[ Continued from seventh page.]
A STRIKING FEATURE,
(London Field, July 11.)
- There has been one peculiar character-
istic of the Yale oarsmen which has
struck all who have observed them, or
have conversed with them; this feature
has been their modesty, tempered with
laudable ambition. Instead of arriving
with the notion that they were going
to teach the Old World how to row, they
seem to have started with the hypothesis
that they had come to see what rowing
was on this side of the Atlantic, and that
they had made up their minds to make
this venture a sort of “preliminary ex-
amination,’ from which they intended to
take and compare notes, and, after doing
their best for the occasion, to digest their
experiences for some future, and doubt-
less more effective attempt. We have
seldom seen a club more observant of
discrepancies in styles, as compared with
their own, or more free from blindness
as to their own peculiarities. Our ex-
perience is that all rowing clubs have
much ‘to learn from each other, and that
contact of club with club opens the eyes
of each, and facilitates mutual] improve-
ments in style.
OPINIONS OF CRITICS.
Sif Charles Dilke, who is recog-
nized in England as an authority on
rowing is quoted recently in the Uni-
versity Magazine as expressing the
following opinion of Yale’s perform-
ance ;—-
Yale have already shown and said that
they intend to imitate our longer style,
and there can be no doubt that they will
do so, and that the next time they come
to Henley it will take the best crew that
England can produce, with the most per-
fect ‘training to beat them. That it is
not impossible for a perfect crew to pad-
dle short, and to row long is shown by
New. Mr. Whitworth, their stroke; nev-
er rowed out the finish at a paddle, but
rowed the stroke fully through when the
paddle was extended into a strong row.
Yale were similarly able to convert their
shorter stroke at times into a long. power-
ful row; but they could not do ithis, and
yet manage a quick stroke; and it was
at this point that they failed, and in or-
der to row a quick enough stroke for
the Henley course they were forced to
row the shorter American style. They
will, undoubtedly, work at the combina-
tion of the quick stroke with length and
will attend to their recovery from the
long swing back; and our crews will have
in future to train better than they do in
the present day if great crews of old
oarsmen, or what are sometimes called
crews of names, are to stand a “Chance
with them the next time they come to
Henley.
Mr. R. C. Lehman, who has won a
reputation as Leander’s famous coach,
wrote to Harper’s Weekly two weeks
ago in answer to comments made in
their columns on the Henley race. The
following is extracted :—
THE STROKE,
The more I have rowed and the more I
have coached the stronger has my con-
viction become that it is only by the
long sweeping stroke, firmly marked at
the beginning, and held through with-
out wavering till the hands reach the
chest, that you can create and maintain
pace in a racing craft. This kind of
stroke you cannot get unless you swing
the body well down, at the same time
reaching far out with the arms, so as
to strike your beginning fair and square,
and immediately at the full extent of
body-swing and arm-reach behind the
riggle. The arms being kept straight,
the body swings back as though released
from a spring, all the weight telling di-
rectly on the blade in the water. As
the body swings, the legs drive, until
with a final shove that flattens down the
knees- the last ounce of leg-power is ap-
plied to blades, and simultaneously the
shoulders go back, the elbows pass the
sides, and the outside hand forces the
oar handle right home to the chest. If
this last part is done firm and hard, and
with all limbs and muscles working to-
gether, the boat seems to get an extra
impulse to carry her along between
strokes, and the hands leave the chest
smartly, almost of their own accord,
bringing the body on to the recovery with
an elastic spring. The essentials, the
pace-creating essentials, are always the
beginning and finish as I have described
them. * * * The fact is, Leander, to
put it in a different way, had the longer
stride, and having it, were able to hold
Yale to half-way with an economy of
labor which proved so much to their ad-
vantage that thereafter they were able to
shoot away from Yale almost as if the
latter were standing still, and to win in
a end, without being rowed all out, in
“In size, weight, and obvious muscular
power Yale were superior to Leander,
and to every other crew in Henley; their
condition was admittedly good; why,
hen, should they have been beaten, ex-
cept by a crew rowing a better stroke?
CONCERNING THE OARS.
In regard to the oars used by Yale,
Mr. Lehmann says:—
I do not believe any man, however mus-
cular and powerful he may be, can do
himself justice or propel the boat prop-
erly with a blade broader than. 6 inches,
though the disadvantage would be less
TATE Ads Meet
V¥ Ta a
THE FINISH AT HENLEY:
Leander wins by a length and a half.
felt by a crew which purposely rows a
very short stroke, as Yale did. But if
Yale want to try rowing in our style,
and with our-tength of swing and react >.
they must give up their excessive breadth ‘
Mr. Trevor-Jiones’s opinion that ©
Yale would have beaten Leander had
of blade.
the crew used the 6-inch blades does niot
impress me as valuable; for, before ‘the
race, Mr. Trevor-Jones predicted a Le--
ander defeat, without reference to blades,
THE OUTLOOK FOR NEXT SEASON.
‘Regarding the performance of the
University eight as encouraging and
successful miany now hold the opinion
that Yale should visit Henley again,
next spring, when with the help of
the experience and rowing instruction,
gained last July they would have a
fine chance to win.
body who feels an interest in Amer-
ican rowing and especially in Yale
rowing, cherishes the hope that ak
some future time a Yale crew may
win the grand challenge cup, and sf:
this is ever to be, when would cir-
cumstances be more favorable than
next summer? And why is such a plan
not all the more opportune at a time
when a race with Harvard seems out
of the question? But here it must he
Said that prospects of a race wilh
Harvard are not altogether dead in
some minds, and the expense of an-
other Henley trip and the possibility
of not having such a strong crew next
season are the considerations which
might oppose a repetition of last sum-
mer’s expedition. :
A third alternative is a race with
Cornell, which could undoubtedly be
arranged and would give a Yale eight
more cause for excitement than she
has experienced in this country for
many years. Cornell was champion of
four mile racing crews, which were
on the water last summer, and had a
fast crew. The adoption of a new ri-
val instead of a renewal of the fight
with Harvard might find favor with
some critics but in reality the lean-
ing of most Yale men iis towards an-
nual struggles with Harvard in all
branches of athletics, :
[Any discussion at this date of the
rowing situation can be only very
vague and unreliable. No forecast
can be made as to the ultimate plan
of the management and no decision
may be made till later on in the year.
Almost every- .
THE WRESTLING MATCHES
“Academic Freshmen and Scientific
Juniors Win their Contests.
The annual wrestling matches be-
tween representatives of the Fresh-
man and Sophomore classes, the rem-
nant of the rush of former years, took
place on Wednesday evening, Septem-
ber 28, at the Hopkins Grammar
School lot. In response to announce-
ments issued by F. TIT. Murphy, ’97, as
captain of the Football team, the un-
dergraduates met by classes in front
of Osborn Hall at 7:30 p. m. The pro-
cession was then formed. The Sieniiors
coming first carrying lighted ‘torches,
and headed by a brass band marched
in a roundabout way to the scene of
action. Cheers for the incoming class
of 1900 were given at several points on
the route. A large ring was made on
ithe Grammar School lot and then rep-
resentatives of the two classes were
called out for the three matches, light
weight, middle weight and heavy
wieigihit. |
The Freshmen won the contest de-
feating their opponents by excellent
work in all three matches. 'The light-
weight was won by Bartlett, 1900, who
defeated Parkes, ’99, the first and last
rounds resulting in draws and tthe sec-
ond being won by Bartlett in 1 min-
ute 15 seconds. Simonds, 1900, won
the middle weight match by defeat-
ing Atkins, 99, in two straight bouts
in 2:25 and 1:50 respectively. In the
heavy weight class Beck, ’99, won the
second round in 30 seconds, but was
defeated in the other two by Jack,
1900, in the short times of 25 and 40
seconds.
F. R. Lehibach, 97, acted as referee
of the wrestling and S. K. Gerard, ’97,
as timekeeper.
The procession was formed again
and returned to Osborn Hall where
the crowd quickly dispersed. ‘T'wo
groups, ‘however, of Freshmen and
Sophomores, respectively, cherished
desire for a “scrap” and formed on op-
posite sides of Chapel street. Then
they moved up towards York street
and began a rush which lasted only
afew minutes and resulted in no real
trouble. The combatants were per-
suaded to desist by some upper-class-
men, who had followed the crowd.
THE ‘‘SHEFF.” RUSH...
The annual Scientific School rush
took place on Saturday evening, Sept:
26, on a lot at the corner of Whitney
avenue and Canner street. It ‘was
rumored that on this occasion the
“townies’” had intended to mob the
students on account of the insulting
manner in which the latter had treated
Mr. W. J. Bryan a few days previous.
‘The students heard the rumor and
both parties approached the scene of
action ready for trouble if not actually
desiring it. The police force had,
however, anticipated trouble and sent
a squad of policement to. preserve or-
. der and no friction resulted.
At half-past seven the Second Regi-
ment band arrived at Sheffield Halli
and the procession began, being led
iby a large numiber of Seniors in fancy
costumes. The line of march was
down Grove to Temple street and out
Temple and Whitney avenue to the
vacant lot where the wrestling took
place. When a circle had been tormed
iby the seniors the wrestling began.
‘The featherweight match was won
iby Gregory, 98 S., from Anderson, ’99
S., in two rounds. The middleweight
match between Hamiin, ’98 S., and
‘Belle, ’°99 S., after three rounds re
sulted in a tie. In the heavyweight
match Slocovitch, ’98 S., defeated Fow-
ler, 99 S., in two rounds. ‘The pro-
cession then reformed and returned by
Whitney avenue to Chapel street,
thence by College street to Stheffield
Hall.
—————>o____—-
All-America Amateur Baseball
Nine.
The following selection for an All-
American amateur baseball nine for
1896 was made by Caspar Whitney in
Harper's Weekly: Pitcher, Wilson,
Princeton; catcher, Murphy, Yale:
firstbase, Letton, Yale; secondbase,
Rodman, Brown; thirdbase, Houghton,
Harvard; shortstop, Ward, Princeton:
left field, Greenway, Yale; center field,
Bradley, Princeton; right field, Robin-
son, Brown. Substitutes: Catcher,
Dunne, Brown; pitcher, Paine, Har-
vard; in-fielders, Fultz, Brown; out-
fielders, Burgess, Harvard. It will be
seen that Yale has three members of
the team—Murphy as catcher, Letton
at first, and Greenway in left field.
Princeton also has three positions;
Brown two, and two substitutes while
Harvard one, and two substitutes.
