The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-26
WAIST AND WAIST
DULUTH'S STROKE WAS BEHIND
THE MINNESOTA'S BOW
OAR.
BUT THE ZENITH CITY WON.
THE GITCHE-GAMME SHELL HAD
ITS NOSE SIX FEET
CLEAR.
GREATEST OF THE GREAT RACES
Warmed Thousands of Spectators to
the Highest Pitch of En-
thusiaSm

Duluth first; Minnesota second;
time 7:451a, tells the story of the clos
est and most exciting eight-oar race
ever rowed in the Northwest. The
event was the grand finale Of the Min
Eesota- Winnipeg regatta at Lake Min
netonka yesterday afternoon, and the
victory of Duluth, all the more cred
liable by reason of the substitution of
a new man in the shell at the last mo-
ment over the hitherto invincible
Minnesota crew is an aquatic triumph
of which the Zenith city oarsmen may
we'll be proud. The race was absolute
ly without a hitch of any kind and
was rowed from start to finish with a
grim determination on the part Of each
crew to win or die in the attempt,
which sent the graceful shells skim
ming over the mile and a half course,
with no open water between either
eight at any time, and won the race
for Duluth by a scant six feet. So
close was the finish that from the ref
eree's boat it was impossible to tell
which crew had won, but wild shout
from a crowd of Duluth adherents at
the finish dispelled all doubt and an
nounced to the officials and large
crowds along the shore, and in the
boats which had followed the race,
that the wearers of the white jerseys
had won.
Then pandemonium broke loose.
Steamboats, Whistled and screeched
the fall Of the proud Minnesotas and
proclaimed the well-earned victory of
Duluth; men cheered like mad and
fairly Rugged one another in their
joyful exuberance, while ladies waved
their parasols and handkerchiefs in
recognition of a hard fought victory
Of more than ordinary significance, as
the Minnesotas have heretofore been
considered masters Of the water in an
eight-oar shell.
This excess of JOY, however, only
actuated the non-partisan spectators
present and the adherents Of the Du-
luth crew. To the admirers of the
Minnesota crew and the members of
the Minnesota boat club, the defeat Of
their heroes came with force which
fairly stunned them. They knew their
favorttes had a hard race to row, but
that defeat should lay its cold, clammy
hand upon the victors of so many hard
fought struggles did not seem possible.
But, alasi it was too true, and the only
consolation was the fact that only the
glory which attached to Duluth's vic
tory exceeded that surrounding the
defeat of their idols, for never did a
crew lose a race so CALAMITY or take
defeat more manfully. If it was de-
creed that defeat must come to
the cherry and white, had they been left
the choice every man in the crew
would have chosen Duluth as the mes
senge-.
While completely overjoyed with their
victory modesty marked the bearing of
the Duluth crew in discussing the race.
and they readily admitted having had
their hands full To add to their cup
of joy each member of the Minnesota
crew personally congratulated the Du-
luth oarsmen, and amid the plaudits of
the spectators at the boat house vic
tor and vanquished cheered each other
to the echo.
The day was the most favorable of
any of the regatta from every point of
view, except regarding the conditions
OF the water. A bright blue sky, across
which largely 1oated lower hangings
of lighter vapors, serving as a partial
screen for the suns bright rays, and a
steady southwest wind made the con-
ditions all that could have been de-
sired from a spectators standpoint,
and the afternoon trains brought the
largest crowds of the regatta to the
lake
Socially the race was the event Of the
season, and the 400 of ST. Paul and Min
hedEo Is were out in force, the women in
beautiful summer costumes, made par
t1cularly attractive by the blending of
gay colors and streamy ribbons. AL
most every fair one wore the badge of
some one of the crews quartered at
the lake and showed a dainty feminine
enthusiasm in the race, while the men
In tennis, golf and cycling costumes
lent an athletic appearance appropriate
to the occasion. Neither of the crews
did any work previous to the race but
lounged about the hotel piazza, discus
sing the past events of the regatta. The
deepest regret was expressed on all
sides when it became known that B.
NJ. Peyton, No. 2 oar in the Duluth
eight, would not be able to row, and
1t was thought that his crews chances
of winning would be considerably lessen
ed. Peyton is light man, but every
inch game, and he rowed himself out
In the Junior four contest of the first
days racing. 1t was thought he would
be in condition to row yesterday. but
he did not become fit and at the last
moment, DR.. Lyman, who has helped
train the crew, was put. in his place
Lyman had not previously rowed over
half mile in four years, but handled
his oar in the race like a veteran, and
deserves the greatest credit for the
nerve and endurance which carried