Evening star., 1907-10-27
SOUTHERN COLLEGE MEET
PROPOSED ANNUAL ROWING
CONTESTS ON THE POTOMAC.

Georgetown University intends to make
next year her greatest efforts in aquatcs.
1t is a case of life and death, the latter
naturally if the Blue and Gray does not
make better showing than it did this
year, and life. of course, If the crew
sweeps down a victor or finishes close up
in the bunch. Manager Woods realizes
the situation, and hence the greatest eff
fort on his part to avert anything like
disaster to rowing. He IS SO imbued with
zeal in this matter that he has given up
foot ball work in order that he may de-
vote all of his time to the development Of
the crew and its needfuI resources.
His first aim is TO obtain a frst-class
coach, one whose professional work has
proven him as worthy Of the hire. and
when this important attribute is finally
settled Manager Woods will turn his ef-
forts toward getting some dates for the
crews to meet others. hoping by strong
Inducements to get one or two OF the
northern colleges to come down here tor
friendly races.
A correspondent In this months College
Journal writing from Richmond, Va.
urges the Athletic Association to get up
a southern college meet on the Potomac
pledging the support of the south to the
movement and bemoanS the fact that the
Potomac river prestige has been allowed
to dWindle away in the past few years
The letter follows:
Editors of the Georgetown Journal:
"Gentlemen After the disastrous show
ing of the crew last June at Poughkeepsle
and the altogether discouraging results at
tanned by Georgetown crews for the past
two seasons, it seems to me that this
time will be not inopportune in which to
suggest a remedy for the-l will be char
liable and call it misfortune.
Years ago Washington was great
rowing citv II foStere6 many boat clubs
and premier scullers. The Potomac Boat
Club, still fourshing in the city at the
present time, was one OF the foremost
boat clubs in the United States. The two
greatest sculiers of other times, Charles
Courtney and Ned Hanlon, met in a
match race on the historic old Potomac s
course not so many years ago. These
two men since have become great profess
sional coaches, but it must be remem-
bered that it was In this city and with
one of our own rowing clubs that Court
ney made the reputation which got him to
Cornell where he has since earned the
reputation of the grand old man of row
ing. Pat Dempsey, the man who was
the original coach of the fastest eight
cared crew the world has ever known,
for several years has been associated with
rowing in Washington
But Of late years interest has Jagged
in this city. and we might say, through
out the whoe south. And the reason is
Potomac. Even the boat clubs seem to
have deserted the old course and all are
going north. Cornell. like the fame and
the moths, is dazZ ing all the co.legs
eights by its incandescent magnetism
coaxing them to her and licking and de-
vouring them in blaze of glory. Glory
for Cornell with her great resources and
wealth of material but where is the
glory for the others? Where IS there
anything for the others?
1,.
the colleges. strange as 1t may seem. Har-
ward and Yale, ever keeping their pres
tige, are too wise to be caught In the
trap. These two humble institutions
warn their crews out of the mill race
They have their own contest on the
Thames, which on race days is as beauti-
full. as magnificent. as lined with cheer
ing, enthusiastic partisanS as is the Hud-
son at the Poughkeepsie event. All New
England turns out TO gaze at the stat
wart athletes. Many from the great
metropolis tear themselves away from
the Hudson field of glory and give un-
disguised applause to the two crews
racing with all the pent-up en'rSy of
their young lives for tke finish line at
New London bridge. Win or lose, each
is a gold piece in a till of coppers-the
coppers re epresenr the Others beside Cor
nell in the big race on the Hudson.
And now you have guessed my pur-
pose. What about an annual contest on
y
GEORGETOWN and her rival. If you think
that the people of WASHINGTON would not
turn out and offer you their support, ask
some of your old rowing men how the
Potomac looked in the olCen days when
Hanlon met Courtney ard the old Po-
tomac beat the best that New York af-
forded. How about that long promised
southern Henley? The south viii support
you. With Georgetown taking the lead,
as Pennsylvania does at the American
Henley, all the local rowing clubs and
the southern crews VIII join her. The
high schools are anxious to row. Per-
haps We are on the verge of d great
revival of the rowing game in the soutn.
And Washington will look forward To
an annual holiday, viii once again hold
her prestige among the followers of the
most cXce.le OF aquatic s. orts. And
Georgetown VII! awake from policy Of
submission and once again be the leader
in the grand game of rowing that she is
in the greater field of learning.
"VIRGINIAN."