Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-22
SWELL AND SHELL
Have a Tussle and a Boat Race
Is Postponed.
GREAT THRONG Is DISAPPOINTED.

Thousands Of People Gather to Witness
the Four Nile Boat Race Between Cor.
nell, Columbia and Peonsylvania When
the Swell from Gov. Merton's Yacht
smashes the Pennsylvanis shel-Raco
Goes Over to Monday.
PoUGHKERPsIE, Il. Y, June ea.-The
wash Of passing tug yesterday after.
noon smashed the shell Of the Pennsyl-
vania crew against their boat house float
as the men were getting away for the
start Tor their four mile race with the
eights of Cornell and Columbia Ono Of
the aquatic trio being thus disabled the
two Others determined to defer the con-
test 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 prcpara-
tion. Thousands of spectators, no man
can say how many, because they were
perched Oh the hillsides and afioat at
every possible vantage point. went away
disappointed. None, however, Of all who
came to see are SO bitterly chagrined as
are the loca! committeeman who had
brought all preparations to the point that
left nothing more to be done save the rae
ing.
Were Careless with Their Shell.
Steam craft mus. and would ply tho
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 Pennsylvania's she'll
Is said to have come from the large tug
in which Governor Morton came down
the river from his home, Rhinebeck, to
view the race. The tug, however, be it
the governor or not, was on the far side
of the river from Pennsylvania's boat
house. and her crew were at least unfor-
tunate in not having secured their she'll
from the on-coming roller. Greet as tho
story Of the day might have been had
there been n race, 1t Is in view Of the un-
fortunate termination easily told. The
water conditions during the entire day
were good for racing. Before the time
the race should have been started all tho
buoys marking the course had been re-
moved, leaving the crews an open course
from start to finish.
How the Accident Happened.
Pennsylvania's coxiwain, G. II. Per-
I.luS, tells the StOry IN tncSe WOruS. we
had just put our boat in the water pre-.
paratory to going up to the starting line,
and the crew had gotten aboard our
launch by which to tow tho shell. The
boat on which Governor Morton came
down the river had passed below, and
soon after heavy swell struck our she'll
and lifted her clear on the float and
dropped her with bang upon it. l think
n second wave lifted her again and she
fell on the starboard side, smashing three
holes in the cockpit and also breaking
the decking. She filled Immediately and
the crew jumped from the launch to the
float and held her. or she would havo
been smashed into toothpicks, rs the
swells continued breaking over the edge
Of the float
Postponed the Race To Monday.
Referee Brooks steamed at once down
to the Pcnnsylvania's boat house, where
he was joined by representatives of Cor
nell and Columbia A conference was
held and Cornell offered Pennsylvania
the use OF her second shell, but as Cor
nell's shell is rugged for starbord stroke,
while tho Pennsylvania rows a port
stroke, and as half n cay would be 70.
.uired TO rerig the shell, this proposition
was not feasible. 1t was then decided to
postpone the race till Monday next.