Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-11

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N&t ment in political circles
~ II during all this week has
~ influenced every one,
A4 and even boatingmen
Ct nY are affected by il, as
~ nj the interest in rowing,
q W. which had grown some
what in the week preceding, has again shrunken
to its normal condition of about one crew from
each Of the boat houses, and were it not for the
fact that at least two Of the crews are working
to get in shape for the Patapsco regatta June
% doubt very much if the river would be
churned up even to this extent A float officer
at one of the boat houses, in speaking Of the
difficulty to get the men down to rowing regu-
larry and In numbers, said that at about this
time last year, when the club had a professional
trainer, the members all came down and
there were not enough boats to accommo-
date the men; now, however. the boats
are having good rest, and with the exception
OF about ono crew and several pleasure boats
to get out, the position Of the boat house jan
itor is Q sinecure
After O'Clock nearly all the available rowing
men are at leisure, and why cannot thew be
urged to come and row. The float officers in
our clubs are competent men, and In at least
one case feel that new man can learn to row
under the hands Of professional. At best
these so-caled professional trainers are Gin it"
Tor what they can .'get out Of it."
am in favor of a good frst-class trainer,
such man As Courtney for instance, for the two
or three weeks just preceding race. Such a man
knows his business and knows how to do the
hne polishing OFF, with credit to himself and
to the advantage Of his crew. This year it
seems that neither Of our clubs are to have
trainers, and it is such good opportunity to
learn Just which crew is the best among the
three. neither having advantage over the other
In so far as knowing the ''tricks of the trade
Is concerned Let us this year stick by our
home talent and profit by the success ourselves
and earn all the more credit. Always let the
best crew win.
SCREEN MEN" IN THE BOAT
1 was very much amused while at one Of the
boat houses during the week to see q couple of
strapping big, strong fellows, new men in the
club, turned down by a couple Of small men
who had been in a shell boat almost half
dozen times I say turned down" for the
reason that these two new members, who were
very anxious and willing to row. were told by
these experienced oarsmen" that they would
have to get some other two new members TO go
out with them AS ''they could see no fun pulling
with lot OF green men," How encouraging
this is to new men. and have always found
that the longer a man has been rowing the more
he looks with contempt on the new aspirant
Tor aquatic honOrs, and in proportion to the
oarsman's success, just in that proportion is it
difficult for new" men to get into boat with
odd men, OF course we all know how awk-
ward it Ia to have your pull spoilt in order
that the new man may get the chang Of ii, )" but
were We not all green men once upon q timer
TURNING RACES.
1t does not seem to be generally understood
by the rowing men that the National Associa-
ton OF Amateur Oarsmen, at a meeting held in
January last, decided almost unanimously TO
have all races one mile and half with one turn
excepting, of course, the eight-oared race, which
is to remain at one mile and a half Straightforward.
For the first time. then. races in the national
regatta will be rowed with q turn, and it re-
mains to be seen how the change will take and
how it will turn out II a success this year the
new order Of things will probably be permanent
The change was made for twofold purpose, the
first and main one being to revive the interest in
rowing throughout the country among the peo-
pie who by their money and presence make
these things possible, and while the oarsmen
should have every possible consideration
yet it Is conceded that the general public ex-
cept in few cities, are losing that interest and
enthusiasm which formerly made regattas one
OF the great drawing cards of any city. This
interest was lost while the crowd waited for the
crews to come down the river, and finally to
see some one or two cross the line, and the race
would, to such q spectator, be over before he
knew it had begun. He saw none Of the
struggle and very little of ANYTHING else and he
could not have seen it unless he were fortunate
enough to get on the tug boat and thus see the
race in the best possible manner
Now, with a race with turn il is entirely
different. The crowd becomes interested at
once and from start to finish it can plainly see
the struggle, and, if interested in either crew,
can watch its style of rowing. The more closely
person can watch the race the more interested
he becomes, and II there is another regatta in
bis vicinity during the season he will be found
among the first to come and pre-empt his sec
ton of land from which to help cheer the boys
along. Once the public is interested YOU will
have but little difficulty in getting . subscrip-
ton for the next affair.
The other reason why the change is made is to
bring outmore skilled oarsmen, especially better
bowmen, and altogether better exhibition Of
rowing will be seen. And what is a better sight
than seeing q number Of crews spinning down
the course, make their little turn and. having
rounded, again settle down and then on the
"stretch" see them, and you can see them as
You never saw them before.
1t is claimed that the danger Of fouling is
great, and SO it is, but this we have even in
straightaway races, and there is no good reason
with wide water and an honest effort to win
and no jockeying why each boat should not
keep in its own water and turn its own stake
boat and come away. Certainly it will be
looked after that there is enough water and
boats to turn at the same time.
Then the straining of boats making the turn
is spoken of. This is another mistake. 1t is
not supposed that . crew will row up to q
stakeboat and turn it, as If on a pivot. Such
turn would call for ''hold starboard and pull
port" 1t is not intended to do this, but to row
gradually from the stake you near it, and
rowing ''easy starbosrd" and not letting up on
port, you get around and do not lose stroke
and do not strain the boat The turning races
have long been in vogue in the Western and
Northwestern as well as in the New England
Amateur Association regsttas.
Speaking with Q prominent business man,
who has never been 90 fortunate Is to see Q race
from tug following race, he told me he would
rather give $50 to see races with q turn than to
give 60 to see straightaway rice.
THE NATIONAL REGATTA
The national regatta to be held at Saratoga
lake July 26 and q promises to be larger than
for some years past for several reasons, mainly
the one that a. it is to be held earlier than usual
crews will keep in shape from the Peoples and
Cup regatta July 4 at Philadelphia and many
will be in trim looking forward to the Middle
States, which will be held on the Passaic river
August IS. The location is such good one, as
Lake Saratoga, aside from its delightful situa-
ton and attractive surroundings, is one of the
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