The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-06-27
is AGAIN THE WINNER
Cornell Comes Out First In the Four-Cor-
nersd Race by Four Lengths.
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND PEOPLE SAW IT..
The Ithicans Establish n Now Ameri.
car Record-The Great Race WINS
Not Marred by n Single Flaw From
start TO Finish ana Finely DTS.
played American PIuck.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, June 28.-1igh-
.eeh Thousand people grouped upon the
picturesque banks OF the Hudson with
the last rays OF the settling sun casting
a golden sheen upon the water saw the
stalwWt eight from Ithica win first hon.
ors over Harvard, Pennsylvania and CO.
iuinpla. 1t was Il great race. Probably
no pre1tier has been rowed before q
greater crowd I'M American waters. All
confdtions or air and wlter were perfect
Not flaw marred the contest from start
10 ilnish Cornell won by four lengths
In i9:29 Official time. Harvard was sec
ond In 1892, Pennsylvania third In 20:l1,
and Columbia poor fourth. AS spec
tacular scene the race was one long Ito
be remembered. The course q four mile
stretch s!aLght as THE crow flies, lay
near the west bank of the Hudson and
was spanned by The great Cantiever
bridge, the finish being one mile below
that structure and the start three miles
above. The cloudiness of the morning
mad given way TO bright sunshine, and
the multiuhtfe which assembled on both
banks OF hne river and filled the decks
OF an imposing feet OF yachts, excur-
sion steamers and pleasure craft of MI
descriptions, added brightness and color
TO the scene.
An Observations 'train OF forty-two cars,
Wsth seats for $500 persons. and every
seat occupied. pulled out OF the High
lands station and made It's way to the
starting poind just before the crews were
sei1t off. 1t started with the crews and
kept abreast of them all the way TO the
finish. 1t was filled for the most part
with college students or college gradu-
ates and ladies. There were some nora-
Mes ond the train, but all hands seemed
10 have lost all deilntty. The shouts for
Cornell drowned the others and there
was u flash of red and white flags as
thS victorious crew crossed the line.
e ra nhTt.a t.al q, H.
were over 100 yachts, excursion steam
ers, and spectators, and in the thick clus-
ter near the line there was danger of Sc
rious accident. The only mishap report
ed, however. was q collision between the
referees boat and the steamer Whit
ney, resulting in a hole In ithe latter's
bow. This occurred before the race. and
did not interfere with either boat fulfill
Ing her duties The revenue cutters
Manhattan and Hudson and lthe police
boats Walla Walla and Susie, aided by
auxiliary launches assigned boats TO an
chorage positions, and kept the course
clear under the recently passed United
States law.
No boats except the referees boat and
the crews launches were permitted TO
iollow the crews over the course Thl.
negulation gavethe four crews a perfect
ly clear course and the water was undis-
turbed
All the aftemoon special arains from
New York and from Hudson river towns
rolled into the depots on both sides OF
the river. All We're packed with college
enthusiasts and o.Iher people anxious 10
see the great race. The two undersized
ferry boats that ply between Highland
and Poughkeepsie pushed their way
through the waters with passengers
haiSing on like flies. Crowds blocked
the ferry-houses just before and imme-
diately after the race. 1t was u hot,
perspiTing crowd, but withal for a big
boat race always put people in good
humor.
When tha crowd finally distributed 1T
self along grassy knolls by the rivers
banks and filled the long observation
train, the spectators themselves fur
nished a marvellous addition OF life and
color to the scene. The long train of
Hat cars packed with gaily costurned
women and men with flags OF the differ
emit colleges. presented a Kaleidoscope
mass OF color that was dazzling to the
eye. The yachts in the river were de-
cornied with bun.ing from stem to stern
and each group of onlookers along shore
stood out In relief on the dark wooded
hillsides. The gnaateSt gathering was
near the finish 70? all wanted to see the
victors cross the line. Ventureso,ne lads
climbed trees and some ascended from
row boats to the stone piers OF the
bridge.
III all lHt crown lneTe was DrODa Dly
none who did not have al good view OF
some portion of the race. And grander
struggle has seldom been seen. When
the anxious crowds near the finish
caught their first glimpse of the crews.
they were as four specks upon the water
Gradually they drew near, and took on
the appeaGance of racing shells. Each
boat. propelled by eight strong men
moving with the precision of clock work
throwing Drawn and muscle into their
work, yet moving with the science
taught by long training. II WAS a CON
test of the giants, and the giants won.
The strength and skill won the day,
and no crew that failed to win had ex-
cuses to make. 1t was clean victory.
No crews ever raced under more equal
conditions and the vanquished were
beaten because they were no match for
the winners.
Columbia being on the outside and
nearest the refe!ee caught the flash of
the starter's pistol before her rivals
and as they took the water first a loud
cheer went up from her adhersnts. The
others got off in the order of their plac-
!ngs from the PISTOL dornen getting
away secoTd, Pennsylvania third and
Harvard, who We're on the inside, and
consequently farthest from the Helvatta.
got away last, but the start was a very
fair one, and none OF the crews had any
too much the best of It,
Scarce twenty strokes had been cowsyi
when deep ercan went up from the