The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-05
CHERRY WEARERs MAY NOW SYM
PATHIZE WITH THE NEW
HAVEN FRESHMEN.
1T WAS CLOSE TO THE FINISH.
And But for the CrOwding of Steam
ers Might Hove Been Even
Closer Yet.

S1eh HhlSnlnS barely q quarter or
length ahead Of the Minnesota boat in
1O:42. The race was scheduled to start
at 6:15, but an accident to the Wis
consln boat caused a delay of nearly
two hours. and it was even feared at
one time that postponement would be
necessary. The boats had been lined
up and the starting gun fired, but be-
fore ten strokes had been taker. No.
Ss footboard in the Wisconsin boat
snapped and Starter Heffelfinger called
the crews back.
O'Dea ordered his men back to Lake
Park and at once began repairing the
damaged apparatus. Seeing that the
accident was likely to occasion consid-
cradle delay the Minnesota crew also
left their shell, and the members of
both Fights were put to bed at the
hotel
notwithstanding the rather slow time
the race was the greatest event of the
KIND ever witnessed on the Minnetonka
course. From start to finish it was a
contest full of excitement for the spec
tators who followed in the wake of the
sneIis In various craft from the big side
wheel steamer ST Louis to the small
steam launch. At no time was there
more than few feet of open water be-
tween the two boats and most of the
course the shells Tapped one another by
IRON quarter to three quarters of q
length. Down through the Narrows. on
the last quarter Of the first mile a pref
tier race could not be imagined. The
boats were nose and nose with both
crews exerting every effort to obtain
the advantage. but try as they would
neither she'll could gain a foot. Spec
tators cheered and yelled themselves
hoarse with excitement, while the old
time oarsmen and coaches on the ref
eree's boat fairly trembled with sup
pressed interest. In fact 1t was any,
body's race to the last eighth of a mile
when the launch Victor cut into the
course ahead of the Minnesota boat
forcing CoxSWafn SWartz, who had been
holding an arrow-like course. to steer
his boat off to starboard to avoid the
swell The Minnesota had Just begun
thelr hnal squirt to make up Wiscon-
SIN Ieaa OF one boat length when they
got into the trough of the waves.
Their she'll rocked like a cork and the mort
rigging dlpped badly for $50 years plainly
retard1ng the progress of the boat The stu
pIolty OF the Victor's captain in cutting into
the course was most objectionable and If
any more races to be rowed over the
Minnetonka course, the Navigation company
snouId put some one on their boats who knows
enough about rowing race to understand
that a, paper shell can not do its best work
In a swell such as is raised by the screw of
steamboat. Notwithstanding the discour-1
aging conditions the Minnesota orasmen ali
but held their own with the Wisconsin boat
though the extra exertion told upon them at
the finish. Manfully they bent to their
sweeps and pulled as though their lives de-
pended upon passing the Badgers but in the
snort distance which remained the best they
could do was to. reduce Wisconsinis bead Of
nearly ai-lengthi to fifteen feetQ when the
finishing gun announced that the cherry and
white had lost the gamest fight in the his
tory of the Minnesota boat club Several
members of the Minnesota club were in
favor of protesting the race on the grounds
of the Victor's action, but the members of
the crew refused to consent to such course
though declaring that they would like to
have been able to finish the race under more
favorable conditions. No boasts were made
on the part of the crew, nor did they claim
that the result would have been different
but 1t Is beyond doubt to the disinterested
witnesses that had they not been interfered
with at the rate they were going the Min
nesotas must have altered their finishing DO
sition. 1--WE are beaten said Coach Ken
nedy, at the conclusion of the race, but it
is too bad that the launch broke across the
course and" said several members of the
Wisconsin crew, I'VE hope never to have to
pull in a harder race"
AS result of Minnesota's defeat the $500
SchltZ cup will have to be contested for at
least twice more. this in the event of Wis
consin winning the next two consecutive
races, but should the victories alternate the
series will have to continue until one crew
or the other has won three consecutive times.
For Fourth of July and the presence at
the lake OF nearly 5000 people, the day was
as nearly ideal as could be desired, except
that strong head wind blew across the
course of the race, but this did not interfere
with the event in any way other than to pre-
vent record breaking. At Minnetonka Beach
the water was comparatively smooth but
out in front of the Lake Park hotel where
the start was made. the waves rolled over one
another the entire day. By the time the
'broken footboard in the Wisconsin shell had
been repaired, they had quieted down some
what, but not enough to admit of the best
time
The members of both crews spent the day
lounging about the piazza of the Lafayette
hotel watching the long incoming trains un-
load their gaily attired dressed crowds for
socially, the race was unqualifedly the event
Of the Minnetonka season st. Paul's 400
turned out en- masse, while Minneapolis sent
large representation of its upper crust"
which, augmented by the usual holiday
crowd, made verttable metropolis of the
on the morning trains, but the specials of the
afternoon carried the greatest number Of
pleasure seekers, and seats in the cars were
at 8 premium.
Commencing at half-past 8, the events of
the annual regatta of the Minnesota Boat
club entertained the visitors until the time
of the big race, and furnished a programme
Of interesting races, which served admirably
70 heighten the interest in the chief event Of
the day.
At o'clock Coach o'Dea sent the Wiscon-
varsity subs and a few minutes later
packed his crew on a steam launch and took
them to the same point, the idea being to
save his men the row over the course to the
starting point Immediately before the race
The race was secluded to start at 6:15 and
at fifteen minutes to the Minnesota crew
left the boat house. New cherry-colored jer-
seys, ornamented with breast bands bearing
a large white m" made a conspicuous fig
ure of every man in the SHE'LL and as the
boat sped away toward the Narrows tbs
spectators who o crowded the pavilion ard
until it passed from hearing.
When the Minnesotas reach I'd the starting
point the wisconsin crew had not yet en-
barked, and for ten minutes their boat
rocked idly on the waves. q DAY finally saw
his men afoat and follow I'd thera to the line
in the Saucy Kate, with the officials of the
course 1t was getting late, and as the
stake boats had not yet teen placed both
crews agreed to start without them. Starter
Heffelhnger got the boats into line with
little trouble and with a last ''are YOU ready''
fred the starting signal.
Wisconsin caught the water first. but had
gone only few short strokes when the foot
board broke and Hefrelfnger called the crews
back. Everyone was disappointed and for a
time 1t looked as if the race might have to
be declared of. Both crews rowed back to
Lake Park and the men were put to bed
while an effort was made to repair the
broken gear. At o'clock the task was finally
completed and once more the crews pulled out
to the line.
Both crews appeared to have lost some of
their snap during the wait and were slow in
getting into position. A series Of maneu-
yers, however, got them nose and nose across
the line and at 8:16 Haffelhnger sent them
away@NAgain Wisconsin caught the water
frst and before the Minesotas had gotten well
Under way had gained nearly half length.
The Badgers started with 3S stroke quick
and full Of snap, while the Minnesotas went