The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-06

oar, if the light weight Of the bout Weighing
inches in height. Henry W Durell, No; 2 is IS
years OF age, feet inches in height. ana
I on benr rap rp1bnds rsbsa re for nsw Bowsby %
one OF the original crew j. Nndrau. brother
Of Moses; is only 29 years q age iset b inches
Desseau, the captain and stroke. is tho heavy
weight. turning the scale Mt l69 pounds. He is
They first appeared prominently in the spring
Of 1876. flashing like a meteor through the
vanqusl the famous North western crew. which
was composed of ". i. Curtis. Henry Smith.
latter we're undoubtedly the greatest amateur
four in tho world. for Mt Saratoga, in August Of
the same year. they rcgalned their prestige by
turning race in the fastest time on record. In
that cQntestwere FIVE celebrated crews. the other
three being the Beaverwycks. Ataantas. and
Argonautas. Last year the Shoe-wac -cae-
mcttes won with ease the four-oared three-mile
race for the championship Of the National As
sociation of Amateur Oarsmcn aud we're again
easy vctors in the same contest this spring on
Scnacn lake. Two years ago. on Saratoga lake.
they had no stroke Mt all. Each man appeared
to pull on his own hook. When seen practising
they were universally laughed at by Eastern
" What kind OF a stroke do you call that ?"
Sun reporter asked Capt. Desseau as the crew
returned from practice pull. Is 1t an Eng
lish or an American stroke 2"
Capt; Desseau replied naiyely. II don't know
strokes. We call 1t the get there stroke"
That expression in reference To- the crew has
was also caused by their law-breaking name,
which was eased up into Sewing machines"
and "Shoemakers,' and " Shoes for short
Amusement. however. soon gave place to aston
ishment when they were seen To start with n
40 stroke and run il up to Al. 4G and 4s without
apparent effort. This year they are pulling in
far better form than two years ago. but never
theless the criticism of the English press has
hcen adverse to them. and on the other side
their chances were almost universally consid-
erod slim. Their stroke is short and quick. In
fact. on Seneca lake this spring they ran IT up
to 80 with ease. This was in the thrce-mile
race, and considering that two hours previous
they had pulled "A hard race OF n mile and five
sxteenths. the performance was simply mnrvel-
laus. An adhcrent of theirs said that az Henley
thcywopld and could. II necessary, pull the last
half mile on spurt OF 55. OF this. however.
there appears to have been from the press de-
spatches no necessity. Not tho east among
their virtues is their modest and unassumng
dcmeanor. They are jolly. sociahle set of
! young fellows. and Western peculiarties stick
out strong. with them and their adhc-
| complete without reference to their violations
| of rowing traditions ms regards training, which
| may be- described rs very generous. Despite
this fact. they are always in good condition and
apparently as fresh after hard three-mie race
The fault to be found with their stroke is that
with any other crew. except one similarly con-
| stituted as regards stAYing power. II would
prove fatal TO success. They lose considerable
| power 10y not catching the water squarely. and
| 10y pulling the stroke at times too far through.
II is the catch nj the beginning which is OF vital
| importance in rowing. and II was the perfect
catch Of Harvard which. leading TO we'll
| led through stroke. enabled her 10 win
| such an overwhelming victory Mt New London.
| The Shoe-w wae-cae- -mettes also exhinit Ut times
marked indications Of " bucketing" forward.
which is fatal to men Of less staying powers.
even II otherwise good oarsmen. Their steer
| ing Is nothing remarkable.
Columbia students and graduates were. Of
and the faculty were not less, enthqsiastic. The
hurried 70 the college on hearing the news. and
found large assembly already there. He or
rad Ia Ip Ia a. hrppza a
flagstaff on tha roof had disappeared. Then il
was proposed to ring the college bell till il
| permission Nothing was suggested Just then
but TO go, to the bosihouse. on the Harlem,
| where the boys found n throng that had busted
up there. expecting that something could he
heard or seen. Bue and white bunting was
tooned Herewith, flags were thrown To the wind
an eight-oar barge was got out and mnnned
and all this amid wild enthusiasm. With n
bran-new broom at the bow OF the barge. the
oarsmen pulled up and down the river. greeted
eyerywhere by cheers and steam whistles; 4
everybody. up and down the river was invited
10 drink 10 the Columbia Oarsmen.
In Delmonicos restaurant, last evening there
was a large assembly Of Columbia men TO give
vent 10 their feelings in n formal way; Joseph
lege presided and Robert c. Cornell, President
Of the boat club. was the Secretary. Tho Chair.
6ScT r 9s NJ mfGps HSps bp9 se1
were given with hearty Will. followed by
Col u m;b-i-a-a-a-a.
Il went down from London 70 oxford in the
Oxford coach, When | arrived there I mot a
the American crew p Oh. an. yaas. I've heard
Of them, but they can't pull! yS1p know. they
seen item said ]: oh. bless you, yes !. do you
pull. sir Well. I ssti didn't; but asked
hin him he puS5b and H0s dd he belong
awfully sorry for the American boys.
you know, but i! wasn't in them. yogq
deal more to that effect you know. | told him
to look sharp, for the Columbia boys Were going
menseIy Next DAY in London met that hon
est lover Of square play Charles keade' th9
Mr. Reade assured me that the Columbia boys
| would win. All honor 70 him, gentlemen. but
more to our brothers who fulfilled his predic-
| tion.'
Three cheers were given for Charles Reade
and three for the VctQrs.
| Stuyvesant Fish. Robert C. Cornell. and Frank
| Rees were appointed an Executive Committee.
| with power 10 appoint sup-commlttees. 10 ar
| range a reception to the crew. and proper eel
| ebration OF the victory. Just then the white
| haired acting President OF the college came in
and was received with cheers.
| - shall mark you late, sir, said the Chair
| man to him very Sternly.
The following message by cable was ordered
to be sent to the crew at Henley
Columbia graduates and undergraduates at Delmoni,
did victory God bless you 1t nunc Columbia habct
Prof Drsler was called on to address tho
=" Yesterday and to-day must ever be looked
| upon with pride by the sons oi Columbia. said
he. They won't go down in history as greater
days than the 4th OF July l776. but yesterday
and to-day will be known as days upon which
| American oarsmen declared their Independence
and superiority over British oarsmen. Perhaps
the victory will teach our city fathers to relax in
their endeavors to choke down enthusiasm for
| tn 4th Of July and lot us celebrate II with
drums and ilies and rockets and crackers and
expect that oxford and Cambridge will be de-
serted nor that tho youth Of New Zealand and
| Australia will focl to our college. but | expect
many Of them, and the reason came late this
evening was that was preparing for them.
He commended boat racing. and declared that
the preservation of our liberties We're best
assured by maintaining good physical develop,
ment. recall ing the examples OF the Greeks ana
It's grandest level, and who were mghtiest
when their frames were strong, but who went
down with the decay Of their physical grandeur.
| The Professor said we would never lose our
liberties If we made strong men OF our youth;
- And MhAt rs n XlctOry In a bOat rAcn. AnyhOM =