Year: 1873

The Bennett Medal New and Interest
ing Feature in the Contest


.. .t SPRINaFIELD, Mass. July g. 1874


All the college crews entered for the grand re-
gatta are now here except B0wd0in, and have set
tied down to their last hard work preparatory to
their last great struggle on the 18th instant From
early morn till breakfast time the dust OF the river
roads from West Springfield common above to the
lower edge Of Agawam below the city is disturbed
by the feet Of the oarsmen and their trainers out for
their morning exercises. At nine o'clock the roads
and quarters are forsaken for the boats and from
that time till nightfall the waters of the beautiful
Connecticut are vexed by the rush of near q hun
dred blades propelled by as many strong legs and
sturdy backs and twice as many corded arms. The
scene nom the high banks in Agawam Is ex-
tremely animated, and in the afternoon the river
road is crowded with carriages and vehicles of
every description, each with it's load Of gentlemen
and their ladies, out to witness the performances
OF the college musclemen and to form opinions
concerning the result Of the race.


EVERYBODY Is TALKING" REGATTA,
and It is surprising to note the number OF individ
mails who appear, from their talk, to be tho
roughly .up" on all the fine points OF aquatic
science. Every farmer along the shore has his
already hackneyed expressions for the movements
OF each crew, which. on examination. are found to
prove c0nclusively, to himself at least, that none
OF the crews row as they ought except the one
that Is paying him SIS week per head for board
and lodging. The boys have caught the spirit Of
the hour, and every little gamin struts about the
streets with Q bit of ribbon pinned 10 his jacket
and talks as learnedly as hls father or older
brothers about the "Aggies and their chances, the
Dartm0uths and their size. and 80 on through the
whole thirteen crews. Hosts of them 60 in bath
Ing just because it is good excuse to get where
they can see the crews, and they generally get so
absorbed in their observations as to forget
utterly that they are not dressed, and stand
gaping at the boats with open mouths or rush
frantically up ana down, swinging their arms yell
Ing with all their might and looking for all the
world like q horde Of Indian papooses faded out.
Even the ladies have caught the enthusiasm and
have fersaken their city promenades for the river
road, where they watch the crews interestedly,
comment freely and nirt unremittingly with the
oarsmen when they get chance.


THE AIR IS FULL OF SPECULATION


about the crews, and one is now the favorite and
now another according as the last report is
favorable or otherwise about the crew. story
that one of the Dartmouth giants is sick tumbles
that crew from the pinnacle on which their size has
play, only to be raised again when 1t Is told the
next day that he is only little indsposed, and
that they nave as good q man to I'LL his place.
Everybody thinks he is certain which are the best
four crew, and no one names the same list twice.


PAOTs AND GOSSIP ABOUT THE CREWS.


The general public can only judge OF the crews
from their appearance on the river, but the
HERALD's correspondent has been able to get be-
hina Jne scenes and learn many 1acts and hear
much pr OCCASIONAL gossip inaccessible to outsiders
Many 'point" about the race Is handed round
among the professional trainers at their private
soirees and they do not know where to put their
money on the 18th it will not be for want OF
derstanding among themselves.


CONDITION OF THE YALE CREWS.


The appearance Of the Yale men, who are far
thest up the river, Is very satisfactory at first
Sight, but in fact there are many bad signs among
them. 70 start with, they are very much dis
satisfied with their new Baikir boat, which proves
to be twenty pounds heavier than II was ordered,
and has already commenced to bulge out between
the ribs. The seats also slide very hard, and,
doubtless, are responsible for the numerous boils
Cook was unable to row yesterday morning by rea-
son OF one OF them, but was in the boat again n
the afternoon and Is al right to-day. The "boys'


THE PLKAsANTEsT SET UPON THE RIVER


and deserve great credit for the good Eatured way
IN which they bear up under the exacting demands
OF their captain, who unfortunately has not the
knack Of getting the most out OF his men In the
least dlsaQreeabe manner. Indeed, his criticisms
have Deen so severe sometimes to almost dis
courage some members OF the crew and make them
feel as though they must resign The Freshmen,
however, are in better spirits, and the jolly Hamil
is OF great service In keeping both crews In good
spirits by his witty sayings and comicalties. The
new stroke, and If they get well broken in before the
race will not come in last. The Freshmen are very


snd os erG ar OF coming IN @ IN
the great race.


HARVARD QUARTERS.


Driving back through the city the next stopping
place is at the Harvard quarters, just below the
Jerry on the city side. Both the University and
Freshmen's crews are comfortably located In q
modern brick mansion on an eminence just back
OF the river and commanding fine view OF the
course. This crew, like former Harvard crews,
leads the river In point Of style and dash. They
are muscular-l looking SET but they, with the Yale
and Columbia crews, labor at the great disad-
Vsaas SsVe never 0dS dome anything but % paywcrs.
Their physique Is unexteepmonabe; tadS but their
pearance so nosloeable in the crews made up OF the
sons Of farmers and mechanics. No crew In the
river as has the esprit de corps OF the Harvard
Freshmen, and no crew pulls so nearly the perfect
stroke.


The 'iads' OF the crew are noticeably lighter
than the one OF last year, and the new men, though
good do not fill the vacant places lar regards
muscle and grit. But they work much better to-
Rether and win probably IN make about the same time
streak OF Ill luck in being run over by the Agawam
ferryDoat on Saturday, which, BY the way, Is the
quate for the ordinary demands OF trade, and sure
to be worse than nothing on regatta day. IL Is the
ever, without driving round by the bridge-a dis
tance OF four miles-and is as bad monopoly in
its way as the biggest railroad corporation In the
country. The Freshmen initiate the University
stroke but pull II without as much dash and STYLE
Both crews have that inimitable Harvard cut, and,
ike all Harvard men, are perfectly happy II only
they can be considered by the public the greatest
snoDs on the river


A CREW OF ARTISANS.


Just above the Harvard men are the quarters OF
Cornell, whose crew are considered BY many as
men and have all been used to hard labor In the
shop They are working hard, and row more than
any other crew except the Dartmouths and Wes-
ievans: but there are well substantiated rumors
that some Of them do not train in the most faithful
manner. Coulter, their trainer, mas grest conn
dance in them however, and has habit OF turning
mn his nose when speaking Of the other crews, as
though he had something OF contempt for them
all. Url l.s.. Il.l