New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-19
md the referee postponed the race until o'clock

There was great disappointment at the postpone
ment, and Of course. an immense amount OF Rrumb-
ling, most of which was utterly unreasonable, 80
that it will be worth while to state just here why 1t
was that the race not rowed. Wesleyan and
Columbia came together this Summer at the
Metropolitan Regatta tire Pleasant Valley
course on the Fourth OF July. The water was very
rough, and the race. which Mt one time gave PROM
Use of being close one. was summarily ended by
Weseyan's being swamped within third of mile
from the finish. OF course the claim was at once
set up by Wesleyan's friends that she could have
beaten Columbia If she had not sunk, and
when the Lake George Regatta came of the cap
tains of the three agreed that, since tins was
the last time that the college crews would come
together this year, the race should not he rowed
except in smooth water, that no crew might
be able to set up such claim again, and
would he lowed squarey on It's merits, and that de-
feat could not again he attributed 10 any su mis-
hap and that no one shoud have cause for dsSats-
faction. From this 1t viii be clearly why the
race was postptned-for the water was unqueetion-
ably very bad-and that no one crew was more to
blame foI not rowing thar the others
THE RACE or THE FoURs.
This morning. at few minutes after 6,
the Lizzie NJ. Price, with the referee and
members Of the press on board, left the
dock Of the Lake House. where the Columbia
crew were CHARTERED. The Columbus had already
gone M the course accompanied by their faithful
coach Jasper T. Goodwin the stroke Of the famous
Columbia crew that won at Henley last
year. SO the referees boat steamed across
the lake to the Fort George Hotel to warn
the Cornell crew. who were staying there, aud to
take on board Mr. Francis, the famous Cornell
sculler. who had been acting as thier COACH and
who was also the official tmckeeper From Fort
George the Price went on to the Crosby side,
where the Wesleyans were found already
in their boat. Ordering these 10 go up
10 the star, tho referee proceeded leisurely
to the head OF tie cOuIse, and after little delay
the boats camc out and took their positions, which
had been chosen by lot last Saturday. The CorneIls
rad the inside place. nearest the west shore, ut the
first sake-boat. The second stake-boat had drifted
out of position the referee placed tho Weseyans
who we're in the middle a. the third boat,
and the Columbus. who were out in the middle of
the lake at the fourth. Thus there were two hum
dred feet between Cornell and Wesleyan, and one
hundred between Wesleyan and Columbia. At
twenty-five minutes past the boats were III line,
the referees pistol was fired aud the long-talkedof
/ college race was begun.
| Columbia got off beautifully. Two quick, nervous
| strokes, perfectly firm and clean, and she
had three or four feet the best of the other boats
and had settled down to a rafting pace of forty or
| forty-one strokes 10 the minute. pulling in abso-
utey faultess form and steering beautifully. Wes-
! leyan did not get off quite so well,
! for her men did not catch together and
there was some splashing Cornell got off
| last steering somewhat nshore, as if in search of
smoother water, for there was sharp breeze which
was beginning to rufle the surface of the lake
! sideTaby, However, at "a hundred yards from the
! start there was not ten feet difference between
| the bows Of the boats. At the quarter-mile
| Columbia, who was still keeping up Ter
! slashing pace. was half a length ahead OF
! Wesleyan, who was about as much ahead
! of Cornell Wesleyan was beginning to steer into
Columbia's water, while Cornell was keeping more
aud more lnshore.
At The half mile. which was made In the renarka-
bly, fast time Of min. 80 sec, Columbia had in
creased her lead. ths her stern was about level
with Wesleyan's bow, whilo Wesleyan had
about the Same advantage Cornell.
And now came the question, Can Columbia last y
She was still pulling the same tremendous stroke,
40 TO AZ per minute, aud though she was rowing In
beautiful form, stlll her men were so much lighter
than either of the other crews that 1t seemed i'm
possible that she should keep it up, for weight is
sure to tell in as well, not as
much, as anything else. Here Wesleyan was
pulling about 81 TO the minute, and Cornell
SO, with Wesleyan pulling IL rather better
form than the Ithaca crew. But the plucky little
fellows from New-York had good grit Ia them,
and when the mile post was reached In . min.
20 sec and it was found that they had two good
lengths of clear water between themselves and
Wesleyan, who was four or five ahead Of Cor
nell it was pretty evident that, barring accidents.
they would win the race.
From here on the excitement was intense. The
steamers that were accompanying the race were
shrieking encouragement from their Whistles
The friends Of the men were yelling enconr-
sgement a.d advice, which was prob
ably not heard. and was certainly un-
needed, and the people on the banks were roaring
applause. Columbia continued to keep and to in
crease her lead but Cornell was beginning 70 creep
up on Wesleyan. At the finish, Columbia
was ahead, Wesleyan four lengths behind
her, and Cornell third about three lengths
and half behind Wesleyan. The race was rowed
by Columbia in the extraordinary time OF MIN,
90 Sec, which IS not only the best amateur time on
record for this distance In slack water but beats
the time that the remarkable Hilldale crew made
last week at Saratoga by over six seconds. Wes-
! leyan came IN in min. 3Sl2 Sec, and Cornell
III min. 40 sec.
measure to her admirable style, for her
men are both younger and lighter than
the other crews. Averaging nearly twenty
pounds apiece lighter than the Cornell men. But
from start to finish they pulled stroke that was
exceptionally rapid, once or twice reaching ~ to
the minnie and vet there was never the slightest
roughness or lack Of form IN the boat. They rowed
as neatly and as well together at the end as at the
beginning Of the race. Columbia owes much 10 the
adIpirable coaching and watchful care of Mr..
Goodwin, who must feel almost az happy "a the
crew themselves over the result Of the race. and
much TO Eldredges admirable stoerinQ but they are
a wonderfully plucky crew, and deserve their yc-
I thnsv h.r. af.H tnn w