The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-05-24

important sporting event in amateur
atnietics that has ever taken place in
either America or England. Pride of
race, the keen-not to say bitter-spirit
or rivalry between the two greatest
peoples OF the earth, will make IL so.
The unfortunate Cornell incident of '95
at Henley, the Dunraven unpleasant
ness later and the total rout of the WIS.,
iting British athletes in New York last
fall. coupled with the Venezuelan cpl
sode when feeling ran high between
two strong nations, cannot fail to give
zest, If 1T does not add acerbity, to the
contest. Our kin across the sea" are
certainly in no very amiable mood
when sporting papers like the Field
CURLY tell. the Yale university navy
they are not wanted in England. That
conviction grows upon us with a
broad, liberal-minded man like Henry
Labouchere-a keen observer of men
and affairs, one whose finger is ever
upon the public pulse-in his journal.
the London Truth, advises the lads
from the Elm city to defer their visit
for a year, until the excitement Incl
dent to this series Of occurrences has
subsidized.
The rugged, indomitable spirit of
''Old ELS" sons is grandly displayed,
when in the face of these discouraging
facts they have determined without a
eight-oared crew to Henley and strive
for all they are worth to accomplish
what no American or other visiting
crew has ever yet done-win the grand
challenge cup. Four times have Ameri-
can universities sent crews to Henley.
Harvard was the pioneer in the move
ment, in 1869, and was beaten. In 1878
Columbia sent strong four, which had
the good fortune to win the visitors
challenge cup-the only victory, by the
way, an American crew has won in
England. In 1888 and 1895 Cornell sent
crews and met disaster on both occa-
sions.
Although I have more than limited
that Yale may not, on account of ex-
listing conditions, meet with a very
gracious reception in old England, l do
not wish to be understood as saying
that the gentlemen and sportsmen of
the tight little isle would withhold from
the boys that courtesy and fair play
for which they are noted the world
over. Far from it. They will greet the
Yale lads with open arms. and if their
representatives are defeated will con-
ceal their chagrin with well-bred po-
likeness. 1t will be only from the hood
lum element that the visitors need an
ticipate discourteous treatment, and
that will be confined to Kisses and jeers
which never affect such hearts of oak
and souls of iron as / am satisfied
Captain Treadway and his men pos
sess.
Yale has selected an exceptionally
strong crew-the strongest l think they
have ever had-to meet the picked men
of all England. The average age is a
fraction under % years-when men are
at their fittest and best-the average
height five feet eleven and one-third
inches and weigh 1711s pounds This
is an extraordinary average for eight
men. They are but two-thirds of an
inch below the height of the famous
Dartmouth Giants" who dwarfed the
other u college crews at Saratoga lake
in 1875. and actually one and one-half
pounds heavier. This plainly indicates
the solidity of the men. Not one of
them is muscle-bound, either. as usu-
ally obtains in the case of strong men.
on the contrary. their muscles are long
flexible and wiry. All as near as pos
sible have the typical rowing arm.
Every one of the eight has a splendid
chest development and fine expansive
power. A glance at their faces will
show you that they 1re game 10 their
hearts core. If there is a single man
in this crew who has a streak Of yellow
In him. then / am no judge of human
nature. I looked them all over a few
days ago. and they are Il grand lot Of
boys. The five substitutes who go over
10 England with the eight are scarcely
inferior in appearance to the rcgu-
lars" They are not quite as adep- at
the oar but in the other qualities -
head. heart and endurance, they are
not lacking.
The height of the ere = is almost uni
form. Narying-with the exception of
Beard. who is but Eve feet eight and i
half inches-from five feet eleven