The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-25
Plucky Work on the Part of
the Crew Of the Penn
sylvania Boat.
FAST TIME ON ROUGH WATER.
A Long, Easy, Swinging Stroke Main
tanned by the Victors to
the Finish.

Almost IN the lace OF q StlflSA WIND ana IN
water so rough that the boats of her two
opponents filed and swamped, one before
| and the other after the finish line was
passed, Columbia rowed steadily on to
victory this afternoon in the fast time of
q min. and IS sec.
Cornell was second, seven lengths back.
Her time was q min. and 46 2-5 sec.
Pennsylvania evil luck lasted to the
end. Her shell, smashed by the waves
from Governor Morton's tug last Friday
and patched up till it was practically as
good as new, went down over mile from
the finish.
The Cornell boat was swamped just
below her own boathouse after the race
was over by swells from the steamboats,
and was fairly broken in two.
To-day's race, like Fridays fasco, was
started under threatening skies, which
gave forth torrents of rain from time to
time. There were innumerable delays, and
it was nearly O'Clock when the observa-
ton train was backed up to the starting
point. None of the crews had then APP
peared on the water. The sky had been
darkening rapidly, and it was evident that
storm was impending.
AT o'clock the Cornell launch was seen
coming up the river with the shell in tow.
1t was about half way up when the rain
began to fall, and the Cornell launch went
inshore to protect the shell, and at the end
OF the first doWnpour not one of the crews
was on its way to the starting point.
The rain was the cause of another exas-
perating series of delays in starting the
race. Three stakeboats had been placed at
the start, where the shells were to be re-
leased at the word from the referee. The
men in charge of these boats cut loose and
started for shore as soon as the rain began.
They evidently thought the race would be
again postponed for it was already more
than an hour after the starting time
Finally at 6 o'clock the three crews were
ready to start. Up to this time the water
had been extremely smooth.
The conditions for the race were perfect,
but the stakeboats were not in position.
While they were being rowed out from the
shore it began to rain again and fresh
southeast breeze sprang up. The water
ripp1ed, and in few minutes grew quite
choppy. Two of the stakeboats were soon
got into position, but the middle stake
boat, from which the Columbia crew was
to start, could not be brought to anchor.
1t drifted out of line with the other two
under the influence of the strong ebb tide
that was running. The spectators began
to groan. The referee decided that the
other two stakeboats should weigh anchor
and drop down even with Columbia. They
started to do SO, but in the meantime the
Columbia's stakeboat was wandering all
over the river.
The three shells were on nearly even
terms and ready to 60, and the referee
decided to start them without the stake
boats. In moment he had them in line,
and as the Gretchen steamed past them
his pistol sounded and the three crews
were off. The start was made from a
| point 100 feet below the line It was 1852
when the starters pistol sounded and the
three crews, catching the water practically
| at the same instant, got away together,
| making pretty start In spite of the
| vexatious delay which preceded it.
| The Pennsylvania crew pulled with more
vim than either Cornell or Columbia, and
set the pase for the first quarter mile.
They forged ahead couple of feet in the
| first half-dozen strokes, while Columbia in
| the center and Cornell on the side were
| rowing exactly even. Cornell was pulling
forty-four strokes, while Columbia, with
her long easy swing, kept her place with
| thirty-six strokes. Pennsylvania rowed
from thirty-six to thirty weight strokes at
the start.
At the half mile the University of Penn
sylvania's boat led by quarter of a
length, while the bow of Cornelrs boat
was foot in advance of Columbia's Then
the shells began to strike rougher water
| than they did at the start. The Cornell
crew on the side got the worst of it, but
Pennsylvania on the inside took it in the
poorest shape. The other boats gradually
drew up on Pennsylvania, and the long
easy stroke of the Columbia crew gradually
moved their boat to the front.
Pennsylvania dropped back to the real
at the three-quarter mile and was moi
in the race thereafter, although the men
pulled pluckily on.
The Columbia ''rooters" on the obserya
ton train shouted themselves hoarse wher
they saw their crew take the lead.
Cornell hung on pluckily, and at the enc
of the first mile therace appeared to belons
to any body.
The first mile was made in minutes Il
seconds. Columbia had good half length
the best of it and Cornell led PENNSYLVANIA
by six feet.
At the mile-and-a-half point Cornell wa
showing signs of weakness, and while he,
stroke had increased to forty-eight, Co
lumbia, with thirty eight strokes, wa.
slowly moving ahead, while Pennsylvania
was nearly abeam.
At the mile and three. quarters there wa:
clear water between the boats OF the blue
and white and red and white, while the
red and blue of Pennsylvania was half 6
length to the rear.
At the two-mile mark, with half the
course yet before them, Columbia had q
lead of two lengths. Cornell was splash
ing badly, but had added half length to
her lead over Pennsylvania. The two
miles were made in 1882, quick time con.
sidering the water, which was growing
rougher every minute.
At the two and half miles Columbia
was still forging ahead and had two
lengths and half to the good. Pennsyl-
yania was splashing SO badly that her shell