The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-06-09
DR. PEEr RESIGNS As CoAcA.
Ex-Chsnpion Hanlan or Jsstas Cswies Nay
Handle Columbia's Oarsmeu.


The undergraduate community of Columbia
University was surprised yesterday to learn
that DR.. Walter B. Peet would no longer have
charge Of the crews. That a change had 10 De
made sooner or later seemed to be inevitable.
but II was not expected to take place only three
weeks before the Poughkeepsie regatta The
Graduate Advisory Committee OF the General
Athletic Association had a recent consultation
with the Board OF Governors OF the boat club
and as a result. Capt. J, ". Mackay OF Varsity
crew informed DR.. Peet on Thursday night that
there was dissatisfaction with his methods OF
training and the stroke he was teaching 1t
appears that DR.. Peet then resigned his COM
mission a. coach.
OF late there has been considerable grumb-
ling about the showing OF the crews this year.
The number and caliber Of the candidates for
seats was better than In a number OF years and
a large fund was raised to give the crews the
best facilities possible. After fve months Of
training IL was with chagrin that the students
noticed that the second VARSITY boat contain
ing four first Varsity men. came in a bad last
at Philadelphia on May 10. beaten handlly even
by the freshmen Of Cornell, and later when both
Varsity and freshman boats pulled In last in
their respective races In the Harlem regatta.
it was evident that something was radically
wrong.
The student newspapers began q series OF
Of editorial attacks on the methods adopted IN
training. The candidates have not gone into
quarters at all this year. but have been living
at home or In the campus boarding houses I'M
der no supervision whatever. 1t has frequently
happened that the men have been kept waiting
In their rowing ,costulnes for their turn In the
ahuIa until q p'ntpxpk nj niyhf THAI hnva than
rowed in comparative darkness and taken their
evening meals at 0 O'Clock, All these
breaches OF strict training. the students OBJ
jected to. and the Coiumbid Spectator said before
a recent race, with SUCH q regimen. II We do
win, II will be by a miracle"
The immediate cause OF complaint was about
the stroke. 1t was said yesterday by an old
oarsman that the essentials OF the stroke were
changed at least four times during the past two
months. There seemed TO be an uncertainty
in the coaching, and no telling power could be
developed In the boats. DR.. Peet, IL seems,
made a number of visits to Philadelphia and
upon each return a change. more or less slight,
was made in the stroke. This gave color 10 an
already prevalent opinion that an attempt was
being made to ape the University OF Pennsyl-
vania stroke after the men had been grounded
in one similar to that used by the University Of
Wisconsin crew at Poughkeepsie last year. In
q word. the men had lost confidence In their
coach and there remained only one step TO he
taken. Dr. Peet has had charge OF the crews
for two years. This year he was selected 70
coach against the advice OF the alumni. simply
because OF the ex pressed desire OF the rowing
candidates themselves.
The question a. 10 who will be in charge Of
the crews for the rest Of the ear il az open one.
Capt. Mackay will coach The men next week.
The most likely possibilities are Edward Han
Ian. at one time the worlds champion single
sculler, and Justus 4. d. Cowles, who handed
the Saratoga crew in 1908. The alumni, II Ia
understood. favor a professional coach. Al a
recent alumni dinner Francis ). Bangs, one Of
Columbia's stanchest rowing supporters, made
a speech to the effect that at all events the
new nan will have 10 be chosen soon II any
thing ia 10 be made out OF the crews this year a.
only three weeks remain before the inter-
collegiate regatta.
The work OF the crews will 20 on urinter-
rupted in the meantime. To-day the annual
class day regatta will be held on the Hudson
River a. = o'clock. There are eight entries In
the single SOULS, Ave in the pair-oared gigs,
two in the four-oared shells and the Varsity.
freshman and a combination crew will row In
the elghfa.