New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-09
THE SARATOGA REGATTA.

GRAND MEETING OF OARSMEN.
THE COLLEGES NOT WELL RFPREsENTED, But
AMATEUR CLUBS NEVER BEFORE OUT IN SUCH
FORCE-AwAY FOUND TO AVOID ROUGH wATFh.
trRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUNs'l
SARATOGA, July S.-Saratogs has again a regatta
within her gates, and is becoming gradually CRATE
full therefor, though not with unbecommg has'e'
The intercollegiate regattas which took place mere
for several years, gave her a taste not only OF the
pleasing excitement " ich attends regatta puV
also of the very substantial pecuniary benefits which
accompany one.
For a while Saratoga did not seem to believe
that ANYTHING save a college regatta would amount
10 much because she believed that only races oe-
tween the colleges would draw large enough
crowd to make 1t worth her while to otter such III
ducements as would decide oarsmen to come to row
here. where in the past boat races have become
VIGOROUSLY unlucky in their water. Time ana
again have competing crews tried to row on the
lake and time and again have the races had 10 De
postponed account of rough water 10 the intense
disgust of exasperated spectators, while all the
time there was simple enough soiuuOn To the
whole question, which was 10 row in the morning
instead of in the afternoon, as has heretofore al
WAYS been the custom. The managers of this re-
Catta found this solution and their call TO the anna
tenr oarsmen of the country met with response
which is wholly unprecedented IN the annals OF
bOat-facipg in this country.
There has never been in America regatta which,
whether from the numbers of the crews engaged III
IT, or from the Importance of the individual oars
men, could begin to compare with this one. MAUI
rally, therefore, Saratoga is' beginning to beslr
itself and to take most lively interest III the races
and the rowers for il sees the power and influence
of the National Association and il further shows
that the association. which is destined to become
n National institution, is looking for proper
,,lace where TO hold its annual regatta, ana
that II Saratoga Lake proves suitable, ana II the
Saratoga people show themselves reasonably KIND
and accommodating. Saratoga may perfectly well
become the Henley of America.
The town il very full, for large numbers of the
reqular Sumner visitors have already arrived,
while those interested merely in the regatta have
been pouring in with great rapidity for several
DAYS mast There are not now, nor are there likely
10 be- the enormous crowds that assembledto witness
the intercollegiate regattas that took place here
few years ago, and the excitement that attended
those races is not likely to be repeated again IN
good while Harvard and Yale, the two colleges
that have the most prestige IN the country, have
chosen TO row only between themselves Though
there are probably half dozen colleges that
could have turned out Fights able soundly
70 thrash the dsgracefully bad crew that
Yale sent TO New-London this year.; and
other colleges seeing Harvard and Yale draw Oh,
seem somehow to have lost their interest in rowing.
and have let things go by default. Ii Is an assured
fact that great crowds cannot be gathered save by
intercollegiate races. 1t Is not that III
an omen amateur boat race there is any
prospect Of foul play, or Of there being
arace sold of its beng "T0wed dry land" in the
sporting iargon 1t simply is that in intercollegiate
rerattas lot only does the crew or the club have
ccrfaln number OF friends who VIII come to see the
of friends and relatives VINO will come on 10 the re-
Catt8 10 see him in whom they are interested us
FINNISH himself If luck goes with him, and to COM
(ort him. if il is uufavorable.
To-morrnws races will be the least interesting OF
fhe REGATTA. In the first race, the pair-oars, the
the Olympic, of Albany, and the Nah .wah-sums, OF
Saginaw one each. Il is believed to be eyerybodYs
race Following this will come the College -Four,
n walk-oyer for Cornell; the College single
trial heats of the sugle-ScuS, and the six-oarcd
shell race in which the Shawmuts. OF Boston, the
MutualS OF Albany and the DauntleSs, OF New YORK.
will probably contend.
The failure of the colleges to send crews Is more
he deplored than anything in regard to the re-
power To make this the scene, not only
of general amateur racing, but had done lis
best to induce the colleges TO send crews 70 the re-
Catta. IL had sent ont generous invitations 10
them IN had provided three handsome challenge
ems for their especial behOof and il had enabled
winning would be redOubled by the excellent com
pany IA which they would fud themselves. How
eyer in spite of the failure of the colleges 10 re-
spond here Is doubt that this viii be the great
est meeting Of amateur oarsmen that ever tooh
place IN this country.