New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-31
TIE HARVARD STROKE AND CREW.

SLIGHT NOTIFICATIONS, But THE SAME PRINCIPLE
SEVEN NEW MEN ~ THE BOAT.
tpRoN AN Occasional CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNE
CAMBRIDGE, May 27.-When the annual
newspaper discussion OF the Harvard ana fae crews
begins any change In the style OF rowing at ether COZ
lege IA ant to be entitled until tho oarsnen themselves
canno, recognize their stroke in the descriptions u'
tho fact that the of novel experiments In rowing
IA mast Yale abandoned the teachings OF Robert J COOK
I'm s82 and 1888 take upa "donkeyensine STROKE
which resulted In defeat OF two strong crews Last
year Yale returned 10 her Old stroke which wi" po sce"
again at New-London in June.
The Harvard stroke OF 1885 Is an application OF prn'
cipes tested by experience In 1877 Harvard began TO
row stroke popularity associated with the name OF Mr.
Bancroft It differed In degree rather than In Knd
from the style Of rowing previously used ny harFaru
men and It's main points we're as follows: There was
long reach forward hard catch tho beginning OF the
stroke where the force chiefly applied, the body
awning mn 10 the perpendicular then tho slide aud legs
were used being kept rigid as long as possible
then the hands brought snary In to the Dody ana
instantly shot ain the beginning OF ine recover
and finally the after using their slides with the
bodies upright swung again for the full reach III
has been said that Harvard this year has adopted
ouck professional arm and Lex stroke but this Is not
the case II may that the do not reach forward
quite 30 far the old stroke but as they are careful
to get their oar blades covered at the full reach
CAPTAIN storrow thinks that the pun
years lie says that he cannot understand now any one
could speak of the Harvard as pulling profes'
ona arm and leg stroke for he makes 1t point to nave
the weight OF the thrown fully into the stroke, and
| he thinks that this Is done AZ much as usual
There are Two changes to be noted The old catch on
the beQinnng has discarded and the oarsmeD now
try to apply their strength aud weight chiefly at the
middle OF the stroke when blade is nearly at
n right angle with tho boat Although the stroke IL
pulled hard through to the finish tho forward shoot OF
the hands the s much emphatic and Jerky
than formerly Secondly the men swing and slide TO-
when they begin pull, instead OF holding tho
aide stationary until the boy Is upright 1t has been
stated that the stroke much quicker partly because
| the crew is composed Of light men. II Is true
that the crew ,s . ns has on Ssen onck.osB
He calls their average rate IA practice pulls thirty or
thirty.one to the minute and In hard rowing not over
ton Of the styles OF Iarvads most snccessfn oarsen
i'm recent years. Mcssrs Curtis Perkins and Bancroft
CAPTAIN storrow holds there is but Of row:
ing and the style in use Is merely modihcaon OF
sne IayHa1's eye could detect very little differ
ence and rowing goes there VIII probably be no
yery marked contrast between the Harvard and Yale
regards muscle and experience the advantage will
| composed OF extremely powerful men, but that
seven Of the number have rowed In the before
Tha Harvard crew the contrary nOtonly exception
ay light but also includes seven men who nave never
rowed in University race Captain storrow is inc only
| Veteran AS seen on the river the absence OF the
.brave OF ,he beginning" and the simultaneous swing
and slide are the only obvious points OF contrast 10 Tue
rowing OF former crews and these are only obvious 10
one familiar with the subject AT present inc crew is
not rowing WE'LL II one may Judge by what can DC seen
from the The boat Is often uhsteay, the
rowing ragged. and there Is yev
| that the men yet not swinging togelneI. ho
work of tie next month Will probably feineoy tnese
| faults, for nothing knocks Q crew togethsI HAv
the long hard practice pulls and the rowDg Oh tune Oh
The fouf or live weeks before race There are many
Individual deficiencies which call for careful coachhg
Unfortunately the services OF Mr. Bancroft have been
lost Watson out occasionally 70 give huyce
bur the crew il likely 10 suffer for lack OF systematic
daily coaching by some one outside OF the boat How
ever unless tradition errs the Harvard crew VIII ap.
New LOndon rowing In good form anu VIII pun
| a plucky against serious odds
certain cooper who mado many Barrels went Dc0re
Judge and desired TO Lodge complaint against
the Family living next door to bis shop Thc sound or
| their Mill grinding Coffee ut noon gives ME Chill lie
compla ned, and ask for an Init notion to sgples
/ the Nose. They have no Right 10 Disturb my feace
But YOU maintain continuous Pounding from In tho
morning 10 at night" protested tho Judge. True.
yonr Honor but mine a OF Necessity while they
can drink cold Water in place OF Coffee" And by the
saue line Reasoning put our Flour In sacks IN
stead Of Barrels Your Injunction will not o- costs