Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18


* back the selecting of
crew should have
been an easy matter
but the heavy tank worked havoc with
the form, and especially the snap, of the
old men-and for long time it looked as
If some of the many new aspirants would
crowd them out. The most difficult place
in the boat to fill was the position of
stroke
In vain the old men and the new candi-
dates were tried in turn. None seemed ca
pable of setting the pace for the eight.
These frequent changes seriously affected
the rowing of the whole crew. At last a
freshman, who had been advanced from
the freshmen to the Varsity squad, was
given a trial-he filled the bill exactly.
That a freshman should stroke the eight
and a veteran one, tools somewhat of a
rarity. For that reason his work has been
the more closely watched-but all agree in
considering him the most phenomenal oar
Yale has had in years. George Langford
is the name of this young oarsman. He
comes from St. Paul, Mimi. In physique
in height, weighing 10 pounds. He drives
the crew well and hard, and all he needs
Is little more experience in regulating the
stroke.
The Graduate Coaches.
The usual number of graduate ex-oars-
men, with the exception of Robert ]. Cook
have at various times answered the appeal
of Capt. Armstrong, under the direction of
such men as Percy Bolton, AL. Cowles
George Adee, ex-Capts. Ives, Rogers and
Hartwell. The men have been steadily i'm
proving. 1t is arranged that at least one
of the old graduates will spend day or
SO with the crew each week. The rest of
the coaching falls upon Capt. Armstrong
AS compared with last years winning
-
with such finish. In the spring regatta the
time-7 minutes 10 seconds-made over the
mile and a quarter course with stroke only
at 20 against strong headwind, was very
creditable. .p.g,
Last year the crew was given some finish
ing touches before the regatta, and the re-
suit was a decided slump in the work for
some time afterward This year a new
policy has been inaugurated. t. The individ-
ual work is receiving much more attention.
The idea is to perfect the stroke as much
as possible before going to New London
The stroke as taught here Isl probably the
most economical in use of applied energy;
anyway, 1t is fact that Yale crews make
the last mile of four mile Stretch in as
good, If not better, time: than the first one
Already the eight has covered the four
mile course six times, while last year they
had gone over it but five times before June
10. The stroke ranges from % to 80 per
minute, and 1t will be. held down for some
time yet. Accordngrto this plan, the men
four-mile stretches already passed, and
with more time to devote to the rounding
down Of angular parts and those finishing
touches which add SO materially to the
speed of the boat.
The present eight easily have the record
for heavy weights. They have averaged
ISL pounds, but under more strict training
diet 1t has been reduced to 179. This is far
in excess of the ideal Yale crew, and there
is bare possibility that under the stress
of hot weather Cross. who weighs 1876
pounds, may give way to one of the sub
stitutes. Such heavy men will necessitate
rowing stroke of not over thirty-five at
the highest. Under the present stroke the
Shell is running along at good speed, lap
ping between strokes seven or eight fees
The boat stays on her keel well and doesn't
stop any between strokes. The men, con-
sidering their weight, are controlling their
slides remarkably WELL, shoot their hands
quickly and hit the water hard. but there
is a strong tendency to lose their form on
long stretches. The men rely too much on
brute strength, instead of skill, and it will
take considerable time and hard work to
remove this idea
The BOatswnin's Pump.
The improvement during the past week
has been very marked, and now there IS
every prospect of making very fast time on
June %. The substitutes have been reduced
to three-P. R. Bailey, 7. w. Miller and ].
H. Simpson, all sopholaores. These men are
good oars from last years winning fresh
man crew, and will be able to fill satisfac-
torily any tagging veterans position.
There is just one possible chance for
this Bob Cook has not yet seen the
eight-his decision is law, and when it is
remembered that in '93 he removed Ralph
Paine from the boat three days before the
race, and in "a also removed Messler,
Yale's Sandow, his opinion is looked for
ward to with great interest 1t is expected
that he will b. here in few days.
ha aSt iIn CT hts
coXswain's pump, which Capt. Armstrong
designed, was given a thorough test. The
pump fits snugly underneath the coxswain's
seat, and Is worked by his foot, having
capacity of from six to eight gallons per
minute. 1t did not impair the speed of the
shell any, and but for it's use the boat
would have been swamped in the rough
water.
The Varsity are rowing in the following
order: Stroke, Longford (weighD, 40; No.
T. Treadway, 176; No 6, Longacre, 1s2; No.
g. Dater, 1877; No. 4, Cross, 1876; No. 3,
Beard; No. 2. Holcomb, $50; bow, Arm
strong (captain), 163
The freshman crew Is easily below the
standard of freshman crews at this tea
son of the year. They rowed fairly well in
the regatta, but since then they have gone
to pieces badly. Their watering nshfp is es-
pecially poor and unless ,there,is decided
Improvement soon their chances in the tri-
angular race will be very slim. They are
rowing in the following ordef: Stroke Rog-
ers, 1852; No Z, Mills, III; No ., Cadwaia-
der 176: No. 5. Marsh I{captap), lG9; NO.
A. Whitney, 16I; No. b H1tcncock' loo;
bow, Cram, 15S 81 :
The racing shell has just been received
from Waters of Troy, N. Y, and is made
on the same model as last years. weigh
ing nearly $50 pounds.
He Didn't Understand.
From the indianapolis Sentinel ,s
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