New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27
InY rrLrGpAru TO Tnn rRrBUYE.l

raorest opponent IL was in 1877 that he Joined the
professionally and he certainly one OF the BEST
a record OF IA races won and oniy seven o't
shows
Courtneys first coaching was done at his Old
home where he gave instruction to a crew COM
posed OF town men, who defeated two OF Cotne"
University's crews in the early 'Os; but in Nf the
order reversed. and the inland college eights De-
gan their long list of victories The rowing auhori-
ties a, Cornell, desiring to keep the interest IN
rowing al the University looked around for some
person who could 50 coach its crews that they might
compete with the strong crews OF YALE Harvard
Pennsylvania and other colleges with some show
Of winning As a result of their Investigations
Courtney engaged as coach and had fun contro!
over the candidates they presented themselves
from year 10 year With almost exception the
balance of power. far "a the training OF the men
is concerned has IN the hands of Courtney ever
since.
HIS SUCCESS AS A TRAINER.
In 1855 Courtney was appointed regularly 10 coach
Corneil's crews. and during the twelve years inter-
vening she has lost only three races. at Pough
ksepse and one at Henley in 1929 and last Wednes
DAYS freshman race During that time three
records have been estabIished-one and half miles
in GAO three miles in 4:2I 80 and four miles in 1879
the latter at Poughkeepsie .ast year.
The great success which has attended the fresh
man is due largely TO the fact that Court
ncy spends as much time instructing them as he
puts on the Varsity. In fact. after the green men
have become somewhat accustomed to the frail
shell and have overcome the art OF Catching
crabs" they are lined up against their veteran
Varsity brothers and told to dig In and beat
them" In this way they not only rapidly become
accustomed their boat and the oars but they
also become used to "scrapping with their elders
which is. OF course of ines;imable value when they
are lined up in a real against rival college
Courtney is thus spoken Of by Charles 5. Francis.
Cornell -, who the champion intercollegiate
scullcc in his college days: while | would not
take from the gallant oarsmen themselves one jot
or little of their hard-earned laurels, and while
certainly appreciate at their proper value the adj
vantages of good water and the HILL which does 80
much toward developing the big muscles and lung
power. must be permitted 10 express the opinion
that to the intelligent and careful coaching of Mr..
Courtney the Cornell navy is more indebted for It's
phi .nomcna and unbroken record of victories than
to All other causes combined" This statement,
coming from a man VINO knows what he Is talking
about. is confirmed by every Cornell student who
knows anything about rowing. 1t is Courtneys
system. than anything else. which has en-
ahed Cornell to win many races and suner so
few defeats. Unless crew is well instructed ana
knows how to exert Its strength to the best possible
advantage. physical development does not coun;
for much. In other words properly coached crew
Of inferior strength. sometimes OF Inferior weight.
can defeat crew OF young giants who do not
know how to row properly
STRICT DISCIPLINARIAN.
In the first place Courtney has absolute authority
over the men as long they remain candidates for
either boat He has full power to remove man
ana substitute somebody who is doing better work
At Cornell everybody is welcome TO try for the
crew. be he rich or joor. and so long as ne shows
the necessary qualities for possible member OF the
University crew he H. retained. In addition TO the
routine work Of the men body, the coach pays
.tfnv.t aaah
he can From the large number of candidates
great many are necessarily weeded out who may bob
UP as promising candidates in the Following year
From the time the candidates apply In the first or
second week Of the winter term until the race
Courtney's word is law. His rules are ironcad' as
a few delinquent mc1 viii testify.
Practically all Of the men. however learn at once
10 obey his rules which. although seemingly too
strict 10 the beginner are made only Tor the peiter-
ing of the men. not only physically, but moraily'
II A man Is the least inclined to form bad habits ne
il either broken Of those tendencies or dismissed
from the squad An example OF Courtneys discipline
may be found in this springs practice. on the
morning of the departure of the crews for Pough,
keepse Il freshman who had been selected as a
substitute with possible chance Of making me
freshman boat. did not wake up In time to eaten
the train He teegraphed to Conrtney wn p inme
of discipline however. are not numerous -,
Point is ha, is so aa soo nd hH
mos9s to an his pafe h d tx; f6Hp crws Why m a ae
nance MANY Of his men show superior develop
ment late in the period allotted for training,
perior at the oar irstclass students Court
ney will not allow man to row VINO fa a%fy mol noi d in
his class He rightly reasons that a man VINO
sights mis- university work cannot be depended upon
10 do mis- whole duty In a crew.
HIS KNOWLEDGE OF BOATS.
Another key to Courtney's success is his knowl-
edge of boats and the rigging OF boats. When
new boat apparently perfect. arrives from the
manufacturer. It is imme diately overhauled by the
coach who fits II according to his own Ideas ana
according 70 the crews needs. He makes MS BOAT
fit his men He is a skilled mechanic. and fits up
the rigging to suit the pecullatltes OF the men, ior
no two men are just alike.
The work OF getting crew may he mus summed
in the early part OF January to which 100 to l23
respond ras b nave ben0 the ha bSTs
OF the previous Varsity ard freshman crews al
though forty men ,b nrs week s' or TWO
every man has a try al the rowing machines
men comes in handy. and 1t takes only "A dozen or
50 afternoons TO tell whether man mas eh ,nt
candidates are weeded down TO about eighty. who
congratulate themselves upon not being In the first
LOB lot" The men continue at the machines
every afternoon and another cut down is made
about the middle Of the San, hT sRTns can F
dates for the two crews. but this year in view OF
The five races which Cornell had on her schedule.
about hfty men were retained. The HIST OF fresh
man candidates Is always the larger. there being
usually about seventy applicants.
The first thing n man is obliged TO do before get
ting q cha nee AT the machines IL to undergo "A thor
ough examination at the. hands Of the head OF the
gymnasium Any signs of weakness In any form
will AT once bar him from competition. The men
who pass this examination are divided into squads
and are nut through gymnastic exercises. with an
orca souIl fry at the This sort OF exercise is
continued for a while. then the men are Kept at the
machines for longer practice. although dumbbell
eyarrise and runs OF from and a half To two
miles follow each afternoons work
TRAINING RULES.
In the winter months the men are not restricted
to training table" fare or early hours A candi-
date however Is supposed to know enough to take
car. Of himself As the men get ont on the
,ro,.r courtnev who does not believe In the Eng
- ,r.thod issues orders that every man must
nua,r IN tobacco and liquor lie must also keep
.'rl, hours A man who breaks these rules Is
,ti,i o. Ia dismissed at once even though he be Il
I'nuI' cnndidate As soon the men have had