The sun., 1912-07-01
INTERCOLLEGIATE ROwING.
harvard and Yale Likely to Continue "a
Race with Ono Another.

/ NAce WIN Onc Another.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: TIL,
SrN published an interesting and agree
able editorial article on the much mootcd
question as to whether Harvard and Yale
would enter the Poughkeepsie race. A
news article In THE Sun Of June Is says
The presence of Harvard and Yale coaches
anu oarsmen several days In advance Of the
/ regatta has started the report that these
, Two old rivals will abandon their regatta
on the Thames neat year and come 10
iPoushkeepsie for the big event. or cours.
| neither Wray. Abeies. Hartman nor Ph,,b,n
mas any authority to speak for either Bar.
Vsrd or yale. and all declined TO be quoted
on the question. but they are dispis yine a
very Keen Interest In everything connected
with the regatta, such as conditions, stroke.
and methods OF training They have visited
| all OF the quarters.
your article then goes on to say "roush
water played havoc with the work OF tho
! crews to-day" &c.
Perhaps the report alluded to above Is
correct perhaps not; In any event will
you allow me space for a little ancient
history? Nearly forty years aso there
was an association Of American rowing
colleges. Thirteen crews assembled at
Saratoga Lake and endeavored to pull of
race. lf my memory serves me rightly
tney tried II FOR three days but were un-
aole to row because trough water played
havoc &c. On the third day the race
was :owed and Columbia, with Jasper
Goodwin and Judge Robert c. Cornell and
others. won glorious victory. but many
students spent all Of their next years al
lowance and stayed on for days at Sara
toga because they we're unable to pay their
motel bills all this because trough water
played havoc" When ten or more crews
try TO row together there can be only one
result: delays and disappointments.
Harvard and Yale got together after
the race in 1874 and talked things over.
Having been secretary OF the Harvard
Boat cub at the time. have q vivid
recollection OF the talks and the corre-
spondence. 1t was decided at that time
that thesc two colleges were traditional
rivals and wished to row together; they
made no claim Of superiority over other
crews: they wished TO find a place where
the crews could meet where the chance of
rough water should he reduced to a mini.
mum. and after trying Springfield for a
couple of years decided finally on New
London. and have been rowing there ever
since.
The question OF great association Of
American rowing colleges was thoroughly
threshed out and discussed forty years
ago. and at that time dismissed as i'm
practicable. A glance at the World Al.
manac list Of American universities and
colleges shows nearly 500 institutions Of
learning In this country. Of which perhaps
four-fifths would I've able TO enter crews
in college regatta perhaps there would
be only one-half. but how could you have
college championship so often alluded
TO In the newspapers unless all these
crews were entered. two hundred and
fifty OF them or more all at once. and
where could they row except on some fine
day on pleasant ocean?
Is II not apparent that such an ar
rangement II consistently carried out. 10 |
absolutely impossible? And II Harvard
and Yalr should abandon their race at
New London. locality admirably adapted
to the convenience Of the students OF both
universities, to enter the Poushkeepsic
regatta. would there NOT be an immediate
rush OF entries from other universities or
colleges all over the country. and could
the number be limited. OR. il not. would
there be any way Of widening the Hudson
on the day OF the race? Or II the race
were to be rowed in heats would they be
likely to get through in the same year. |
provided that all the eligible college crews !
were entered?
do not know whether Messrs. Wray. |
Abelcs, Hartman and Phlbin are scri- |
ously considering the question Of the Har- |
ward and Yale attitude toward Pouyh- |
kecpsic regatta or any other general col |
l"gc rowing event. but II they are I am
curious To ascertain whether there Is any |
better answer to the various points raised |
above than there was forty years ago?
NEW YORK. June 20. A. NJ. $.