The New York herald., 1876-08-03
THE CAMBRIDGE -FOUR.
Tie International Rowing Races at
Philadelphia.
A SKETCH on THE ENGLISH AMATEUR FOUR
Their Rowing and the Peculiarities
Of Its Style.
TIE DAILY PRACTICE.

PHILADELPHIA August ., 1876.
Preparations are going by the enterprisng COM
mttee of the schuylkin Navy for the great national
and International struggles in August and September
next huge boathouse, ample enough for the ac-
commodation OF all the competing crews is IN process
of erection grand stand spacious enough to comfort
ably the thousands that will throng witness tho
spectacle is nearly complete; funds have beea con-
tribued by the generous citizens OF Philadelphia COM
petent officers appointed, and, indeed, ell facilities are
at hand for making the coming the grandest in
the annals Of the boating world AT present the river
does not present very lively appearance The Vcsper
crew, upon which Philadelphia has stakcd the reputa-
ton of the schuykil Navy, takes training row every
day, but what makes the river just peculiarly in
tcrcstng the public is the presence OF the English
oarsmen who hero training Tor the International
amateur and college
THE ENGLISH CREW NOT RErREsESrATIvE
This cannot be said to be representative crew
for the English universities, for there Is but 'Var
sty'' in the boat But 1t is the best Of the
best clab Trinity College, which for rowing the
most distinguished college In Cambridge, and Cam
bridge this year the winner of the University
Moreoyer, this pulls the famed English stroke is
the fruit OF English methods OF training and in
an English boat propelled by English So after
ALL there is a fair chance of settling the long mooted
question Of the relative superiority of English and
American crews. The have their lodgings in
Philade ephia and their headquarters at the bolthoDse
OF the Co1&ge Barge Ciuo. lheir rowing outht con,
ssts Of three boatsa racing SHE'LL single scull and
several acts oil oars.
They are rowing in what they call their "tub"
This is four-oarcd gig, closely resembling IN size
build and finish, the Blake gig They do not expect
to enter 'iightship, as they appropriately dub their
racing SHE'LL until ten days or fortnight before tho
This plan, VIII be observed. is contrary to the
American custom OF making practice out OF the rae
ing boat, and adopted by them for the sake OF per-
fccting their '''orm," swing and 'time," which
respects they do not hesitate to say the American
crews arc defective
SHELL,
built by Seare is well constructed boat in weight
heavier than the American boat Tho lines however
indicate great speed, but finish is complete
TOR II retains many things which we have long aban-
doned as antiquated and cumbersome The steering
gear lor instance consists OF the old fashioned yoke
and the wires running along the gunwale of the boat
require the bow oar to use two leet instead OF
The stretcher has not much "bevel' those
used in American boats being IN fact at an angle of
about sixty degrees. They use an "Ailing' oar ~
pounds weight, IL feet inches IN length very stiff
and resembling IN all respects tho celebrated Donohue
blade.
PRACTICE.
The crew have not yet gone into strict training
Their diet is liberal, consisting OF all seasonabc and
evening, and, as to drink, have not yet decided
whether In this country caret or beer will prove the
Ssore wholesome beverage.
Their practice OF one row day Is 'paddle" three
miles up the river where they stop and ramble
tor nve minutes. Then, returning to their boat, they
Iga,n 'padoe'' down the stream until within an eighth
OF a mile of the finish Here they commence to row,
which means as distinguished from ''padde,'' rowing
strongly aud as on the day of the race.
THE ROWING.
Your correspondent had excellent opportunity 10
observe the movements OF the crew.
Their stroke-that used atsCambridge University-is
the English stroke, about which in this country so
much difference Of opinon exists Undoubtedly the
strokes of both Yale and cornell resemble it in many
points, Ynlc's being almost identical, while Cornclls,
fully as vigorous, is dssimar IN FORM
sTEoKE
Sitting very erect their heads thrown well back,
they reach forward slowly, thor bodies well between
hair
'well brscei" and raising their hands triic. they
throw the whole weight of their bodics on the begin
ming the stroke They then pull their through
with rush But their chief merit Is the of the
slide and shows thorough understanding of its prn-
cirlc. Instead of depending on their legs altogether
for the strength OF their stroke they depend upon their
back and do not the slide until the stroke is nearly
beyond the perpendicular and pull their oars well up
TO the chest Here, at the beginning OF new stroke,
they drop the hands few inches quickly turn the
wrists and shoot the hands forward swiftly the body
following slowly The noticeable feature of the stroke
tho toss OF the head, the sharp beginning the
hrow OF the hands from the body and its slow follow
DESCRIPTION OF TIE CREW.
A careful observation of the individual members of
HE discovers lot of not very powerful but in-
shed oarsmcn.
Mr. Jamesson the bow is n heavily built thick
lhostcd young man of about five feet ten inches in
icignL Al the end stroke he swings of the
boat s out side hand does not tightly grasp the oar
aud he Sh,A tendency TO 20 forward more quickly
with his body than the rest Occasionally he falls a
utie ton for back thus marrng the symmetry OF the
part the English rowing MI. Jameson shows re-
mark able cNpertness
No . A substitute took tho place OF Mr.. Close, the
rapI6iu VINO coaching the crew IRON the eight
but expects TO resume his place this week
No. d Mr.. Mann picks up the strokes time with
great accuracy pulls strongly and Is undoubtedly
one o the best ia the boat He IS apt however,
At the cciuning u tho hts wrists be-
loro dropping his hands This oter gives ragged
appearance the feather and makes the boat drag.
lLe stroke, Mr. Pcnrosc, Is n slightly built young
man has air of grit - lie handles his
more gracefully than any in the boat but has the
iaglt of raising II too nigh at the begin
niug the slroke. This causes unevenness IN the
throwing the hands up little higher ana quicker.
Moreover he does up straight at the end OF
The stroke Mr. Close the captain, evidently desires.
These detects, imperccptiuie to casual observer,
but very plain to oarsman, are OF considerable i'm
pcrtnncc; upon them depends that symmetry and
precision of movement which contributes SO much to
The speed OF the boat.
The great merits OF the tho perfect swing,
OF the back their well finished form
Whether they have that dash which dehcs defeat and
which characteristic OF best further de-
velopmenis will show. They are every
worthy and formidable ANTAGONISTS, and, as regards
ssform' and scientific OF the oar, eonlesscdly
superior TO any American crew.
The following table Will show the developments OF
the respective members OF the crew
wei9st Height
lbs r. In.
Close, No 2..-.....--...........-. l.S
Penrosc stroke. e...-.................. 15o o