Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-09-27
ST. PAUL BOAT CLUB.
Performance at Washington Judged by
Eastern Sporting Papers.

Eastern Sporting Papers.
In the anxiety consequent upon upon Presl
dent Garfield's critical condition for week
prior to his death, and the great sorrow which
fell upon all the people upon his demise, tn
shadow of which still saddens all hearts, TIT
honorable part played by the st. Paul boa
club (the Mnnesotasl, in the ninth annua
regatta of the National Association of ANA
teur Oarsmen, at Washington, ID. T., Sep
TENDER and 8, has not received
that public recognition here at home
demanded by the merits of the performance.
St. Paul has always been jealous OF the repu
tation of its boat club, and generous IN recog
milton of its performances, fact most enthu'
siastically shown upon its return from the re.
gatta at DEVILS Lake, Wis, last year, and on
other occasions in the past, but most notably
upon its arrival home from the regatta this
wear of the Amateur Mississippi Rowing asSo-
citation, held at Peoria, ILL.,, where it won a
gallant victory over some of the best amateur
clubs Encouraged by this performance,
arrangements were perfected for the
club entering and taking part in
the amateur national regatta as above men
toned at Washington, where, as was well
known, it would have to meet the crack clubs
OF the country. The result of the contest,
tho1sh the MinnesotaS finished second in their
race, four-oared shells, justified most fully the
confidence felt in the crew here at home, 1T be-
ing without doubt the best performance of the
crew in question, or OF any crew since the or
ganization of the crew.
In the heats for place for the final struggle
the Minnesotas met the MiddeseX B. c., Cam
bridgeport, Mass, and Paramount B. c., Phil
adelphia. Describing the heat the New York
Clipper report says:
Tho AIiddlesex crew were first to SHOW in the van,
and soon obtained lead of over length, The Fair
mounts being next; but TIE Minnesotians' powerful
stroke of forty to the minute pulled with great
steadness finally told the tale, and after they once
secured the lead they did not relnqnish it. 1he
Minnesotas time was m SO s, Mlddlesex m. 81 g.,
and Paramount 9m.7s.
In the final heat the Minuesotas met the
famous HilIsdales, of Michigan, vctors in the
regatta for two successive years preceding,
and the Elizabeth club of Portsmouth, Va.
The Clipper describes the heat as follows:
On the strength of their highly creditable pre-
Yious perform the Hillsdale crew were hot IA
voiies with the Virginians for secoud choice. The
issue proved, however, that while the public we're
not amiss in their estimate of the Wolverines, they
moderated the lot from Minnesota. The first few
strokes placed the stem of the Hlllsdale shell in
'front.' their sweeps being worked at the rate of
fifty to the minute starter, while the Minnesotas
pulled two less than the Elzabeths. and about ten
below the Iavorites. Tho N1rginlans, good crew
though they had previously shown themselves I'M
questonaby to be- unable to live the pace, and,
falling to the rapidly, found their chances for
even place utterly gone when a half mile had baen
rowed. At this point the favorites were headed a
trifle by the vigorously pulling men OF st. Paul. VINO
had gained little through the indirect steering of
their opponents The advantage was but momentary
however and during the next half mile the two
Western crews rem lined as nearly as possible on
even terms, the Hillsdsles continuing to consd
erably the faster stroke of the two. After passing
the mile mark the tremendous strain appeared to be
telling upon the Minnesota four and directly the
champions had gained haf-leDgih lead; but the
former puckiy again, and the great effort put
for h placed them nearly level within quarter of
mile Of home, and for some distance there no
change. In the final struggle, however, both crews
heing now pretty tired and the shells keeping any
thing but straight course, the Hillsdales put in the
most effective work, lasting longest, aud won a mag
niicent race by over three lengths, and once more
c.verirg themselves with boating glory. The spen-
did struggle made by the Minnesota crew was some
what of surprise, and they richly deserved the ap-
plause lavished upon them. Time: Hiilsdale In.
81 3. Minnesota M. PIX s., with Elizabeth last
AID twenty lengths back.
In IFS report The Spirit Of the Times said
of the Minuesotas in the trial for 4 place:
"Middesex went away at SO strokes per min
ute, and soon had good lead. Fairmont
along the west shore, knocking over
two boundary flags, and rowing as if they
knew they could win the heat easily. At half
distance they crossed the river into the smooth
water under the lee of the eastern shore,
caught and passed MiddleseX without trouble
and went on easy winners"
OF the first heat the Spirit said "Elza-
beth's sick man, Riley, was not much better,
and the crew had little hope of victory, but
no one expected to see them fall behind so
rapidly, for they were left at once, and were
practically out of the race from the first stroke.
Some one was not ready in the Hlllsdale boat,
and they made bungling start, which gave
Minnesota half length. Hillsdale rowed fifty
four strokes per minute, Minnesota forty-two.
An eighth of a mile was passed, and still Mime
sofa held that half length, and the quarter mile
showed the same position. Here Hilisdale
raised their stroke to IS, but Minnesota, stick
ing to their original AZ, not only held their
opponents, but at the y flag had added several
feet to their half length. At the half mile
flag, Hillsdale still rowing "a, had reduced the
lead to 10 feet, and, at the q flag to 10 feet.
Between here and the mile flag Hillsdale
rowed 50, and Minnesota 40, and, as they pas
sed the mile post, the boats were exactly
even, and the race nearly over. Minnesota had
exhausted themselves, and Hillsdale went On
easy winners, dropping their stroke to 46,
and finally II. Minnesota perseyered gamely,
but fell back rapidly on the last quarter-mile,
and finished fully five lengths behind"
Commenting upon the different stroke of
these two leading crews, the Spirit says:
1.-The final heat of the four Dared race afford
ed an interesting study to those who profess
TO know all about style, and forms and stroke,
and rig, and other details of rowing. The
Hillsdale crew, champions for three success
years, and averaging 154 pounds weight, are
universally admitted to be the fastest amateur
crew ever known in America, and pull ha-
bitually from so to 60 strokes per minute
Minnesota are a young four in their first year
as a crew, and rowed as Junior in the NIississ-
ippi Valley Amateur Rowing Association re-
gatta last June. Their average weight is
140K pounds, and they pull usually SO and 40
strokes per minute. In this race, rowing
Hillsdale for mile, and the
champions, rowing 81, Sc, and even IS strokes
per minute, could not get away from them
until beyond the mile post. Hillsdale won
this race by strength and endurance more than
speed, and as q straight mile race is fair test
of speed, it is pertinent question whether
Minnesota is not as fast a crew as Hillsdale.
1t is also fair to ask if a crew rowing 40
strokes per minute can for full mile keep up
with a crew rowing Sc. What is the use of
rowing So when 40 seems equally effective?
Many old oarsmen remarked that Hillsdale
went faster at 40 than at 80, and the champions
would do well to thoroughly test this matter
during their next period of training"
The above gives the record of our boat club
in the Washington regatta 1t Is one Of which
the crew, every member of the club, their
special friends and patrons, and every citizen
of ST. Paul can we'll be proud.
President 4rthur's Cabinet.
To the Editor of the Sum-
1 saw recently in the San a list of a
cabinet for Arthur, which seemed quite
mixed in character
1t does not seem to be generally known
that Hamilton Fish is broken down. and