Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-04
IT WAS FANCY.
Henley Rowing Story is Denied
By Ten Eyck.
Apparent Conspiracy Against Young AM
eriean oarsman Seems to Be Still
on Foot-McOoWeII's
Attitude.

The question of whether or not Ned
Zen Eyck will enter for the diamond
souls at the Henley royal regatta again
TINS year, is causing a deal of specula-
tion in this country and England, and
mas led to several rumors being started
that English influence had been brought
TO bear upon the holder Of the diamond
souls to withhold his entry for the '9S
henley and thus save himself the hui
initiation of having his entry refused.
From the first the attitude against the
young American seemed to be prompted
by injured pride and Jealousy. There
was jealousy on the part of some I'M
prlncipled Americans who were envious
OF Ten Eyck's successes, and circulated
rumors last year that would result in
the refusal of his entry by the stewards
of the regatta, If they proved true. Be-
cause the young mans father has been
prominently identified with professional
rowing, the inference Of these people has
been that the son would eventually en-
ter the professional ranks. These people
have been source of annoyance to
young Ten Eyck and his father, but as
yet their words have carried little
weight except among the class to which
they belong
The victory of Ten Eyck last year has
made the Englishmen sore; and, simply
because he is not one of them, but an
honest, strong, American lad, he is mo
gentleman" and consequently not fit to
row in a regatta founded for gentle
mems sons. When Ten Eyclz was in
England last year, he finished his train
ing for the regatta on the Thames, and
because he trained in the American way
his actions were pointed to as profess
sional. The young man did row trial
very early one morning, but did it only
because it was the only time in the day
when he could test himself. He had no
thought of offending the customs or Of
letting himself out at time when few
would observe him at his best. The
newspapers made considerable capital
out of this trial, and i'm that way preju-
diced many people against the stocky
American lad.
AT the close of the regatta there was
considerable talk that Ten Eyck's entry
would never again be accepted and
since last summer the likelihood of his
entering has been a live topic for spec
ulation. Since the Henley regatta Ten
Eyck has not rowed a sculling race and
has engaged in but one crew race, and
if the stewards of the Henley allow
prejudice to have any weight in their
enters they will call down the condem-
nation of fair-minded people upon them
selves and their regatta, and the Hen
ley will no longer be recognized as the
regatta of the world, by Americans at
least.
The latest report of intimidation on
the part of Englishmen towards Ten
Eyek was printed last week in the New
York Sun and one of the local papers.
The report was a SCOOP" but, like many
others which have preceded it, was the
product of some fanciful reporter. The
story was to the effect that some repre-
sentative of the Henley stewards was
in this country and had seen Ten Eyck,
intimating to him that there would be
some obstacles to his rowing at Henley
this year. Such news was startling to
Ten Eyck's father, who is at present in
New York, and he Immediately wrote
his son at the University of Pennsylva-
MIA about the matter. The young mans
reply to his father was to the effect that
the article was untrue, and stamped the
report as fake Ned's letter was as
follows:
Dear Father: Replying to yours of
Jan. 29, asking about an article in the
New York Sun of Jan. 20, let me state
that knew nothing whatever about it.
I have not received a letter from any
one concerning my proposed entry for
the diamond SOULS again, neither have
/ had any conversation with any one
on the subject as per article. The story,
wherever it originated is fiction, and
manufactured out of whole cloth. Hop
ing you are WELL remain,
Your affectionate son,