New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-07
SELECTIONS FROM THE NAIL
THE POUGHKEEPsIE RACE.
CRITICISMS on SEVERAL FEATURES OF 1T AN
swERED by ONE OF THE JUDGES.

sWERED by ONE OF The JODrEs.
| To the Editor OF TIE Tribune.
Sir: In your admirably accurate and finished &C
count OF the In TIE Tribune Of June e. notice
one or two criticisms which call 10. correction.
| First, however may say that you are quite right
, as regards the errors in Harvards and Penhsy-
vanla's time. The difficulty caused by the fact
that. account Of Coumbias tagging the referees
boat could not get within good eyeshot OF the hnsn
| The tlme-keepers. however. agreed on CornelFs
time-l9:29-and the Judges at the first made Har-
varl two or three lengths behind Cornell and Penn
sylvania two and haf lengths behind Harvard
At three seconds 10 length Harvaris time roughly
would be 1881 and Pennsylvania 1916. This is as
near the truth. probably. as We can ever get
| Now as to the stroke. Last years stroke was
special Invention for the short Observation-Disclosures
| Henley course All the used it in competing
for the Henley boat and after the Henley crew was
picked 1t was too late TO change. For that distance
It may have been good enough. although the present
Varsity in practice this year beat the best home time
! OF last years Henley crew. But the records VIII
show that the Cornell stroke for three and four mile
races before 1885 was always a SOW long stroke.
! Mr.. Courtney says that the men this year rowed
essentially the same as our SO crew. Some OF our
| present oarsmen. who have rowed for several con-
secutive years say that the only difference they de-
tect is a little harder catch at the start Some OF
| us think there is little more body swing. see no
| the Yale stroke or the English stroke the Aus
trah1n stroke or Of any stroke that has sood ieat-
Next. as to the "mismanag cement Reporters. on
the Newly papers told me last year tnat they
pace on boat The nnd ir was that the
press car should be kept nearly as possible opPo-
Of the referees launch myself / should gladly have
EXCHANGE my place FOR seat On the tram: es ns
am sure that the boats behind US could distinguish
very little OF the struggle; We could not even tel,
when the crews passed under the bridge so mcn dii
A
tug. the referee and all the judges were unannous
clameG to have special permission from revenue
captain in authority. We protested against this
and illegal and the referee declared that he would
start the until the tug came 20 anchor II
the race began. I make this Statement to v.nilcate
the College Committee from any desire TO be partial
or discriminating unfairly between newspape: rep
For the mismanagement Of the trains and the
ferry We are not responsible but should certainly
endeavor o influence another year 10 correc:
the mistake OF this year in case the races be rowed
ASA'' a. '0 II s WHITE. Judge for Cornell.
Ithaca. " Y, july 2. 1885.
(Mr Whites candid statement disarms all crit-
cism of the Committee OF College Graduates
far as their intentions concerned. 1t Is true,
moreover that. matters turned out. the OBJ
servers who were the boats which followed
the race were at a disadvantage compared with
the observers on the train. but Mr. White should
know by this time (and. as a member of the COM
nittee was informed II We mistake not that TO
report boat race accurately something more is
necessary than to see the relative positions Of
the shells they go over the course. How I'M
portant it is to be in quick and satisfactory COM
munication with the judges. the referee and the
crews was amply demonstrated at Poughkeep-
sic. The action Of the committee made 1t impos-
sible for an understanding to be arrived at con-
80 no
the well-deserved triumph Of Cornell, and in con-
sequence the true history OF one OF the most in
teresting contests ever had on the water between
college crews. and one that ought to be Of great
significance for the future of the sport, cannot be
written-Ed)
BICYCLE BRAKES AND FOOT-BRAKING.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir The writer regrets TO influential and usu-
ally careful paper as The Tribune print and en-
phasze such fallacy as is contained in this para
graph. printed in to-day's Tribune
1.-The Saturday Review" OF London, says brake
Jess bicycle is dangerous both to rider and public
would be brakeless tramcar. and ought 10 be as
egai. THE Saturday Review" Is right.
Having completed his fortieth year ne cannot be
charged with the inexperence OF youth He has been
a wheelman fo- three years and over For the first
year. or most OF it. he used hand brake On his
wheel depending upon ii In riding over the hiy
Der off behind to his neck, or at least limb.
in going down a steep HILL when the brake failed to
work he concluded TO take the hint which he had
previously In the catalogue OF one OF the leading
makers OF wheels 70 wit. that the best brake was
the riders foot He shortly thereafter learned to
use his foot and then discarded the brake and has
used nothing but the sole of his shoe ever since that
time His wife followed suit in a short time. discard
ing her brake and has not used one since. We are
both enthusiastic riders Either OF us can brake with
our foot ard stop the wheel anywhere on the steepes
HILL and level ground within twice the length OF
the machine. even when going al very rapid pace:
The writer knows that this is the experience OF
hundreds Of others who use their foot as brake he
thinks Therefore. thai IL Is foolish for paper o.
your standing and authority TO adopt any such as.
As a matter Of fact the ordinary brak' on bicyce
is in many cases dangerous 1t is too liable TO &c:
the moment when mos, needed and when IT fails to
work ne rider helpless Il ne mas not Learned to
sideways, behind. and take the consequences. as
devendenc,. He came of with only several bruises
and abrasions fortunately. but others were not al
NV week: ago was, just as Likely as not, owing to
the fact that the victim on thai occasion had not
mastered !hs art Of srasnf Tn ms 10 his brake
1t would be good thing If The Trlbuns would i'm
not U ayen the Necessity Of early learning how
brake by pushing the toe Of their shoe under the
front fork and bearing down on the rubber tire
New-York. June IL, 1876 l. A. j.
(Braking with the foot is good thing Every
bi,ycle-rider should learn 10 do 1t. But It has
some disadvantages. II is uncommony I'M |
graceful performance for a woman. 1t Is awk-
ward for man or woman in case OF dsmounting. |
II Is highly da ngerous in coastng down country |
hill where there ruts and cobblestones. 1t is |
tiresome It Is practically forbidden by law in |
New-York and other cities With these and some |
other objections 1t is a good thing. We advise all
riders 10 acquire the art OF doing it; and then to
have their wheels fitted with effective brakes
thar will work and hold the wheels on the steep
es, hills and will not get out OF order There are
plenty Of such brakes in the market. and the use
~ them should be made compulsory by law-Ed)
THE CONFEDERATE FLAG AT RICHMOND.