New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-22

again and again against the side OF the loat
broke holes in II in three places tore on It's AFTER
deck and made the race impossible. The obvious
criticism against the course is modified trihe by
the fact that the accident was not caused by
steamer on business bent, but by the tug which
carried Governor Morton and lis party, who had
come down from Rhinecliff to see the race. Dut
there was little consolation in that fact Inc tug
was Of course. a privileged boat, and the police
regulations though admirable and well enforceo'
could effect nothing as against the possible care
essness Of her captain and the combination OF cir
cumstances which brought about the catastrophe.
In this combination It is possible without un-
charitableness TO count want OF proper juds'
rnent and care on the part Of the representatives
of Pennsylvania II seems little singular tnas
they should not have foreseen possible accidents
OF .har kind when launching their she'll. and wait
cl until they were Of quiet water Tney GER
tainly knew the danger they ran, Tor the she'I
was swamped 4 few days ago just after IL mao
left the noat by the swelis from one OF the Albany
boats THIS is the story told by Frank b. Eiiiss
one of the directors OF the University OF fenh-
sylvania Athletic Association. who vas on the
aoa,. ard one Of the two men who had hold OF the
shell al the time Of the accident:
HOW THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED.
While 50 occupied he says the swes from the
powerful tugboat John c. Hartt came upon them.
The first was - heavy that II washed foot
high oyer the float. filed he she'll and dashed
I, against the side Of the float. It was followed
by another and another. each OF wnich srouho
and pounded the shell against the pitching raft
Wher the boat was rescued II was iounA that
three holes had been broken through her bot
tom. her after deck ripped on, ana sne was
hopeessly bruised and broken He places the
act 4
must have been a quarter OF an hour later for
the iIartt which had come down the course
vas returning t. the starting point and reached
the stak.boat at about twenty minutes 10 D.
Her captain was handling her In manner wnich
Indicated that he knew nothing OF the frailty OF
racing-boats A few hundred yards above the
stakeboat she was stopped BY the comoineo
steam shreks OF pol'ce-ooat which was tow-
ing tho shell Of the Cornell crew and the yells
~ Postmaster Hasbrouck Just In the nick OF time
TO prevent her from swapping the she'll
or the ruin which rad been wrought two
miles below all on board were blissfully igno-
rant. nor did they learn the facts until Referee
Brooks. after conferring with Cornell and CO.
lumbia. declared the race postponed until Monday
evening because Of the breaking OF Pennsyi-
vania's shell.
shortly after the sccident the referees poas
reached the Pennsylvania boathouse. Atter
learning the facts. Or Hitchcock. the repre-
sentative OF Cornell. proposed that In view OF tho
fact that many thousands had come 10 see
race Columbia and Cornell 81 ould make the con-
test and the winner row Pennsylvania at time
and place 10 be agreed upon whenever Penn
sylvania should be ready. To this Guy Rich
ards interposed an energetic protest. He
thought the public wanted what Columbia
vanted-a triple race-and he favored a post
ponement FOR twenty-four hours or till Monday
by which time the damages to the Pennsylvania
shell could lie repaired. According to Mr.. Ellis
the Representatives OF Pennsylvania took no part
in the discussion. and the referees boat started
up the river where the Cornell and Columbia
crews were awaiting their antagonists. CornelTs
men were comfortably ensconced in the police
boat which was towing their SHE'LL but the
Coumb!as had rowed over from quarters, having
started out twenty minutes after the Corneil
crew passed their boatnouse. They were kept
nearly an hour on the water before they were
Informed OF the postponerne.t OF the race ana
IT'S cause. The postponement was quickly agreed
unon and wes announced To the newspaper re-
porters on the launch Queen City. and by them
the intelligence was conveyed to the people on
the observation train and other patien; and be-
draggled spectators on shore.
PROFOUND DISAPPOINTMENT FELT.
The feeling OF disappointment over the unfortu-
nate outcome OF the days endeavor was pro-
found. especially among the members OF the
crews, yet the decision Of Mr. Richards was gen.
erally applauded DR. Hitchcock. feeling that the
thousands who had paid their money and endured
such extreme discomfort the rain produced
were deserving OF more than ordinary considera-
ton offered TO row an exhibition race with CO.
lumbia all the crews TO unite In the real contest
as soon as the damages TO the shell could be re-
naired but this amable. II not altogether wise
proposition. was declined for obvious reasons. one
Of which probably was that 1t would be manites,,y
unfair 10 ask the two crews TO row tour-mIIS
race twice within two or three days. circum-
stance which is now Of peculiar signncance -
that Pennsylvania has frequently complained or
the location of her boathouse since she oegan her
work on the river here. The water Is shallow or
the float. and this lifts the swells 10 unusual
heights as they roll in toward the shore
Had the race been rowed. II would douotiess
have been a pretty contest but scarcely the IN
spring spectacle which college boatrace usual.
Is is The weather. not disadvantageous 80 far as
the water conditions were concerned. was distress.
full In the extreme FOR the spectators, VINO are SO
large a part OF the exhibition. The prospect OF
standing sitting for an hour or two In the ram
was not inviting and this prevented a brilliant
water pageant and made the observation train
II dismal sight from the river
GATHERING OF THE FLEET
Yet there were the beginnings OF splendid
show in the craft OF all kinds anchored along
the racing lane In Its last mile. and In the num-
ber Of boats that gathered near the stakeboat to
get view OF the start. Among these were the
Governors tug which caused the mischief the
tugs T. l.. Levy and George W. Washburn: the
Queen City. apart for the press reporters;
the revenue cutter Hudson the police boats
Susie and Wala Walla. the cteam yachts MIR
vana Judge and Now Then. and the steamboat
Emmeline This was a larger fleet than the
police regulations contemplated. There was no
however. instead.
for the future OF the course In the ready will
rgness OF SO many boat owners and captains to
submit TO the rules Of the Ra e Comrtittee.
4 pretty feature OF the arrangements was the
row Of saboats along the lower half OF the
course marking the line across which excursion
boats and private yachts were not permitted to