The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-28
THE COLUMBIA MEN WON.
A Rowing Race in the Oakland
Estuary That Was One
sided.
College Boys Who Did Not Wish to
Take Risks in Frail
Craft.

The largely advertised rowing contest
between the oarsmen of the University of
California and Columbia Boating Club did
not draw large crowd to the Oakland
Estuary Yesterday afternoon. Evidently
it was the threatening weather which de-
tered many pleasure-hunters from being
interested spectators of the first amateur
shell race OF the season.
The Columbia crew won the race very
easily, but when it is taken into considera-
ton that they rowed in a four-oared shell
as against a clumsy barge, which was
used by the men of learning, no great Won
der was manifested at the result. The
time of the race-two miles with torn
was slow, even allowing that a strong
south wind was blowing at the time. The
Columbus finished in Is minutes 80 sec
onds and the Universities passed the WIN
ming post in 10 minutes "a seconds. The
crews were as follows:
Colum bia-A. D. Smith, No. l; Paxton How
ard, No. 2; Alexander Rosborough, No. 3;
Harry Haight, captain.
Uniyersity-DWight Hutchinson, No. l; Will
liam NJ. Cole, No. 2; John L. Wittenmeyer, No.
8; n. c. Grew, stroke and captain; Robert Eas-
ton, coxswain.
The officials were: Timer, Colonel Ed
wards OF the University of California
starter, Charles Yale; referee, George
Strong.
1t was announced that the race would
start at 2: 80 o'clock sharp, but it was al
most 4 o'clock when the men from
the classic precincts of old Berkeley,
dressed in their white and golden aquatic
garments, made their appearance.
The reason for this delay was owing to
the loss of their favorite boat, which was
burned a few evenings ago in the conhagra-
ton that swept the Q. c. clubhouse from
the face of the earth.
The clubs had agreed to row in the new
barges, both of which were built by How
ard, an old seafaring man, but as an I'M
foreseen accident came along when least
expected there remained only one barge,
which was safely housed in the Columbia
boathouse during the fire that destroyed
such valuable aquatic property.
The Columbia crew, according to the
rules governing boat-racing, might have
rowed over the course in their barge and
claimed the race, but, of course, such an
act would not be considered for moment
by gentlemen sportsmen. The Columbus
having the right, under the circumstances
attending, to name any racing craft
answerabie to the occasion, they selected
one of two four-oared racing shells, or, as
professionals would term them, working
boats, to race in.
w nen Iue men IIOiu D6Ihelcy SlZeu up
the two shells, which in construction were
alike, they objected on the ground that
they had had no experience in the menip-
ulation of such craft, and, besides, their
men were too heavy to successfully ham
die it. The college boys protested also
against the steering apparatus, which was
manipulated by the feet, thereby dispens-
ing with a coxswain.
The two crews commenced TO argue the
rbxra nd rrloa of of NJ
p NJ when the boys from Berkeley decided
that their only alternative was to get in
and dig as best they could in the shells.
The Columbia crew pulled out into the
open water Immediately on hearing the
result of the U. G. Clubs conference, and
all eyes were expectantly cast upon the
Columbias headquarters, where the col
lege lads were engaged in arranging the
strapping gear, in which their feet must
play prominent part in a shell race.
The minutes were slipping away fast
and the sharp cold south wind was playing