The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-23
AMERICAN CREW FOR HENLEY.
Secretary Fortmeycr Outlined, n Plan to Meet
British Oarsmen.

The success OF the vesper elght-oared crew
at the recent International regatta at Paris
has inspired the officials Of the \. A. A. o. with
a desire for higher game. and "A movement Ia
on foot 70 send a representative American crew
10 Henley 10 tackle the Britishers at the sport
In which they have been acknowledged SUI
preme. Secretary Fred X. Fortmeyer Of the
y A A. O.. who returned the other day from
the Paris trip. outlined the plan yesterday to a
reporter " THE Sun. and said that he would
not rest satisfied until an American boat club
won the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley. a
feat that he Ia confident can be accomplished
after the splendid showing made by the Vespers
at Paris.
Mr. Fortmeyer was In charge Of the American
Drew In the recent venture. II was hoped that
the I%eander. London Rowing Club, or some
other crack crew Of the Thames would com
pete at ParlS, and II So. the question Of suprem-
aGy between the oarSrnen of England and
America might have been settled without
incurring another expensive trip, When the
Englsllnen. failed TO put in an appearance
Secretary ~Fortmeyer made a trip 10 England
and spent a week there after the Nespers left
LOT home, looking over the chances for an
international competition either. In America
or England A canvass Of the London clubs
soon showed that there was no like lihood Of an
English eight coming here. and most Of the time
was devoted 10 Il study Of the conditions that
would prevail Al Henley. and the probable
stTenRth OF the opposition, TO be met with
from the London crews. W hcn asked whether
ne Nesper eight would be eligible under the
Henley definition Secretary Fortmryer said
Enough OF the crew Will be eligible to make
the nucleus Of a winning eight, and. anyway.
Coach Dempsey intends to make some changes
In the make-1p. Two or three new men whom
he has ~ view will be- substituted and by this
means the crew will be faster than 1t Is at
prseWvSnt o,,,o, MAZDA TIA ,-,. -.
entries for the Henley regatta close to foreign
crews on March 81 This would not allow US
10 hold our annual regatta prior to making an
entry and as the competitive Plan was so sue
only wise to put It In operation again. My
idea Is 10 announce now that the winner OF
the eight-oared race at the next national regatta
will be sent to Henley the following year This
viii allow the different clubs TO make up their
crews from mel, conforming TO the Henley
hold the next regatta Of the y A A. o ample
time To secure a guarantee OF sufficient money
To send the crew abroad
ne trip lust ended las been one OF meal
culRble benefit to Us We know now how long
TO go over before the race. and what TO do while
abroad To insure the men being in condition for
With regard TO the chances OF an American
crew az iisR!ey as lndced from the Perform
two good authorities bearing out the view that
Tie Philadalphians would have easily won, the
one was + q ,Gulston, who roWed "a No in
the four-oared crew OF the London Rowing
Club, which competed az the Centennial regatta
a. Philadelphia In 1879 Gulston trained the
Hamburg crew, which was beaten by the Yes
pers AZ Paris, and was also present at Henley
lie said that as soon as he saw the way the
philadelphians' boat travelled he knew they
would win tho international race In spite Of
their rather uncouth style Of rowing, When
how the Nespers would have Jared at Henley
Gulston said:
They would have won by six or sevon
lengths"
This was borne out by the captain Of the
Client crew. which formed q direct line between
the winners at Henley and Paris. At Henley
the Nthpuf men rOWpd the laandaT one OF the
hardest races OF the regatta, They were In
front until near the finish and were beaten by
crew was beaten two Lengths by the veSpers.
who rowed strong throughout. In a talk after
,,hh s race rae the SSa a I OF the Ghent CreT s2id
ternational race and we're two or three lspgths
faster than when thew rowsd, at Henley
Secretary Fortmeyer said that the trip OF the
American crew had been successful IL every
way in spite o. the forebodings caused by the
frequent bobbins w q the alleged ho2too
vi'ed their superstitions were. Thirteen mon in
the party. landed on the .l3th Of the month
10, with 10 fares already marked on the register,
The house number Of their training quarters
was 10 and 10 Swtmmers, were lined up for a
race when they arrived there. No. IS was on
the truck which carried their boat, and In trips
around Paris 10 usually made up the complete
inent OF the passengers,
considerable missionary work In the interest
Of the organiZation and Il Is. quite probable
NlhN ~ =. ifNNN l'Nluk az. WIS ''O'''N lfA'
year will be eulivcned by the presence Of one
or more foreign crews. The Minerva Club 81
Amsterdam, which was reprcserted in N" Paris
eight.oared race. talks Of SENDING It's eight 20
the National Regatta The Minerva Club is
composed mostly Of cOllegiIus who have ample
tine AZ. their disposal IN which 10 make the
trim. The Hamblrg eight is imbl ei with the
same idea. while Barrett. the winner n the
single SOULS, is anviols 20 cross the water aud
try conclusions with Americans. Mr., Fort
meyer Describes Rarrelet ~ p promising oarS-
man. He defeated q large Geld In the inter-
national race. including Pr"vpl. who has been
champion NJ France for several years. and 81.
George Ashe. n well-known English sCullcr.