The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
HARD TASK FOR THE YESPERS.
GRAND CHALLENGE CUP AT Hen
LEY NOT EASY TO LIFT.

International rowing will receive con-
siderable attention for the next month or 80,
and the eyes of the rowing world will be
turned toward the vesper Boat Club crew
and its efforts to lift the Grand Challenge
CUP at Henley. II they are successful the
ladc from the Quaker City will have
achieved feat unparalleled IN tho annals
Of boat racing, for the Grand, as 1t is
Familiarity known, is the most famous row.
ing prize In the world. American. Canadian
and German crews have tried again and
again for the prize. but all have gone down
to defeat.
In 1878 occurred the first American at
tack on the trophy, when the sho-wae-cae-
mettes crossed to Henley. They showed
wonderful speed on this side. and even In
their practise work on the Thames, but
when the crucial test came they were found
wanting In the true principles Of water
manship.
Then in succession came the attempts OF
Cornell, Yale and Pennsylvania universities
and Of the Argonauts of Toronto. and all with
the same story They were very good. but
not quite good enough to loosen the Grand
from its pedestal. Neither did Yale nor Cor
nell reach the finals, and only this honor can
|
the most likely ever turned out from Penn
sylvania, and after having beaten Cornell,
| Columbia and Wisconsin at Poughkeepsie
it was trained specially for Henley the fol-
lowing year.
When they appeared on the Thames the
Pennsylvanians were greatly admired by
the English critics and admitted to be the
most likely crew ever sent over from
America. They proved worthy Of the good
opinion and won the two first ties in brilliant
fashion. Their real test had yet to come,
for Leander had also disposed Of two OPP
ponents and made the final. The tussle
between Leander and Pennsylvania was
one of the grandest ever seen for the cup.
The Quakers led for about 800 yards, when
Ieander, without any apparent effort,
| crawled up and took the lead and kept
1t to the finish. winning by length.
| The Grand Challenge cup Is one Of the
two original prizes presented to the Henley
regatta in 1889, and the Leander Rowing Club
has been closely identified with Its history,
having won it oftener than any other Eng
lish crew. But its efforts for the cup have
not been all plain sailing The London
Rowing Club came to Henley some forty
years ago to show that u man need not
necessarily be from one Of the big colleges
contention emphatically In 1857 1t de-
feated Oxford, but was beaten by Cam
bridge in 1853. In 1859 it trimmed both
Oxford and Cambridge for the Grand, and
since then no varsity crew has been en-
tered as such at Henley yet the different
colleges have figured prominently in the
regatta
The entry OF a foreign crew for the Grand
this year is not an exception. Other crews
will of course figure in the entry list.
such as Thames, London, New College,
Oxford and maybe Jesus, 30 that the YES
pers will have the hardest sort OF task
ere they reach the final, and the crew will
have to be lengths faster than at Paris,
st. Louis or at any time during its career.
The regatta takes place on July T. and
@, giving time to the Vespers for some
practise in English water Out OF a squad
Of twenty who tried for the crew the Vespers
have taken eleven oarsmen, with President
Thorn and Joe Dempsey as rigger and
coach. This makes a party of thirteen
but the Vespers regard the number thirteen
Paris and won the worlds championship
they numbered thirteen, sailed on the
thirteenth Of the month and incidentally
there was thirteen in everything they did
subsequently.
While it is admitted on all sides that the
Vesper crew could be Il little stronger, and
that with more Of the old hands, still many
people think that those selected will have
fair chance. Each oarsman has had good
experience in racing and there Is not the
least doubt that every one will row himself
out to the last ounce Of his power.
OF the eleven chosen the most important
man is John Ogden Exley. gentleman
| farmer" and stroke. From his long years
| Of experience in the position he is suited to
the task being besides scientific oarsman.
| He stroked the Paris eight. the St Louis
| eight and every big eight the Vespers have
had for years, He is tireless lanky. why
handler Of the ashen blade and knows the
full gamut about pace, time and all the
| fine points of racing.
Charles Ewing Armstrong, who will In
all likelihood All No. seat, is a salesman
to Armstrong Wilkins 4 Co. He rowed
In the Vespers junior crew Of 1902 which
defeated the Fla irmounts in a race on the
Schuylkil winning his spurs for an inter-
mediate eight which Won their event in the
Grand Army regatta at Washington. In
the following year he sat In three winning
crews and rowed in the st. Louis crew last
year.
Harry Lott is p medical student and has
been rowing at No. 8. He stroked the
! Nespers junior crew which was beaten by
the Alaitas two years ago and was stroke
Of the Nesper crew of 'O3 which won on
occupied the same position in the gig crew
which defeated the Crescents and the eight
shell which won from the University OF
Pennsylvania in the American Rowing
ASSOCIATION regatta last year,
! i. Robert Johnson, attorney and graduate
OF Yale. is slashing GA rsrnan and foot
ball player He takes Williams's place at
No. 5. His early lessons in sweep handling
were at the Wachusett Boat Club on
Lake Quinsigamond He showed his worth
as an oarsman by earning a seat in the
varsity crew.
James S. Flanagan, clerk In Armstrong,
| wilkins Il Co.. has been consistently at
No. and although but young man is a
powerful oarman. He rowed In the junior
eight which won on Navy day In the Schuyl-
kill and he made one Of the intermediate
crew which was beaten by the New York
A. c. on July I. Flanagan rowed on the
crew which was sent to st. Louis.
Frank A. Schell No. 8, clerk in clothing
| firm. has been rowing since he was a stu
dent at the Roman Catholic High School.
He Joined the Paramount r. c. in 1900.
and rowed In a crew which won on Me-
mortal Day In the Harlem Regatta. The
following year he joined the Vespers and
made one OF double scull which won on
the Harlem, and in 1902 made one of four
cared crew which was successful.
Daniel NJ Gleason, assistant super
| intendent OF contracting firm, rows
| at No. 2. His history Is a repetition
| Of Armstrong;, as he rowed on the same
crews, the juniors and intermediates Of