The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-18
ROW. ING.
Are Americans
w anted?
HENLEY REGATTA.
Contradictory Reports Come
From Other Side.

From Other Side.
Some time ago the London Truth
usually accredited with accuracy and
veracity in its sporting columns, pub
Iished a statement to the effect that the
Henley stewards would no longer ac-
cept entries of foreigners for the an
nual regatta on the classic waters of
old Thames. Immediately there was a
stir and futter in aquatic circles the
world over, for Truth was generally in
very close touch with the regatta stew
ards and never published anything on
the Henley that did not have the en-
dorsement of the officials and the ear
marks of authenticity In this special
instance, however, no authority was
given for such an important bit of
news. 1t was simply limited that the
matter had been decided at meeting
of the Henley committee.
The news was hurriedly flashed over
y
prominent foreign competitors at Hen
ley in recent years have been American
oarsmen, the committees action, or
rather the announcement, was regarded
as having special reference to Amer
lean Oarsmen. In social and in aquatic
circles on this side, the surprise was
the same, Various theories were ad-
vanced as to the cause for any such
action, and some of the published COM
ments have not been altogether com
plimentary to English craftsmanship
But while the article carried much
weight among rowing men, some re-
fused to accept Truths tatement until
such time as an official avoWal from the
Henley stewards should be received.
Prompted by his official position as
secretary of the National Association of
sense of fair play, Fred r. Fortmyer
wrote to Secretary Cooper of the Hen
ley committee for more definite infOr-
nation Mr.. Cooper was away at the
time on hunting trip, but Guy Nick
ais, the famous amateur sculler and
one of the best Versed men on English
rowing matters, assumed the RESPONSE
bility of answering the query. In a per-
sonal letter expressing a warm interest
in entering American competitors at
Henley, Mr.. Nickalls says
THE extract as published in Lon
don Truth is entirely incorrect. and
you may take it from me that the
subject of foreign entries was not
even discussed at the last meeting
of the Henley committee. The whole
matter remains as heretofore, and
entries will be accepted under the
same conditions"
Charley Sheriff., chairman Of the
Yale advisory board, member of the ia
nous Leander Rowing Club of Lon
don, England, and a yearly visitor at
the Henley regatta, when shown the
above quoted extract, said he was per
sonally acquainted with Nickalls, and
felt sure that what he said on the sit
uation was correct. 1.-THE Henley COM
mittee." said Sheriff., has at all times
felt most kindly toward American en-
| tries. Americans need not feel jeaI-
Gus when it is known that there are
hundreds of English oarsmen, all good
amateurs, yet they cannot row at Hen
| ley. If Ned Ten Eyck had been of any
other nationality than an American, his
entrance in the first instance would
never have been accepted. The Hen
lev stewards knew he was not a pure
amateur according to their definition.
but he was allowed to row out Of pure
courtesy"
Secretary Fortmyer takes rather
different view from Mr.. Sheriff. Says
the national secretary:
| 1t would indeed be a pity should
| the Henley committee decide to re-
fuse our entries. because, in good
time. we shall send over an eight
cared crew that will certainly bring
home the grand challenge cup. Of
| course we are at a disadvantage
| owing to the definition of an anna
| teur here and at Henley. For in
stance, the University of Pennsyl-
| Vania contemplates sending a crew
next year but she will be handi-
! capped by the loss of two of her
| best men, who have worked for a
| living, and, according to Henley
| rules. are therefore ineligible.
| am of the opinion that as long as a
man is an amateur in our sense of
the word, he should be accepted at
Henley. This rule of debarring a
man because he works for liveli-
hood, is not exactly right"
| AS predicted in this column a couple
of weeks ago, Dr. Walter f. Peet will
| be next years coach of crews at Co
! lumbia University. There were many
candidates in the field, including George
| E. Webb of this city who had assisted
| In the work there asst spring, but the
| final selection of DR.. Peet was practi-
! cally unanimous. Peet has beer identi-
| fed for many seasons with aquatics at
| Columbia. He entered college with the
| class of 1886 and ut the end of his
| course turned his attention to rowing.
! AS an undergraduate ne rowed on sew
| eral varsity crews; as coach he fitted
the crew the last time it rowed sue
| cessfully against Cornell.
The winter training of candidates for
! the Pennsylvania varsity crew is now
in full swing in the house ON Franklin
! field. The place formerly used as a
| dressing room by the foot ball team
| has been fitted out Tor training with
! eight rowing machines. The work of
| the crew has been entered upon about
| six weeks earlier than usual. and the
first two months practice will be de-
! voted almost entirely to the develop
ment of new candidates, although sew
eral of the old men have been out. All
! the preliminary exercise will be upon
| the machines. Coach Ward is pleased
with the outlook and predicts a sue
cessful season.
The methods of rowing and the style
| of stroke used this year will be identical
to that of last year. and Coach Ward
will not deviate from his Yankee stroke
that took his crew across the line win
ners at Saratoga. The body swing, leg
drive and recovery will resemble last
seasons in every particular, and as
Coach Ward says, if dt was good
enough to win last year it will this
year. Nearly all of last years victorious
eight are back in cnllagn RlIckma or