The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-10
When the Umpire Said "Go.v the En-
Elishmen Hesitated, and Finally
Said They Were Not Ready.
CORNELL HAD A WALKOvER
AND WAS AWARDED THE HEAT BY
THE UMPIRE AND STEWARDS.
Loud Wall from the Defeated Crew
-Gossip About the Row.

water Derby of Great Britain was a disap-
pointment to all concerned. Cornell was
pitted against the crew Of the Leander Boat
Club, composed of ex-Oxford and Cam
bridge oarsmen, and said to be the strongest
on the river. There was some confusion at
the start owing TO the presence near the
starting line of a number of boats, which
seriously interfered with Leander. Conse-
quently, the latter were somewhat slow in
getting into position. Then, when the UNI
pire asked If the two crews were ready
Cornell promptly answered Yes" and, the
umpire claims, Leander did the same. This
the Leanders deny. In any case, the UNI
pire gave the word Cor and the Cornell
crew shot away. But only half the Lean
der crew started. and their stroke protested
tnat they were not ready. In spite of this,
the umpire allowed Cornell to pull over the
course and awarded the Americans the race
The Leanders have lodged protest against
the umpire's decision, and 1t was referred to
the board of stewards. But the board will
rot change the decision.
After the umpire had given the word
Go" Cornell started off with a brisk
stroke. Passing the end of Regatta island.
Colson. Cornelrs coxswain, seeing that I,e-
ander was not coming, half turned and
held up his hand toward the umpire's
launch. But the umpire waved the crew
on, and Colson, with satisfied look. QUICK
ly resumed his position and gave sharp
order to the crew, who had relaxed the tre-
mendous pace with which they had started
Then. on reaching the half-iniie post where
the crowds began to thicken the Cornell
boys were loudly cheered. A few feet be-
yond this there were excited shouts. COM
ing from both banks. and the words:
Where is Leander? Why don't they
come? Are they lost?' could be heard
every few feet.
An English crew would never have kent
on.' said an excited Britisher.
on the grand stand among the Americans n :
the feeling was one of great disappoint-
ment- One American said: well. / would
ratner tney had licked us than to have the
thing like this" However the universal
opinion among the rowing authorities here
was that the Cornell boys were perfectly
right In rowing over the course and that
they could have tcae nothing else In the
face Of the umpires crdes.
-. JEERED AND 1HEERED.
Every few feet on the way to the finish
| line the excitement increased until nearing
| the finish the suspense was something ire
mendous. The umpire steamed up TO the
press stand, amid great excitement. and
loud exclamations from all sides. But the
umpire was not in any way dismayed and
ne said: THE race is Cornelrs. Leander
did not start" The Cornell crew cot a
very good reception as they passed the
winnlng VII & post In great style, but there
was some Jeering mingled with the Eng
isn cheers and Cornell yells.
Inc Corneil crew approached their boat
mouse looking as If they had been defeated
N
| them were almost afraid to ask for the re-
SUIT or the race. Finally a venturesome
! reporter put the question TO the crew. ask
ing them IL Cornell was victorious and
three or four OF the Cornell crew solemniy
nodded in reply. The men got out OF
saeir Doat without Displaying the least
tary exception of little Colson, who re-
marked: We are winners but there was
strokes and stopped. II was entirely their
fault. for the referee said Cor and you bet
we chaps went. But when we saw our op-
l up, as there was no sense I'm tiring our
I selves. can't imagine what was the
matter ma, , with the etheF chaps, unless it was
| winners just the same"
The Leander crew entered protest at
mittee Of stewards, issued the the following wing
| statement: THE committee. while deeply
regretting the most unfortunate misunder-
standing at the start OF the Cornell and
Leander heat. feel they must abide by the
laws OF boat racing, and cannot reverse
the decision of the umpire and starter
| The members of the Leander crew are
all wild against the umpire for his deci-
| sion in favor of Cornell and In their rage
they say most unpleasant things against
| the Leander crew, said: can English crew
would never have gone on. Had they any
spirit Of sport in them they would row
| again. Our boat was pointing into the
island and half the men were backing
water. / had my hand raised in the air
rsad1 the We mpr Iii ces esn No he skd
| rowed in many races, and never met with
such unsportsmanlike conduct. We did
| Another member of the crew remarked
We DO not want any more such crews
After hearing the decision of the commit
| tee Of stewards, Kent cried out: "Well,
never want anything more to do with
Amercans or American crews"
| They are not sportsmen, said still an
| other member of the Leander crew land
that Is why Yale and Harvard won't row
again. The on nr is IN that tbnS
Will get good licking tomorrow"
DAMNING AMERICANS.
A determined effort is being made by the
| Britishers, led by the Leanders, to place
| the Cornell crew in the wrong and put the
whole responsibility Of the outcome upor
| their shoulders. The Leanders and their
| sympathizers ignore the decision of their
own umpire. which is upheld by this even.
ings decision of the stewards The gen.
| eral cry Is Damn America and Ameri
| cans" AS q matter of fact the Cornell
| crew are not only strictly within thei,
rights, but in view of the lmpire's order,
they couldn't we'll have done otherwise
II would have been pretty quixotic thinf
| had they disobeyed the umpire and returned
| TO the post, but meantime Leander wouli
| probably have gone and won the race
| 1t Is the Leanders who show most un.
| sportsmanlike spirit. and in every way
| trying to discredit the Americans.
Andrew ;. White a nephew of ex-Presi.
dent Andrew p. White. OF Cornell, said this
| evening. In regard TO this thing: ''It Is
| the greatest outrage that was ever per.
| petrated on Gods earth. The attempt "a
put the blame on our boys is a dastarsly
thing. They could only obey the umpire
i Before the regatta were warned or
| all sides 10 beware of the Leanders. They
| will do you in any way possible II was
said. .Thev will you into the post MS
| thev did the French crew last year We
| we're told. even before the draw. that ths
| thing had been fixed. that our first rece
would be AGAINST Leander In our hearts
| we believe that Leander went TO the post
| determined 10 race. We had the best posi-.
! tion and had beaten their besr time
| Mr.. Francis. the Cornell manager. said
! "Our boys have done Just right. II must
be remembered that Leander is not the
| only crew we have to meet. Ever since
| we have been here we have been unfairl,
treated by the British press"
Umpire Frank william. after the reetins