Reminiscing

NEW LONDON. Conn.--In 1930--maybe it was 1929--the Harvard combination freshman-upperclassman crew led Yale by six boat-lengths when the stroke, the person whose timing everyone else in the boat was following, collapsed in his seat.

"The number seven picked it up," David Cheever '31 recounts with glee, "and brought it in just in time."

Amor Hollingsworth '31 rowed seven that day, and while he and Cheever can't seem to agree on the year, they went back over the details here on the banks of the Thames River yesterday.

Stanley W. Swaim '31, who stroked the junior varsity that year, nodded in agreement as Hollingsworth explained the secret to the boat's success. "The reason we won the race--it wasn't that difficult" he explained calmly. "The stroke was so good before he collapsed that he had us miles ahead."

The trio was back yesterday at Red Top, the Crimson camp for the annual Harvard-Yale crew race, to recount that and other hair-raising experiences.

But a balding Amor Hollingsworth was also there to see his "first cousin once removed," Arthur, row in this year's j.v. race for the Crimson. There were no unforeseen catastrophes; Harvard got--and stayed--miles ahead.

Amor said of Arthur. "I am just as proud as I can be." Arthur said of Amor, "It's great having him here."

The Hollingsworths may be low-key men, but they sure can row.

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Four Harvard crews had been at Red Top since May 24. Some of their two-a-day workouts were rained and stormed out, but they still did the things generations of crews have done before them.

They played croquet and Risk. They competed in caterpillar races on the John D. Merrill '89 memorial on the riverbank across form the finish line. In these days of electronic wizardry, they even got to watch themselves on videotape. They also watched movies and eventually got around to filming interviews with one another.

But maybe they watched "Apocalypse Now" one time too many: or may be they didn't see it at all. Whatever, the third varsity crew members were sufficiently inspired by the infamous helicopter scene to include the inscription. "Eli Don't Surf' when they decorated the rock that overlooks the finish line with mysterious victory runes. The 3Vs walked around in incriminating clothing yesterday: red and white paint from the huge "H" on the rock marked the victors of Saturday night's combination eights contest.

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One spectator cheering on the undefeated Harvard freshmen wore a sign on his back that read. "Rex Power." Rex is the name of the boat the Crimson frosh use: in its second year of competition, it has yet to lose a race

The Doolittle brothers, sophomore Ted and freshman Mike, have both rowed in it. Last year's freshmen won the Ladies' Challenge Plate at Henley, this year's group express absolute confidence in their ability to repeat the feat. Even their coach the notoriously cautious Ted Washburn, calls them "a good strong boat."

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Dr. Griffith Winthrop Sr. Cornell '32, lives in Connecticut and ventured to Red Top yesterday to cheer for Harvard, his daughter's son's and son-in-law's alma-mater. He predicted victory for the Crimson. "It's Harvard's year they've got the depth, they should win," Winthrop said. But when the varsity race got pushed back seven hours, the ex-oarsman abandoned ship.

"My devotion to Harvard crew lasts until one o'clock," he said. And with that Winthrop set sail home