The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-07-02
THE FOUR-MILE BOAT RACE IN
THE PHENOMENAL TIME
OF 1929
THE TINE IS A RECORD-DREAKER.
Believed by Some That the Time Keepers
Have Made an Error-IIarvard Was
Second, Pennsylvania Third-A
Great Race.

Harvard. Cornell, Columbia and Penn
sylvania four-mie straight-away boat
race on the Hudson today was won by
Cornell's eight in the phenomenal time
of 10 minutes, 20 seconds; Harvard, sec
ond: PENNSYLVANIA, third, and Columbia,
fourth.
Cornell won the freshmens race two
days ago, in which the order of finish
was strangely. the same.
The race was hard one for two miles,
but after that Cornell had it all their way.
Harvard tried the old scheme of firing
out Cornell ut the start, but it failed.
Cornell rowed Il clean race and without
Il break of any kind. Pennsylvania
spashed and rowcd badly, and Column
bia was not in the race after the first
quarter of Il mile. Harvard rOWed
pluckily, but was outclassed. The CON
ditions were favorable. The water was
smooth. the wind undisturbcd and the
ebb tide in favor of very good time. The
four crews lined up for positions about
$50. There was Il good deal of trouble,
however. Just as the referee had asked
the usual questions about getting ready
Capt. Billiard of Harvard raised his
hand and complained that Columbia s
stake boat was below the line. Cornell
and Pennsylvania agreed to this and the
referee ordered it back. This took some
moments, and then the crews were lined
up again. To be sure that there should
be no error or claim of unfairness he
asked each crew separately: Are you
ready and got Il favorable reply The
referee took Il last critical look ut the
crews and then sent them off with pis-
tol. All struck the water together but
Columbia only got half stroke. Cor
nell and Harvard were both fully pre-
pared and got the advantage of long
sweep. Harvard began its old tactics of
quick stroke to tire its opponents, and
for awhile il seemed to work well. All
had started with a 4O-stroke, which
Harvard tempered down to 80 at the
first quarter, while Cornell had to come
down to 3S. Columbia seemed to have
leaden weight on its bow. and it hung
in the water as if it did not intend try
ing to keep up with the others. Pennsyl-
vania was rowing 80 to the minute but
it was Il ragged stroke that rocked the
boat and recovery that stopped it,.
The two leaders had each settled down to
work in Il methodical way and both
pulled Il 3S stroke and were working with
Il will. Harvard's boat pOked its nose
ahead of Cornell at the half mile and
the roOters yelled with appreciation.
Then slowly. inch by inch. the Harvard
boat crept by the Cornell boat until her
stern Just Tapped the lattcr's nose. 1t
was noticeable that the Cornell men
never changed their stroke, but worked
steadily at 3S and 81 strokes with good
back work and beautiful clean blade ac-
ton. and as they nearcd the two mile
mark this work was noticeable in its eff
feet. IIarvards men had put all their
hard work in their arms and legs and it
was beginning to tell, for they could not
get the stern of their boat away from
Cornclls bow. and gradually Cornell,
with their backs working from the slid
ing seat to the back of their nccks. and
tiful to see, began to regain their lost
ground. Harvard tried desperately to
hold the lead, but as the two boats
flashed by the two-mile mark Cornell had
showed herself forward on even terms
and was still going. No. > man in Har-
wards boat was splashing and the stroke
wavcred Il little. but with bull dog grit
they stuck to their work, but that steady
81 Stroke-tO-theminute swing with the
stronger stroke and the neat. clean blade
work was telling. and inch by inch the
bow of the Cornell boat went forward
from the bow of the Harvard boat
Pennsylvania was splashing on at 81
stroke. three lengths behind, and Column
bia was hopelessly beaten.
So they went down to the third mile
Harvard pulling desperately and some
what prettily. but Cornell putting an inch
1,ntn I'd, hot hf
boats. The long stroke and the clever
back work of Cornell was counting. II
was evident that Harvard was beaten, fol
at the third mile there was an evident
plenty of reserve force in the Cornells
while there was not a bit of it in the
Harvard boat. Her men were using every
bit of strength in their endeavor to make
IL good showing. Getting into the last
mile Cornell was still pulling at a 81
stroke without splash or a culver, theil
boat fairly shooting along, while Harry
ards men looked as if some of then
would fall out of the boat. Cornell at the
three and half mile had increased hel
lead to about four boat lengths. and Penn
sylvania was clearing some of the water
between them and Harvard in such 8
clipping manner that some of the crimson
admirers feared for their crews hold OF
second nluCt. lie luSI Hall Illle was
uneventful. Cornell crossed the line a
the pace she had set at the start, Il winner
by five lengths over Harvard in the record
breaking time of 10 minutes, 20 seconds
and not a man in her boat showed dis
tress. Pennsylvania crawled at n goot
pace about four lengths behind Harvard
and Columbia padded in ut least twent!
lengths in the rear.
Three or four men in the Harvard boa
showed signs of distress. but in the othe
boats there was no trouble. 1t was con
coded on all sides that Cornell had rowet
remarkable race and one that from ;
scientific standpoint was notable in TIT
annals of boating.
Cornelrs admirers are tonight on any
thing but an even keel, and her enemie
are Joining to more or less degree II
the general jubilation.
Cornell's coach, Courtney, is supremel
happy. His men carted him about on tn
| tip of their shoulders until he was com
PEELED to cry for mercy, and late in tn
evening Il mob of rooters 800 strong
headed by drum corps, marched from tn
Nelson house to River Villa and sert
naded Cornell 1t was said some day
ago that the winning crew would celt
brate their victory in New York. Pei
haps they will. but Poughkecpsie has tn
matter in her own hands tonight. Upo
the return of the defeated Quaker GREY
to their quarters Coach Ellis Ward wa
surrounded by newspaper men. and II
then gave ont the following statement
Int would not atiiN his signature.