New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11
lthaCan OarSmen Deter
mined to Celebrate Re
tirement of Trainer.
WONDERFUL RECORD
OF VETERAN COACH
Confidence in His Ability Secret
of Success - Won Four
Years Straight.
BY FRANZ O'NEILL.

When the Cornell varsity eight
flashes over the line at Poughkeepsie
next Saturday evening the aquatic
world will bid farewell to Charles +.
Courtney. the Grand Old Man OF
American rowing.
This wizard OF the sweep and scull,
who has made the name Cornell a
synonyme Of victory in intercollegiate
rowing. viii retire to the calm and
quiet Of private life and leave the des-
tiny Of Cornell rowing in the hands
Of younger and stronger man.
But Courtney or Pop as he is
known 20 the Cornell boys will not
be- lost entirely 20 them. His home IS
on the shores of Lake Cayuga, and
there he vii. end hs days. surrounded
by those he loves and those who love
and revere him. Should occasion de-
man6. the Old Man will act in an ad-
v.sory capacity. but active coaching IS
lcyonc his failing strength. II was
only AZ "a terrific sacrifice that he
turned out the crews which VIII wear
tire Red and White on Saturday.
d, was on the eve OF the intercol-
lcciatc regatta last year that Courtney
fractured his skull. and he spent SIX
weeks in hospital II required a
complete rest OF year for him 10 re-
Upcratc sufficiently TO resume the du-
ties Of coaching and he was aided by
his assistant. John Hoyle. Hoyle has
done much of the work in executing
the commands of the master mind in
preparing the Cornell crews for TINS
race and the races which went before
g be voI frfa < p
clcs AGAINST Harvard. which resulted in
q victory for the Crimson oars, and the
race with Princeton and Yale on Lake
Cayuca. which Cornell won.
Loath TO Quit Work.
Courtney has persisted, against the
wishes Of his physician, IN going out m
the coaching launch 10 watch his
charges row. lie has been under the
care of a nurse whose sole duty Tor
the moment has been 20 see that ne
did not overtaX his strength. FOR a
while on these cruises he remained
Quiet. but when he detected a fault in
ono of his men the old instinct 20 cor
rect and show resumed mastery. At
such times he would reach for the
uc~auhoue 20 shout his directions. as
in The old DAYS But the nurse would
take the mcgaphone from hlm and
transmit the orders 10 Hoyle, VINO IN
turn gave them TO the crew.
Nov Pop" Courtney is walking IN
the rloaming of his career. career
which is without parallel in the an
mails of his chosen sport He is recog-
nized to-day as the greatest coach IN
qu time. and we'll has he won the
honor. Since he assumed command OF
rowing affairs at Cornell back IN the
early '9Os he has won more victories
I'm the intercollegiate regattas than an
the other coaches combined. Inc
Courtney stroke has endured. and he
Is TODAY. as he was ten-yos. twenty
vears AGO. the standard by which oars
men and coaches arc measured.
Cornell sweeps the river," How
often have we seen that headline en-
blqzorcd across the journals the day
after the races at Poughkeepsie? More
nropcrlv IL might have been put.
"Cour,nev syeeps the river For the
other coaches had just rs much raw
material from which 20 fashion their
crews. The hearts. the muscles. the
courage Of those other men were OF
lust as high order. hU. Courtney was
the wizard Of the oar, and his cunning
and skill supplied tfat length which
decided the issue on race day.
Cornell Crews Set Records.
There is not record for the Pough-
leeDeio course which has not been es-
tabiished by Cornell oars. On July ?.
1901 the varsity eight hurled the DO"
Of its golden bronze shell over the I'm