New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-06-27
THE TRIUMPH OF CORNELL.

Cornelrs brilliant victory in the race when
her University oarsmen rowed throughout in adj
mlrable form and with plenty of power Ill re-
serve inset the calculations of nearly all the
prophets including those whose Judgment was
mos, generally respected 1t was Cornelrs race
from start TO finish. There never mo-
ment when her supporters had any reason 10
doubt the result or her antagonists anything
more substantial than hope 10 sustain them.
That so remarkable display of speed MAIN
tanned with perfect finish and apparent ease by
an unusually light crew will 10 some extent
modify theories of craftsmanship in addition to
upsetting expert calculations. is more than prob
able II is the business of college coaches to
determine as best they can how far generai!
accepted theories ought to be modified
The stroke which Mr.. Courtney has so thor
ouchly and effectively taught his pupils has
been described as the American stroke ana
that is convenient designation for purposes
Of comparson. 1t Is an interesting circum-
stance however that ii is generally admitted
10 he very similar TO the stroke which the best
Yale crews of few years ago learned from
Mr.. Cook. and which then for purposes of com
harrison was often called the English stroke. 1t
certainly is not the English stroke which Mr..
Lehman and all other Er gllsh coaches teach'
nor is it the American stroke if by American
is meant the stroke which Mr. Courtney used
10 teach. That keen end watcEful man learned
rs valuable lessons from his experience i'll
England as Mr.. Cook learned quarter
Of century ago. and Fridays race was
an impressive demonstration of his ability 10
jmpart the knowledge which he has acquired.
That he has evolved a better method than the
English of applying human energy to the pro-
pulsion of n racing shell is natural Inference
from Cornall's remarkable performance. RATHER
unfortunately. ii is an inference which cannot
he either confirmed or refuted easily ana quick
". Conditions of tide. current. wind ana water
quality differ so widely that the test OF time IS
almost worthless No scheme of allowances can
make il trustworthy. Nor can occasional inter-
national connections ever furnish a safe basis
of comnarlson so great are the disadvantages
whicl, visiting crew encounters. The Len
mann stroke has uniformly won in England
against American crews pulling different
strokes but We greatly doubt If it would serve
equally well an English crew rowing in ms
country after only a few weeks OF preparation
here There is at least as much reason To be-
lieve that an English eight Of high quality
would have been defeated on the Hudson day
before yesterday as to believe the contrary
English oarsmen al home will keep on rowing
as they have rowed for many years. and we DO
not need to trouble ourselves on their account.
The question for American oarsHen to solve
if they can is whether the pure English stroke
is the true scientific stroke, which must win,
conditions being equal against any other. FIJI
DAYS race assuredy did not settle that ques-
ton docisivey but it as certainly contained
some interesting suggestions. There was Won
dprful combination Of ease and power in the
Cornell boat. Where the power came from was
a mystery 10 most. but there il was. There was
far less strength than in either the Yale or 1iar-
ward boat but far more net propciling energy
went into the blades of the oars and when all
was over there was large supply OF the Orlgihai
stock in reserve Yale rOwed the race out
with characteristic endurance, hut she had had
enough. while Harvard was all abroad The last
mile and at the end made melancholy show,
getting over the line with only six men going
through the notions Mr.. Lehman expresses
his admiration Of COrnelrs performance. nut
saws there is nothing the matter with his stroke
which the Harvard crew really rOwed only FOR
about a mile before going to pieces. We hope
his faith and fortitude will hold good for on
other year The best thing that could happen
for college boating in this country would be an
other test Of his theories with American ma
tpral in American waters.