The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-22
HER SHE'LL CRACKED
PENNSYLvANIA'S RACING BOAT DAM
AGED By WASH WAVES.
Governor MOrton's Steamer the Inno-
cent Cause of the TrOuble-Race
Postponed Till Monday.

POUGHKEEPSIE, n. Y, June 21.-The
wash or passing tug this afternoon
smashed the shell of Pennsylvania crew
against their boathouse float as the men
were getting away for the start of their
four-mile race with the Fights of Cornell
and Columbia. One of the aquatic trio
being disabled, the two others determined
to defer the contest until next Monday
evening, SO that Pennsylvania might mend
her wounded shell and take part in the
struggle for which each has been for weeks
in preparation. Thousands of spectators
no man can say how many-because they
were perched on the hillsides and afioat
in every possible vantage point-went away
disappointed. None, however, of all who
came to are SO bitterly chagrined as
are the local committeeman, who had
brought all preparations to the point that
left nothing to be done save the racing.
Steam craft must, and would ply the river
before the race. and the racing craft in
the hands Of their crew must obviously
be at their own risk until the start. The
wash that crushed the Pennsylvania shell
is said 10 have come from the large tug
in which Governor Morton came down the
river from his Rhinebeck home TO view the
race. The tug, however, be IL the Gov
ernors or not. was on the far side of the
river from Pennsylvania's boathouse and
her crew was at least unfortunate in not
having secured the shell from the oncom-
ing roll.
been had there been race, II Is, in view OF
the unfortunate termination. easily told.
were good for racing, Before the time the
race should have been started, all the
buoys. marking the course had been re-
from start TO finish. Then came forth the
news feature of the day. the news of the
smashing of the Pennsylvania's she'll
Pennsylvania coxswain, Mr. c. II. Per
kns tells the story in these words: I'VE
had just put our boat In the water at the
float, preparatory to going up to the start
our our launch by Which to tow the she'll The
boat on which Governor Morton came
down the river had passed below, and : soon
her clear off the float and dropped her with
bang. upon IT. i think a second wave
board side smashing three holes in the
cockpit and also breaking the deck aft OF
the coxswain's seat The shell filled almost
the launch to the float and held her, or
she would have been smashed into tooth
picks. as the swells continued breaking
waist-deep over the edge of the, float. As
the men were taking the shell out. the
water in the boat aft of the cexswain's
seat strained her so badly that the bottom
the coxswain's seat. She was brand-new
boat. and cost us $500
Referee Brooks. on the Gretchen,
steamed at once down to Pennsylvania's
boathouse. where, he was Joined by repre-
sentatives of Cornell and Columbia. A con-
ference of ways and means took place.
Cornell offered to Pennsylvania the use of
her second shell. but as Cornelfs shell Is
rugged for starboard stroke. while Pennsyl-
vania rows port stroke. and as half day
would be required to re-rig the shell. this
proposition was not feasible. 1t was then
decided 10 postpone the. race. Referee
Brooks then sailed up again to the starting
the observation train, and to the other
sightseers afloat and ashore that the race.
owing TO Pennsylvania's mishap, which he
formally announced. was postponed until
Monday evening next.