The Portland daily press., 1875-07-22
The College Regatta.
Aword for Bowdoin-The Mishaps OF
the Grew,
PORTLAND, July 21st, 1876.

PORTLAND, July Dist, 1876.
To the Editor of the Press:
In order that the alumni and friends of Bow
doin college who SO kindly assisted in sending
the crew to Saratoga this year, may know fully
the circumstances which were the means of
placing Bowdoin among the last crews in the
race, take the liberty of writing few words
upon the subject, for which trust you will
find space in your columns. When the crew
was selected at the commencement of last
term, very few of the studants or friends of the
college hoped for success, since it was thought
that six green men could certainly do moth
ing against men of SO much experience as they
would meet at lSaratoga. ButI;as time passed
on and as the crew steadily improved, many
of these doubts vanished, and when the time
of departure from Brunswick arrived many
were quite sang uine of success. Nor were
their hopes lowered when Saratoga was
reached, for nearly all of the papers spoke,
most favorably of Bowdoin and said that one
could depend upon finding her among the first
six crews.
In pool-selling also she was several times
among the favorites, and according to the New
York and Boston papers one hour before the
race, Yale and Cornell sold first, Columbia and
Bowdoin second. From such reports as these
all friends of the college expected to find her
among the first. Consequently, when the race
was rowed and Bowdoin was given the tenth
position, all were disappointed and naturally
asked for an explanation.
have therefore decided to state several of
the most important causes which were instru-
mental in bringing about such defeat. Two
members of the crew were unwell and could
not therefore pull so hard as usual. Owing to
some misunderstanding the boat was made an
inch too wide, and much too heavy, weighing
probably twenty pounds more than any other
boat upon the lake.
After the boats had started and between the
II and 2 mile flags, when Bowdoin stood
among the first six crews, she was steered into
buoy, and every crew but one passed her. AS
soon as the boat could be freed from the buoy,
the crew started forward again in good form
and not much tired, with the hope of doing
well, notwithstanding the accident. Several
crews were soon passed and again all looked
hopeful when the wake of the steamer Madge,
which was following the race, struck the shell
and caused it to careen SO much to the. star
board that all the advantage just gained was
lost and Bowdoin again found herself last In
the remaining half mile, however, Union and
Hamilton were passed, and as Princeton was
disabled the tenth position was given to Bow
doin.
Too much stress cannot be laid upon the
action of the steamer, which was in every re-
spect contrary to the rules of boat-racing or of
fair play, and ought not to have been allowed
this veal, land certainly never will again if Bow
doin is to row. Had it not been for the wake Of
the steamer,I am certain that, Notwithstanding
the condition of part of the crew, Bowdon
would have been among the first six crews
when the three miles were flushed. Let not
the friends of the college, therefore, say that
it is useless to send another crew. but make
every exertion to send a crew next year which
shall in every way do honor to old Bowdoin
SPECTATOR.