The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-25

The crew has been seriously handicapped
by sickness. At the beginning of the year
1t was expected that there would be five
men in the crew who had previously rowed
for the Varsity honors. Ill health COM
PEELED the withdrawal of three of these, 80
that there are only two left in the boat.
Capt G. s. Brewster, New York city, who
pulls No. 6, is one of these; the other is w.
E. Simms of the Medical school. OF the
others. Ballet, Crosby, Ely, Gould, Graves
and Mills have rowed on their class crews
and thus gained some knowledge of rowing.
Hagerman rowed two years in Cornell be-
fore he entered Yale. Two men on the
crew never rowed until this spring. Yet
their choice shows excellent judgment on
the part of Capt. Brewster. Heffelfnger is
the largest and strongest man in the boat,
and is one of the best known college ath-
letes in the country, owing to his
work in the football team last No
vember. In the boat his size is not
so noticeable as on shore. He sits in
the waist next to r. d. Paine, the other
new man. Mr.. Paine has also been identi-
fed with football, having played ''center
rush" on the Freshman team. His father is
pastor of the Flagler Memorial church in
st. Augustine, Fla. Graves, Gould and
Crosby are from New York state, Ballet is
a native of Pennsylvania, Ely comes from
Fredericksburgh, Md. Simms from Dayton,
o., and Hagerman and Mills are from Colo
RADIO.
Early in April the crew went to Philadel-
phia for instruction from Robert j. Cook,
or, as he is best known to Yale men Capt.
bob" Cook. His coaching has saved the
fortunes Of many a ragged crew and sent
them across the line victors. As he could
not leave his editorial duties this year to
come to Yale, her crew. like the prophet
who went to the mountain, must, perforce.
go to him. They were at work on the
Schuylkill two weeks; the effects Of the in
struction they received are evident in their
rowing to-day. The new men. as well as
the older members of the crew, are pulling
the "Cook-stroke," or as near an approach
to it as can be expected in two months
practice and they row intellige ltly-
The only way in which one can gain an
idea of what coaching a crew really means
is to go out in the launch. Fred Stevens,
captain of the '6S crew, comes up Saturdays
and coaches the men, but for the rest of the
week they are under the care of Z. s.. Isham
of 81, and through his courtesy / am en-
abled to write description of coaching
from launch.
The men have brought their shell down
the alley to the float and dropped it in the
water alongside. They take their places at
the captains orders, quickly and quietly
The coxswain, or cupid" as the Yale ere "
tiller ropes firmly, and in a piping little
voice sings out, '"Readyp "Pullp Away
they go; their backs, already bronzed by
sun and wind, swinging forward in unison
and dragging the oars back, as their bodies
go, with a sweep that shows how
weight is helping muscle. Then an
oar fails to strike the water squarely, on
the catch; there is a splash. and instantly a
voice from the launch, just astern, 'Now.
8, you were to blame that time" Don't
let your slide slip" "Try it again, Cupid ~
PULP says the coxswain. 'Stopw shouts
the coach. 81 want to see your hands Drop
2; don't turn your oar under waterl'
"Pull in your hands, 5. Don't drop over
with your shoulders, L. Quick with your
hands, 5. Use your shoulders. 2, row the
whole Cook stroke - it; why don't
you pay attention.
Nov that you men are warmed up a
little, perhaps you will begin TO think. You
are doing very badly to-day. You are get
ting back into your old. thoughtless way of
rowing Don't, for heavens sake, Just be-
cause the wind blows, go all to pieces /
Now, try againp
"Come up sharp on the catch and hold it
longl Come right UP with your shoulders,
5; quick with your hands, Quick with
themp And this goes on for an hour or
tao The "Cook stroke from the launch.
seems to me to utilize TO the utmost the
weight Of the oarsman. He rows with his
whole body; he is taught to throw his
shoulders into the work and save his arms
He does not bend his arms until the end Of
the stroke.
PROFESSIONALLY the stroke, as rowed by
the Varsity crew, is long way from per-
fection. IL is not sharp and strong enough
at the catch, and lacks smoOtbness Ia the
finish. There is not enough unity ia the
stroke. Individual men pull we'll enough,
but as a crew the stroke lacks power. The
boat does not go ahead stea6ily-she loses
beadWay on the recover. What the crew
seems 20 lack most Is a good man 20 set the
stroke. Stlil, there are six weeks Of prae
tioe ahead before the race, and there Is q