The sun., 1895-04-21
HARVARD'S CREW IMPROVE
PROSPECTS FOR THE BEST EIGHT
EYER TURNED OUT At CAMBRIDGE.

Coach Watson Has the Men on the Charles
River Daily. and He is Greatly Pleased
with Their wort-They Row Very We'll
Together, and for so Early In the
Year show Only Few Imperfoctiou,.
PosToN, April Colt is not usual thus early
in the season for Harvard crews to take to shell
rowing, but in spite of the numerous changes
made by Coach Watson, and the severe criticism
to the effect that he would have no crew at all.
Harvard has an eight on the river that COM
mands the admiration of every professional
oarsman who freouents the Charles. One glance
at the work OF the crew is enough TO convince the
kecnest observer In rowing that all primary In
structions have been left in the college rowing
tank, and not lugged to the river. rs in previous
years. On all points pertaining to tho coach
Watson maintains a strict silence. but in no
wise does he try to cover the crews movements,
for the men pull over the course every day In
plain sight of all who care TO see them.
The stroke is one based on the same princi-
pies that any good professional who knew his
business would try to inculcate and improve.
That Watson has the right idea OF winning
stroke Is obvious. and il the good work con-
tinues and none of the men go wrong, Bob
Cook will have the pleasure OF seeing a race at
New London. For moro than week the crew
has been rowing in just such a shell as will be
used in the race with Yale. The men keep the
boat on an even keel. work well together. and
carry none of the suggestions of being worked
BY wires leading to the coachs barge.
To-day the water was choppy. but tho men
were not in the least thrown out Of form. They
did just as well MS they did in the smooth water
Of yesterday, and pulled long. swinging. easy
stroke OF thirty-two TO the minute for two miles
without noticeable variation. When that dis
tance was finished the men had breathing
spell of ten minutes at the Union Boat Club
float. Then they were sent back through the
choppy sea. pulling their regulation thirty-two to
the minute all the way up to tho cottage farm
bridge. While on thi. trip Il heavy sea in the
channel was encountered. but the men handled
their oars like experienced watermen. tuder
similar circumstances most college crews at this
season of the year would have gone to pieces.
This pleascs Coach Watson. who believes the
crew TO be far better than Cambridge has pro-
duccd in many years.
The in board work of the crew is excellent The
slightly curved the blades being dropped into
the water on the instant OF full reach. and the
hack nna legs are applied in noa waS,n snS
repHFn on 9 S Ths hs rk of hns onS
to inculcate. but Watson stuck to 1t so
closely in the tank and in the barge
that it soon became second nature with tho
Hlen. mere IS no pause NleI liio ~
brought in Close to the body al the finish of the
stroke. They are showed away quickly. the
slides following without the least sign OF indc-
cision. The backs, too. when the movement to
catch is made. lose the slight curve which i'm
mediat ely mPlts into n straight. natural buck.
with chest thrown well out as the stroke fin
ishes.
Every day when tho weather would permit
Watson has sent the crew over the course both
ways following In launch and delivering his
instructions through megaphone. .iko all ex-
pericnccd coacncrs. he fully realizes that
Workmanship is the most essential part
of the combination Of Qualities that
rowing in rough and smooth water and
courting rather than avoiding unfavorable
conditions. h will get his crew So firmly seated
touches and form will be only childs play to the
men. No doubt Watson feels that. with his
crew we'll seated. the thirty-two strokes to the
minute that they are now showing Will be re-
gar,lcd as slow work. for they certainly should
be able to gradually advance to th!rty-s!x before
May 30.
II is becoming more vidcnt every day that
years to coach the crew just US he liked. and 1t
is nonsense for persons to- say that he
has copied professional style of rowing.
for he never could have gone into
it and impaired so much information
in so short time to eight men were ii not the
result of fixed convictions. past years nt this
early date tho launch could run away from the
present crew for any part of the two miles IL the
men turned themselves loose.
There are many persons who would ike to sec
the new Harvard shell prove II failure. Tor they
want to see the crews meet on an equal footing
with the same kind of boats.