New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-16
FOUR-CORNERED BOAT RACE
HARVARD COLUMBIA, CORNELL AND
PENNSYLVANIA WILL BE THE
CONTESTANTS.

YALE MAY ENTER A CREw-coILEGE MEN FAVOR
THE PouGHKEEPsIE COURsE-THE DATE
NOT YET DETERMINED
A four-mile race between university crews
from Columbia Cornell. Harvard and the uni
versity Of Pennsylvania has been arranged by
representatives Of those universities. to be rowed
next June. the date and place of the contest to
no hereafter mutually agreed upon. The ar
ranremont TO row the race was brought about by
Cornell that university having an agreement to
row with Columbia and Pennsylvania, and also
an agreement II row with Harvard. Cornell.
therefore proposed that the two races be merged
into one four-sided race. The Springfield and
Poughkeepsie courses have been considered. but
no definite choice of a course has been made
George L. Rives of Columbia, and also of Cam
bridge England. has consented to act as referee
The above information was given out yester-
day by Guy Richards. who acted the chairman
of a meeting held at the University Club about
two weeks ago. when the arrangements were
made There Is a chance that Yale may enter the
race and most Of the college men spoken to about
the matter yesterday said they thought that II
the negotiations were carried out In the proper
manner Yale would enter and 1t would make one
Of the grandest aquatic struggles seen in this
country in many day.
With this number or cOntestlnS crews coies
the possibility of revving in earnest the glories
of the intercollegiate races on Saratoga l-aHe III
1874 and 1875 Such a sensible consolida tion of
aquatic contests will do much to add 10 the lau-
res Of the victors and wipe out the charges of
cowardice on the part Of the larger colleges in
freezing out the so-called smaller ones. wnich
have been made against the former ever since
the withdrawal Of Harvard and Yale from the
intercollegiate races following the victories OF
Columbia and Cornell
Yesterday afternoon Mr. Richards said: I'VE
had a meeting to arrange the race at the Uni
yersity Club about two weeks ago The repre-
sentatives present were r. c. watson OF Har-
ward; Professor H. s White. of Cornell; Thomas
Reath. of the University of Pennsylvania. and
myself acting for Columbia. | do rot Know
whether Yale will enter not"
Julian b. Curtiss. of Yale, when seen last
night said that while he could not speak au-
thoritativey for that institution, he thought 1t
possible that Yale would enter a crew II con-
slider that such arrangement would be an
excellent one" said ne. land can see no reason
why Yale should not enter ! suppose George
Adee and Bob Cook will have something t.
say about the matter"
Heretofore. there have been two races each year.
and under the present arrangement there will
be one big contest. II will mean the merging
OF the TWO races INTO one. IN" coHteSi VIII
take place about June o. and the distance will
be four miles straightaway No overtures have
been made to Yale yet. but If the Yaesans
show a disposition to take part the matter can
be arranged quickly
In speaking about the ra e last night. we'll
known authority on college sports. after request
ing that his name should not be published, said:
THE feeling of hostility between Yale and Har-
ward need not cut any figure in this race and
If the followers of the two colleges are sensible
It will not. In going into such an arrangement
the result may lead to a better understanding
between those two colleges They need not enter
into any dual arrangement for sports II they
do not want TO. but that should not prevent
them from meeting in a five-cornered boat race.
The two colleges will come together In the annual
intercollegiate athletic games. although. up TO
the present time. it has looked as If that would
be the only field of sport on which yale ana
Harvard would meet this year A hve-cornered
contest on suitable water would be grand one.
and if it was held near this city as possible
there would be a large turnout Of spectators
to witness the struggle Five competitors. how
ever is enough and If had anyth.n g TO do with
arranging the contest / would insist that that
number should not be increased
As soon as the announcement was made yes
terday that the would be arranged college
men began to talk bout where the contest would
take place. Three courses have been suggested.
but one Of them is not considered seriously.
The New-London course was not thought OF "a
vorably at the conference. This will leave the
courses at Poughkeepsie and at Springfield. and
most Of the college men seen yesterday seemed
10 favor POughkeepsie. The triangular race was
roWed there last year and people generally ex-
pressed themselves well satisfied with the ar
rangements made for the comfort and conven-
fence Of the Oarsmen and their friends.
II should Ike to see the race rowed at POUCH
keepse," said Of the committee yesterday,
eff for the reason only that II is near New-York
Last year they put up lighthouses and arranged
quarters for the in such a satisfactory
manner that we ought to show that their fore
thought and liberality have been appreciated
The course al Poughkeepsie Is splendid one and
is really superior to the at Springfield In my
opinion There is bend In the Hudson River
near Crum Elbow and for the next fourteen miles
there is straight clean piece Of water which
makes an admirable course for race Of this sort
From Crum Elbow TO Cornwall the water has
average depth Of from fifty to seventy-fve feet
md no boat would get any advantage from cur
rents or anything else. Fly starting lust below
Crum Elbow fOur-mile course could be laid out
with the finish line about mile below the Pough-
keepsie bridge. In June the winds are. a gem
eral thing from direction which would not in
terfere with the rowing Of the races.
Another advantage would be the arrangements
that could be made 10 accommodate the public.
The West Shore road runs along the banks OF the
river and ar observation train could be run which
would enable the occupants to see every move or
the oarsmen. from start to finish.