New-York tribune., 1897-07-04

would he much more comfortable. II the Hen
ley week idea were put into effect. there would
be enough going on upon the Thames 10 war
rant many in taking the four hours ride The
idea. in brief. is this: There should be q booy
Of stewards say three or five prominent men,
who would have charge and entire charge OF the
racing contests for the week. Each day during
the week there would be dual races between
those crews which had been regularly entered
for the championship. These heats would be
rowed in the morning, perhaps over two-mile
course running from the Navy Yard to the end
Of the four-mile course above the bridge. Any
college which gives an a. B. degree could enter
q crew. and the winner OF the final heat would
be champion Of the river. or OF America or
what not, for the year. At the same time. II
any two crews had particular desire to row
race on their own account they would only nave
to apply to the stewards for some afternoon
during the week for their special race, and II
this date not already engaged or II some
other matter did not interfere to prevent. they
could then have their race. Harvard and yale
could thus have their annual race. Cornell
could row whomsoever she might challenge
PENNSYLVANIA, Columbia Wisconsin. Wiscon-
sin could send a crew for the open regatta,
and another for the four-mile dual race which
send two-mile crew four-mile crew. Even
some of the class boat races Of different col
leges could row here, and the freshmen would
have their opportunity Of getting at one another
WEEK OF GOOD RACING.
In this way there Is chance for the best
boating college to make itself heard by winning
the former and at the same time Harvard and
Yale could have their traditional race. regard
mean time the week itself would be one long
series Of capital races, all interesting and all
worth coming to see in body. whereas single
race might make a good deal Of a Journey for a
small result at the end. People would then go
to New-London for the week-make week of
it, so to speak, where there is good accommoda-
ton for all, and that week would be the dis
tinctive college sporting week Of the year.
The result of this years rowing In the fall races
at Poughkeepse has proved two or three things
to the disadvantage Of that course, difficulties
which will not occur at New London. and which.
on the whole rowing men as a body consider
more valuable and necessary than the fact that
more than two boats can row abreast on the
Hudson, whereas this Is Impossible at New
London. These difficulties are, in the first place
that for the two or three weeks prior 10 the rae"
the practice the Hudson is and must neces-
sarily always be difficult matter In view or the
large amount of commerce on that river. no
one can appreciate this who has not rowed or fol-
lowed shell In launch during It's practice'
1t seems little matter. and the captains OF Jug
boats and river steamers invariably fail 10 appre
clate the fact of how much they Interfere Win
the rowing Of the crews. But. as matter or
fact If one thinks n moment OF the three large
waves which spread away on either side from
tugboat side-wheeler going at full speed ne
will that. for example, If an eight-oared smell
Is making time row the oarsmen are oDliBed 10
stop In the midst Of II, turn their boat to meet
no
they may ride out the three seas, but even then
the frai paper boat is invariably strained every
time so that aside from the veXation wnicn Is
constantly occurring from the interruption or
time row. the actual strain TO the boats is enough
In itself TO make this difficulty all important In
choosing the course.
THE QUESTION OF POLICING.
Naturally during the races themselves the river
can TO a certain extent be policed. but even III
this matter there are likely TO occur dticultles
that may at any time not only interfere with the
| starting OF the race but make necessary post
| ponement altogether until another day. For ex-
| ample. on Friday last the steamer JACOB H.
| Tremper. side wheel river boat, arrived. going
| down the river. at the start Just as the boats
were about to get away. The captain OF this
| boat was warned by the United States police
boats there on duty for that purpose by Whistles
and by word Of mouth and yet he absolutely dis
ment but the general courtesy expected on the
high seas of one man for another and sped on
his way at full speed down the course. making
necessary a delay at I o'clock at night, "hen
there was but a short time left in which 10 row
out the race. Furthermore Mr. Lehman gave
IT as his opinion that on the Hudson, between the
high banks OF the river the atmospheric lnflu-
eDces were quite different from those at cam
bridge The Hudson, though salt water Is In
fact an inland body OF water. and the humidity
and heat in the middle Of the day are much
greater than they would be at New-London, or
anywhere along the Sound
OF course the great advantage IN the Hudson
course is that more than two boats can ro"
abreast but, as has just been said, three
cornered one including more than three
boats is not and never will be as satisfactory
TO the old oarsncn, 10 the meE In the Doats
themselves. or for that matter. TO the audience
as dual race. II Is no particular qualification
TO come in second in race OF three or four or
five. You have not won. and that Is the end or
IT, whereas In dual race the oarsmen either
win or lose. Columbia. for example. Is. OF
course. pleased In q certain way 10 have de-
feated Pennsylvania on Friday. but as mat
ter Of fact the pleasure largely comes from the
| circumstance that money bet on that particular
| position has been Won From the sportsman's 8
| point Of view. the position OF Columbia Is that
OF a defeated crew. The same is true OF Yale.
Yale did not win the of June %. and there
| Is the end Of that. She may have defeated Har-
| ward and may feel satisfied with that defeat but
| II would require only short conversation with
few Of the Yale rowing men TO learn that the
| fact that they have been beaten is OF far more
| Importance in their minds than that some one
| In the race defeated by them
CHAMPIONSHIP RACING
| 1t only needs a short bit Of reasoning Of this
| nature to prove that series Of races In trial
heats to test the championship is a far more in
t.resting and exciting form Of boat racing than
a single race with six eight boats rowing
abreast. 1t is then dlstinctively race for the
| championship. and II the word championship is
| y be allowed to come into college sports in the
| United States It would be wiser in the end to
acknowledge It than to say I'VE do not believe
| n such thing and then constantly speak Of
| 1. Cornell. no doubt. is the best crew in the
United States to-day and Americans may be
Inrdoned perhaps for saying that in their opln-