, in two or three days from now will
be rivals for the Aquatic honors of the lake.
were mixed up together, chatting IN q Tree and
friendly manner. These same men who lay on the
green grass or lounged upon the piazzas hailed
from various sections OF the country. It was not
the amateurs Of New York state and New York
city who were there to row q racs on tine waters
of New York lake. No, 1t was more than that,
for the invitation TO contest for the prizes pro-
vlded by the Saratoga Ro wing Association was ex-
tended not only to the amateur oarsmen OF the
United States, but to those OF the Dominion Of
Canada. The response was worthy OF the occasion.
The mon OF the South were among the first to reply
TO the invitation from the North; the West, eager
to show their strength and viRor. also replied
promptly; the New England States were also
ready with their representatives. ana Canada was
willing to send one OF her Lambs. New York city
has among her representatives q crew from the
club which was not afraid to beard the lion in his
den, and endeavor to elevate rowing BY an
American victory on the waters Of the "a
M
lantas failed they still deserve credit for
their pluck. 1t viii be seen that so far
as the United States is concerned the men who
Monday next viii form the best representatives. OF
amateur Craftsmanship which have ever been
brought together on the water. The men from
Georgia. South Carolina and Virginia will do bat
tie the South those from Illinois. Michigan and
Ohio will endeav0r to show what the men who ''go
West'' can do; the men Of Maine will show what
stun they are made OF; Pennsylvania Will en-
deavor to sustain its record OF last year on these
same waters; the capital OF the country az well
as the metropolis Of ths nation have also their
men, and Toronto will no doubt do its level best,
through her representatives, to secure another
victory companion ior the success OF last year.
AMONG THE oARsMEN.
Prominent among the men who gathered yester.
be seen the stalwart form Of old Josh Ward; and
although Josh was not waiting for place-for
that ne won, and nobly won, too-he still loves
to be around among 'the boys" as he calls them.
.T'm done, Doc" answered the veteran, In reply
to question Of DR.: ithers, the Atalanta stroke.
We'll" quesfioned the Doctor. with good
natured smile, ''uness what ?n
"Well," said Josh, thrusting his hands deeper
into his breeches pockets and paying on his head
to the starboard untl mis- eyes became q xed on
the tops OF the trees, "unless they think at the
other side that we can't row here, and are willing
to make a test OF It,"
.'well, then, I'm going to get into my boat
II thought so, old man," said "Doc" and rising
from his seat, he started down towards the shore
pull
THE RIVALS FOB THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.
this conversation TOOK place stood little pronzed
lace man. with keen dark eyes. He had on a mil
itary hat, and he sported more medals on his
breast tnan a French field marshal or a German
prince who had nothing else to show tnat he was
above the ordinary run OF men. This was Frank
Yates, and the medals he wore have been honor
ably and fairy won. 1 don't know whether it was
Ben Brady or not who was inquirng after the
cups Yates had carried OF, for Yates has won more
cups and medals II Is said than any man in the
country. Bill Curtis Is not without his snare, and
he, too. is here looking well feeling better, and
onamponsnp lie. oea%een Yases
Curtis with avore slight sanns straaSs tSwards
see those two famous Western scullers come on
here to row for the championship Of the State OF
strictest sense oil the word, but then they belong
to the New York Athletic Club. ana as Its repre-
sentatives will tney row. Great as is their fame
as Oarsmen, however, not lar from where they
stood was quiet, modest looking, country boy,
mailing from Union springs. wno may make the
pace too hot for the champions on Friday next.
Charles Courtenav, or Charley, as his friends call
him, will not let the championship prize 60 out OF
SICK during all the long winter months. and his
eye, even now lacks the brightness Of health
which shone there last year: UP 10 last night
had any practice OH the lake. The race, think,
will lie between these three men, and one thing
prize will have to row hard for it. This seems to
be the general impression, and when one looks at
the me1 and considers the records OF Curtis and
| Yates he cannot fail to come to any other con.
| clusion.
BY three O'Clock IN the afternoon the crowd had
| dispersed and the oarsmen repaired to their re-
| spective places. On tue shore oil the lake and
close oy .ae be vsge 70 % ~
see the crews go out and take their evenings prac
tice. The little steamooats which ply the lake
were well laden with sight seers anxious to have
! glimpse at the men at their practice. About half
past our the crews began to put their boats In the
other as the college boys were, ana don't object e.
have little pull together to see what they eau DO
! 1t Is amusing to hear enthusiastic friends OF some
| OF the crews tell you that such or such a crew
| know just exactly what all the other crews were
! able 10 do. They had the thing "down so fne'
that It was all right Ior their particular
all nonsense Beore the college regatta how
many persons thought the Columoas were going
! TO winY YALE Harvard, Wesleyan, all these were
named before Columbia. Boat racing is very un
certain, and sometimes crew previously unknown
| SEXES the prize from those who have long and
! nonorably won records. The field oltentimes wins
over the favOrites. Tne Atalantas were out las,
evening, and are rowing far better tnan IN theiI
they took their boat n and were making about
thirty seven strokes, their boat travelling through
the wafer very rapidly. Tne Atalantas are In
splendid condition, and II they win this race they
can AFFORD to have lost all the Others during the
season. In the race on Monday they Will have
the Gramcrcies on one side OF them and the
wah-wan-sums on the other. BY the way, these
| Wah-wah.sums have quite reputation in The
| West, and rumOr has it that they nave never beer
beaten yet. | do not know how true the report is
| but II Lney win on Monday feel confident thai
nothing out West can get near them. They pun q