The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-06-27
CORNELL AGAIN A CoNoUEROR
HARVARDn FINISHES SECOND AND
PENNSYLVANIA THIRD.


Thousand of Spectators Line the
shores and the River Black with
Pleasure Craft and Excursion
Steamers.
Poughkeepsie. n. Y, June 26.-Eighteen
thousand people grouped upon the pic
turesque banks Of the Hudson with the
last rays Of the setting sun casting
golden sheen upon the water. saw the
stalwart eight from Ithaca win first hon.
ors over Harvard. Pennsylvania and Co
lumhia. IL was a great race.
Probably no prettier race has been rowed
before a greater crowd in American
waters. All the conditions OF air ana
water were perfect. Not a flaw marred
the contest from the crack of the start
er's pistol to the crossing Of the finish
line.
Cornell won by four lengths In 1929.
official time. Harvard was second in 1882:
Pennsylvania third. in 2O:1 and Columbia
a poor fourth.
AS a spectacular scene the race was
one long to be remembered. The course.
four-mile stretch straight as the crow
flies, lay near the west bank of the
Hudson and was spanned by the great
Cantilever bridge. the finish being one
mile below that structure and the start
three miles above.
The cloudiness of the morning had given
way TO bright sunshine, and the multitude
which assembled on both banks OF the riv-
er and filled the decks Of an imposing fleet
of yachts, excursion steamers and pleas
ure craft of all descriptions, added bright
ness and color to the scene. An observa-
ton train of 42 ears with seats for $500
persons and every seat occupied, pulled
out Of the Highland station and made its
way to the starting point just before the
crews were sent on II 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
graduates and ladies. There were some
notables on the train, but while the race
was on all hands seemed to have lost all
dignity and united I'm a mad chorus Of yells
for the different crews.
The shouts for Cornell drowned the 9TH
ers and there was a flash of red and white
flags as the victorious crew crossed the
line. Out In the stream anchored In a line
from the 312 mile point down 10 the finish,
were over 100 yachts, excursion steamers
and river craft OF every description. Their
decks We're filled with spectators and In
the thick cluster near the line there was
danger of serious accident.
The only mishap reported, however, was
a collision between the referees boat Hell
vetia and the Albany steamer Whitney,
resulting In a hole IN the latters bow.
This occurred before the race, and did not
interfere with either boat fulfilling her
duties. The revenue cutters Manhattan
ana Hudson, the police boats Walla Walla
and Susie, aided by auxiliary launches,
assigned boats to anchorage 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 fol-
low the crews over the course. This regu-
lation gave the four crews a perfectly
clear course and the water was undis-
turbed.
All the afternoon special trains from
New York and Hudson river towns rolled
into the depots on both sides OF the river.
All were packed with college enthusiasts
and other people anxious to see the great
race. The two understood ferryboats that
ply between Highland and Poughkeepsle
pushed their way through the waters
with passengers hanging on like flies.
Crowds blockaded the ferry house Just be-
fore and Immediately after the race.
II was hot. perspirlng crowd, but good
natured withal, for big boat race al
ways put people in good humor.
When the crowd had finally distributed
itself along grassy knolls by the rivers
banks and filled the long observation train,
the spectators themselves furnished
marvellous addition Of life and color to the
scene. The long train of fiat cars packed
with gaily cOstumed women and men with
nags OF the diaerent colleges presented a
Kaleidoscope mass of color that was daz-
zling to the eye The yadhtsxfn the river
were decked with bunting from stem 10
stern, and each group of on-lookers along
shore stood out IN relief on the dark green
setting of the wooded hillsides. The great
est gathering was near the finish for all
wanted to see the Victors cross the line.
Venturesome lads climbed trees. and
some ascended from row boats to the stone
piers Of the bridge.
In all the crowd there was probably none
who did not have a good view of some
portion of the race. And a grander
afr grr1a haH aa11
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 appearance of racing shells Each
boat, propelled by eight strong men, NOV
ing with the precision of clockwork,
throwing Drawn and muscle into their
work, yet moving with the science taught
giants, and the giants won.
Strength and skill won the day, and no
crew that failed TO win had excuses 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 referee caught the flash OF the
starters pistol before their rivals, and as
they took the water first, a loud cheer
went from cars 1 TO 5, where a cloud Of
blue and white flags marked the follow
ers of Columbia. The others got off in
the order of their placings from the pistol
Cornell getting away second, Pennsyl-
vania third, and Harvard, who were on
the inside and consequently farthest
from the Helvetia, 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 rowed
when a deep groan went up from the
train as the champions Of last year, the
much-fancied upholders Of Columbia
were seen to drop back in the ruck Be
fore two hundred yards had been ira
versed, the Rah, 'Rah, 'Rah" Of Har-
ward announced that the crimson had
forged their boats nose ahead Of Pennsyl-
vania. who we're level with Cornell, while
Columbia was already a length to the bad
At the quarter mile, Harvard led Penn
sylvania by a length, while Cornell was
just about an eighth Of a length behind the
Quakers and a length and a half In front
Of the Columbia men. Coming up to the
half mile mark, Cornell drew up to Penn
sylyania's canvas and t was nip and tuck
for the second place between them, while
both crews were gaining on the leader
Passing the first half mile. Harvard's lead
was cut down to three-quarters Of a length
while Cornell was rowing along Just fast
enough to keep her quarter length IN front
Of the Quaker crew. Columbia was drop