The San Francisco call., 1896-07-08
aok, the New Haven Coach,
Expected the Vanquishing
of His Men.
TRIED GAMELY. BUT IN VAIN.
MANY Kind Words of Encouragement
and Congratulation for the
Americans.

only attempt to win the most highly
priced trophy of British aquatics, the
grand challenge cup of the Royal Henley
Regatta.
Their opponents were the crack eight of
the Leander Rowing Club, whose crews
won the cup four times in succession in
1891, 92 SO and "a. 1t was grand race,
however, and the Yale men have no rea-
son to feel humiliated at their defeat.
They are simply outclassed. The Le-
anders beat the New Haven crew by a
length and three-quarters, covering the
Henley course of ! mile and $50 yards in
7:14.
Immense crowns of spectators lined the
river banks. The entire course was a mass
of color, Yale and American flags being
very much in evidence. There was no
wind, the sky was overcast and the air
was hot. Bob Cook and Pittman, the old
Cambridge stroke, followed the boats over
the course on board the umpire's launch.
The great race was preceded by several
others, in order that the principal event of
the day should take place about 80 P. NJ,
when the greatest throng of spectators
would be present.
The first heat of the race for the diamond
sculls was between F. Beddington of the
Thames Rowing Club and R. K. Beaumont
of Burton-on-T Trent. Beaumont finished
five lengths ahead. The second heat, be-
tween Vivian Nickalls and S. Swami, the
old Trinity Hall blue, was won by Nickalls
by length.
In The first trial heat of the eight-oared
race for the Grand Challenge Cup, the
contesting crews were First Trinity of
P0u Ci,,L
First Trinity won by three-quarters of a
length. Time. 7:20.
The second heat was between New Col
lege. Oxford, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge,
crews. New College won by length and
q quarter in 7:19.
The starting word for the race between
Yale and Leander was given at :3S P. NJ.
The boats got an excellent start, both
striking the water at the same time.
Emerging from the upper end of Temple
Island, Leander was seen to have the fore
part of her canvas ahead and soon in
creased her lead to quarter of a length,
but the Yale men were putting great force
into their strokes. and succeeded in driv-
ing lheir boat even with that of their op-
ponClIs.
To those running behind the boats on
the tow path the Yales seemed to get the
nose of their boat in front, and it was then
beautiful race to Fawley Court. A report
er who was on board the umpire's launch
says Yale never actually got the lead
but that two or three times they pulled
themselves about even with Leander. The
consensus of opinion. however, is that
Yale led slightly at the half-mile, but Le-
ander was q foot ahead at Fawley Court.
The Leander crew appeared perfectly
fresh at the end OF the race, and rowed at
a smart stroke some distance beyond the
finish, but the Yale men seemed to be
completely spent. Brown and Rodgers,
respectively numbers 2 and 4, were badly
done up at the finish.
The men were too much exhausted to
allow raise in the stroke. Both Brown
and Rodgers required attention when the
race was over. When they had been
helped out of the boat Rodgers was per-
fectly white and Brown tainted from ex-
haustion.
The men feel that they did themselves
justice and acknowledge Leander is the
better crew. They are, of course, terribly
disappointed, but feel that they were fairly
beaten. Aside from Brown and Rodgers
the men were in fair shape at the finish,
though they were somewhat blown.
Bob Cook said to representative of the
United Press at the conclusion of the race
that the contest had resulted as he thought
1t would. The Leander crew was com posed
OF older and more experienced men.
The Leanders got the best of the start
and led for short time, but the Yale
crew caught them and led by halt a
length to the Fawley Court boathouse.
The third heat for the diamond scuIls
between Il. I. Blackstaffe and Hon. Rupert
Guinness, who won the diamond sculls
last year. was won by Guinness by two
lengths in 9:o3
Then came the second great event of the
day, the trial heat of the diamond scnlIs
between DR.. W. s. Mcdowell of Chicago
and Hon. E. A. Guinness OF Eton College
brother to the Hon. Rupert Guinness
The doctor has met with series of mis-
haps during his practice on the Thames
but he treated them ell to surprise to-
day and received an ovation from the
crowds that were packed in every available
space at the finish line of the course.
He rowed beautifully, and actually
played with Guinness, winning as he
pleased. His time was not extraordinary.
in fact it was slow, but it was not neces-
sary for him TO row at a record breaking
pace to take the honor from Guinness into
camp. He finished in 1885, three-quarters
Of length ahead of his opponent, who
appeared TO be greatly tagged.
Dr. Mcdowell said after the race that
he struck the thirteenth post and Clipped
his oar badly. He thinks Guinness lost
his nerve when he was passed. He will
meet Beaumont, the winner of the first
heat in the diamond sculls race, to.
morrow.
The other events of the day are sum-
married. as follows:
In the first heat of the eight-oared race
for the Ladies' plate the Eton College
crew beat Jesus College, Oxford, easily.
The second heat Of the race for the La