Evening star., 1908-01-27
CREWS OF SCULLERS
VS.. SWEEP OARSMEN

At this time every year the advocates
in the collsga world of octopede rowing
come to the front. but at last the sug-
gestion seems likely to have trial in
order to see If an eight-scull crew would
be a success.
1t will be recalled that several years
ago Jasper Goodwin, the famous exponent
of amateur rowing and coach of Column
bia University. and James Ten Eyck,
the professional coach. came out in arti-
cles, the former opposing the idea and
the latter advocating it. These articles
were published in The Star and were
widely copied in all the leading jour-
nails that devote space to aquatics. as
were interviews with John Kennedy of
Yale. Charles Courtney of Cornell. Pat
Dempsey of this city and Ellis Ward of
the. University of Pennsylvania.
The discussion led to several try-Outs.
Fred Plasted. while in charge OF crew
on the Harlem river. got up race with
the Philadelphia scullers and so interest
ing o.a the race turn out that the National
Association of Amateur Oarsmen added
an octopede race as a feature o. its cham
pionship races and this has kept the
progressive" style before the public.
1t Is now probable that the college
world will enter into the arena as James
Ten Eyck, coach at Syracuse lnlver-
sty. has induced the athletic association
to purchase an eight built on lines diff
fe-ent from sweep rowing and adapted
solely for sculling purposes. lie has
heard from Ellis Ward of the University
of Pennsylvania and Wray from Column
bia that they also have such boats i'll
stock, and will cheerfully arrange a race
some time. before the date set for the
Poughkeepsie race.
Ten Eyck has always gone on the
theory that a person used to single
sculling makes the best sweep oarsman,
and hence he makes 1t point to have
all Of the Syracuse students who come
out for the crews take preliminary work
in singles. In this respect he will have
decided advantage over the organiza-
tions that will oppose him.
The stewards OF the Poughkeepsie Re
gatta Association are taking great and
lively interest in octopede racing and
will watch the results Of the Syracuse.
Pennsylvania. Columbia three-corner
race with that concern that a Snowman
watches for attractions. for il it proves
successful it will surely be added to the
intercollegiate meeting at Poughkeepsie
In 1909.
Harry Vail. Geo-getown's new rowing
coach, in speaking of Octopede rowing.
declared that it was the prettiest sight
ina ginable to see eight men sculling
shell. while a contest between two or
more crews. similarly boated. was sight
worth going across tEc COHtlIetiI ~ SET.
1t is beautiful work, for 1T is easy to
get eight men who know anything about
rowing TO use sculls in an eight. as it
Is almost impossible to get the boat off
keel.
But in the ordinary eight-oared shell.
said Vail. there is practically more sci
ence displayed. more attention is paid to
the development of the oarsmen. and 1t
requires constant application to master
the art before the real acme of rowing
is attained. But once an oarsman
reaches the point where every movement
is timed to perfect working unit.
the boat goes through the water without
any checking, and he realizes tha. it's his
perfect harmonious action with the other
seven men that makes il SO. He does not
care for any other style of rowing, hence
| do not believe octopede work will ever
supersede eight-oared sweep rowing, at
least not in my day.