The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-10
new EICHT-OARED
Cream Of Local Row
ing Talent will
Compose 1t.
PLANS UNDER WAY
Grew Will Make a Strong
Bid for the Trip to
Paris Next Year.

If any city in the country has IL
cense to turn out a world-beating
eight-oared crew, Worcester is that
city, and there is in process of orga-
nization an eight-oared crew which has
reasonable prospects of accomplishing
that feat. 1t will be formed as soon
as the ice leaves the lake, and the men
can be gotten together for regular prac-
tice. Already more than enough men to
fill the boat have signified their will
ingness to train for seats in the boat
John j. Quinn, who held the rudder
lines of the fastest high school crew,
started the project of organizing
speedy eight from the pick of the best
men who have rowed an oar of late
years, and has received assistance from
everybody with whom he has come IN
contact. Frank j. Kerns, VINO was
stroke and captain of the high School
Fights of the last two years, has been
prevailed on to give up the idea OF
sculling and try for a seat in the boat.
Several other oarsmen who have sat
in high school shells in the past, ana
some who are now members of the high
school crew, have been approached and
will train for the new crew.
None of the men have been guaran-
teed seat in the she'll There are
now at least dozen oarsmen on the
list who have promised to row with
the crew, provided they can make 1t.
There are three or four Others who VIII
be asked within a day or two to try
for a seat in the shell. The purpose
is to select the best crew that can be
made UP from the many goodsaarsmen
in Worcester. and every man who can
handle a sweep will be given a fair
chance to get place in the boat.
The crew will row under the colors
of the Wachusett Boat club. Several
prominent members of the Wachusetts
have been spoken to in regard to the
project, and they have agreed to give
every assistance in their power, pro-
vided they see that the young men
mean business. There is no chance for
doubt ON the latter score. The young
men are enthusiastic over the project,
and it has been impressed on them that
no halfway measures will be endured.
The Wachusetts will give the crew the
use of it's shell, and it will row from
the Wachusett house. No other assist
ance will be asked from the club. The
crew will demonstrate. however, that
it means business from start to finish,
and there is hardly any doubt that the
w dCnuSSllS Will pC ohAAVuN W teAhC IL
the crew when they realize 1t will row
on a purely business basis.
Among the young men who have al
ready promised to train for places in
the boat are Kerns, Perry, Gould, Theo.
Brown, Taylor, Jackson, Johnson and
Mitchell, sufficient number to form an
eight. Casper Brown, who rowed on
Harvard freshmen against the high
schools, will row with the crew If he
i 10 which ha has
been considering. Charles Boyle Of
Dartmouth College, who is spending his
vacation in Worcester, intends to try
for a position. John Carr, stroke of
the Wachusett eight that made a
worlds record of Z minutes 331s Sec
onds for a mile and half at Saratoga
lake in 1895, and T. ]. O'Toole, who
was bow oar in the same boat, VIII also
be asked to take a seat in the shell.
Charles H. Lewis, stroke of the Junior
eight Of the Wachusetts, which defeat
ed the Worcesters in 1885, and j. Fred
Powers the all-round athlete, who was
also q member Of the Wachusett jun
Tor eight. will also be asked to try for a
seat. Powers has recently written to a
friend in this city, saying that he in
tends to take up rowing when he re-
turns from Notre Dame University of
South Bend, Ind, where he is attend
ing school, Weyer of the high school
crew will also receive an invitation to-
try for the boat.
The number Of men who have agreed
to train for the boat is more than
enough to organize crew which would
certainly be the fastest ever turned out
of Worcester They include the best
men that have sat in the fastest high
school crews The men understand
that they are not guaranteed a seat,
which is one Of the best things that
could be done For the men will realize
that there can be no neglect on their
part, and that they will have to be at
their best. The number of candidates
is about twice as large as the number
of men needed, and all are oarsmen of
recognized ability. The rivalry that
will follow the struggle for place in
the boat will develop the best that
there is in the candidates. 1t will be
a mark of considerable honor for a man
to win a seat in the boat when there
are so many good men trying.
The crew will certainly be faster than
either of the high schools Of past years,
for the men are largely the same, and
have developed considerably since they
rowed. They have grown stronger and
have not forgotten their stroke. And al
crew that is faster than the high school
crew of two years ago will come pretty
near poking the nose of its shell ahead
of anything that floats for mile and a
half.
John ]. Quinn, who has been instru-
mental in organizing the crew, will hold
the lines. He has had experience inl
several races. and knows his business