New-York tribune., 1922-12-10


from 1879 to 1859, he was prAeticI
curing this score Of years he devel
entered the college in 1871 nc four
decidedly low level, 80 far as Yale
lie lived 70 sec the university's ma.
rine fortunes rise and fall, and died
leaving them az almost as low an ebb
as they were In The distant days when
he hrst became an active figure in the
srort. lie was the father Of many Of
the English ideas adopted az New
Haven, but Is not believed 20 have been
In sympathy with the extremes TO
which imported methods were carried
under the disastrous regime Of Guy
Niekhls.
While he was identilcd principally
with collegiate rowing. Rob Cook was
intercsted In all branches u the
sport, and never missed an oppos-
tunit- 10 promote the game one
rarely missed seeing him az an the re-
gattas, and 10 Philadelphia. where he
lived for many years. he was looked
Lpon az one OF the pillars Of tho sport.
Taught Famous Cook Stroke
When business interests and age cur
tailed bis activities Al New Haven be
occupied m advisory position that he
held practically until his death. lie
.aught Yale crews what came 20 be
AnoTr as the "Cook stroke" a blend
ing Of English and American ideas. and
with this s5stsm many Blue shells
acnievcd glorious victories. 10 has
oeen faid tnat the best years Yale ever
knew on the water were those In which
ar. CcoS's methods were employed
Under his leadership many splendid
tr.umphs were won and Yale occupied
a hign place IN the sport Of rowing.
For NOR, than q score OF years no
move was made IN the development OF
crews 40 New Haven without the al
proysl of Bob Cook. His advice was
n.Waya found 90 De sound, both In the
technique Of swcep-swinging and the
arduous business OF trainilg.
II has been said that many of th-
rcverscs Yale has suffered on the wate'
after Mr. Cook relinquished sctiv,
control Of the sport at New Iiavef
we're due primarily 20 a departure from
the methods &c had taught. Just what
he thought of the methods emp. .oyeC
b. Guy NiekallB. tho professions
each who was imported fr m England
10 direct rowing affairs 90 Yale. Is nol
definitely know, but the impression
exists that they 1id not have his np
proval.
While Yale has scored tTo Of lh,
mos. sensational scrt OF victories over
Harvard In the lasf two years hei
crews have made \ pathetic showing
against the shells Of other universi
tics and rowcd 70 ore defeat afiel
another. IL 1921 and 1922 the varsity
combinations from New Haven wer'
dccisively beaten In every start Cxeep
the ohrs against Harvard. These 70
verses led 20 the tepcslng OF Guy
Nickalls in 1921, only q few days after
the fcur-mile struggle against IN,
Crimson o. New london, and the sam,
fate wug accorded y. James Corderry
also an English oarsmau, who sue
eecded Mr. Nickalls 40 had coach
Engllsh Methods Altered
The extreme English metlods taught
By both Dir. Nickals and Dir. CJrdsrry
were considerably altered o. the very
eve Of the races against Harvard, and
the reFglts speak for themselves.
The employing Of Ed Leader, coaeh
Of the University Of Washington, as
CordcrT IS successor. is believed TO be
move on the part OF the rowing al
thoEitic5 90 New Haven tc get back 70
the old Cook syste n. While hr. Cock
first actively engaged in rowing AZ
Yale in 1871, be beiieyod then that toe
methods followed IN England, partic-
ulariy by Oxford crews, were IN many
respects superior 10 ours. Il was bis
impression that the maximum speed
could be obtained by an eight thai was
coached with combination ~ Eng
lish and American IDEAS,
With this Plan In mind, Mr.. Cook
az his own expense, went 20 England
and at Oxford made a study OF the
rowing system employed there. Later
be returned 10 Yale and shortly after
ward became amateur coach Of the
Blue crews. The ideas that he brought
back with him we're not taken seriously
az first, and IL was declared that
American crews could never succeed
with the English methods, even though
Mr.. Cook had modified them TO NEE,
local conditions. The first varsity
eight that he turned out was not con-
sidered 70 have a chance with other
varsity combinations, but it won, and
its style was copied extensively there
after By other colleges. From that
time on Yale's standing IN colleg.at
rowing grew.
Mr. Cook was graduated with the
class Of 1915, having been captain and
coach OF the varsity eight. Prom that
year until 1899 he was practically sole
director Of rowing At Yale. In 1899 VI
aealih caused his retirement from ac-
.ir- f~' IS, but his hd ice was always
souga. ia connection with Ralet maTi-
time affairs.
Shortly before he was taken with
the illness that caused his death, Mr.
Cook presented to Yale University. a
collection Of cups and other trophie.
he had won as an Undergraduate era
some that had been presented 20 nm
In honor Of his achievements as heAa
amateur coach o. Yale crews. Inssy
arc now on exhibition in The trophy
room az Yale.