New-York tribune., 1901-07-04
PENIS FIRST HEAT WON.
AMERICANS EASILY DEFEAT THE LON
DON CREW AT HENLEY.
PICTURESQUE SCENES AT THE FAMOUS
RACEcoURsB ON THE THAMEs-LEAN-
DER ALSO WINS ITS HEAT.
my CABLE TO The rRIBUSE.l

rBY CABLE TO THE rRIBUSE.l
Copyright; 1901 BY The New-York Tribune)
London July 4 / a. r.-The most beautiful
water fete in the world, the Henley Regatta,
did not lack color yesterday. for the American
flag waved afioat and ashore. the plct-
uresque reach of water, with the stone prlose
and church at one corner and the wooded lslano
at the other end. suddenly painted req
when the American crew won their first neat
Henley had seemed until that joyous moment
for the triumphant Yankees only nan toileo
and in neutral tirts. The sixty households were
less gaudily painted than formerly. and club IN
closures grandstand and river hotlla were less
brilliant in their bewderng maze of varied
colors.
1t was not a black and white Henley, but the
effects of the variegated color between the STOP
ing hillsides and the clumps of oaks popIars
and willows were less splendid than at recent
regattas. The weather fine and the attend
ance of pleasure seekers was large, ana there
was a display of good feeling and puoYant
spirits The river was jammed for a mile or
more with a holiday feet Of punts and small
craft and swarms of deintily dressed women
looked on from the garsh houseboats and the
Enclosures of cluhand. Fawley's Court the 18TH
mian and Phyllis Court White was the faNorlte
roIor for the womens frocks, red for the para
soils and yellow for the punts. 1t was wonder
ful spectacle of ever changing loVelness, but
The combinations Of color in costumes. flowers,
cushions and boats less effective than
usual It was busy day. for the programme of
sport was full. but ii like any other Henley.
with eight or nine minutes Of racing after the
course had been cleared and the gun fired. and
then half an hour Of padding and punting after
the crews had flashed by
Ieander beat New College for the Challenge
Cup without being forced. From start to finish
it was an easy victory won by powerful crew
rowing in the most workmanlike way, with
precision of swing, length of reach deliberate
recovery and ample reserves of staying power.
Payne and Burnel the best oarsmen in
the boat but the crew thoroughly repre-
sentative one and stroked by one of the best
Judges Of pace. The race was never in doubt
and the time might have been improved If there
had heen need
The race between Pennsylvania and London
was a repetition Of the first heat, with faster
time The London crew was clearly outclassed
from the start The Americans drew away from
their rivals at once and steadily increased their
lead They were loudly cheered from the house
beats and the flotilla, and did not spare them
selves Two full lengths separated them from
London when the crowd at Fawley's Court
hailed them certain winners, and they had
increased their lead by another length at the
finish Their time was unnecessarily fast, as
London was hopelessly beaten after the hrst
quarter of a mile Leander's coach must have
smiled grinly for he has passed the word that
he Americans must he worn down day by day
and beaten on the final heat after they have
exhausted themselves.
The Americans took their victory modestly
and looked fresh as they padded 10 their
quarters Their stroke and method were criti-
cised but they absolutely together in
swing recovery and stroke. and their time
caused riVermen open their eyes. Another
Yankee machine" was the common comment
on the river Their swing Of short.
the legs too little and the body none at all.
But there was apparently only one man in the
boat and he a machine under the highest
possible pressure OF American energy. II they
beat both the Thames and Leander they will
not revoutiorze the English system of rowing.
for their victory will be set down to the SUI
periority Of Ellis Wards method Of training and
the discipline established by him.
Nobody on the river had anything but praise
fo~ so plucky and we'll drilled n crew. They
were supported afoat and ashore by large
number of enthusiastic admirers. but the Eng
Iish throng of. pleasure seekers admired their
manly appearance and cheered them heartily.
generally conceded. and Leander, while
heavier crew. will have TO row we'll in order to
beat them finally.
INF.