The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-26


Harvard drifted across the line.
American grit, American methods and
American training won to-day, as against
American grit, coupled with English meth
ods and English training A crew of
American college youths trained under an
American coach, won from two other
American college crews. in an eight-oared
contest, the two other crews having stud
led, the one under an American coach
with mixture of English and American
methods, and the other discardng all
American methods and importing an En-
glish coach in an endeavor to prove a SUI
periority for Henly methods.
No such contest ever occurred in this
country before. Cornell University has
not been able to meet Yale University on
the water since 1875, and then as to-day
she defeated the boys Of the blue.
After long chickering's, Yale University
consented under pressure from Harvard
to again meet Cornell. The match was ar
ranged and to-day the leading crews of
these three leading colleges of this col
lege strewn country started down the
four-mile stretch together. Yale finished
second, and three and one-half boat
lengths separated her from Cornell Har-
ward with her newly acquired English
AANtupASf lihlSilGd Autfut ana she Was over
eight and a half lengths behind the Cor
nellians. Her eight were thoroughly ex-
hausted, while the exponents Of American
theory as applied to the propulsion Of
eight-oared shells finished at a hot pace
without any distress being present
The tide was slack, the wind favored no
particular crew and absolutely no favor
of any kind was shown by nature toward
the result. The race was rode entirely on
its merits.
The race also set conclusion upon the
long mooted question concerning weights
Yale stripped into their boat at an aver
age of Ill pounds; Cornell, 15S
The race was one of the most brilliant
In the history of aquatic sports In this
country. The men started with a stroke
of thirty-two for Cornell and thirty-slx
for Harvard and Yale. Harvard gained
slight advantage at the start and a note
of jubilatlon went up from the Harvard
adherents. 1t was apparent within the
first quarter mile that the Cornell crew
was using the same methods that took
them on to victory last year; that of a
slow and telling stroke that would wear
out their opponents.
At the bridge the coxswain of the Har-
ward crew had to give the Harvard stroke
a little water In HIS face and for a mo-
ment under the reviving influence the
boat swung along at a goodly pace. But
OiilJ ADt a liAOAnNiiAs anu just as IneN pass
ed under the big bridge the stroke began
to give way. Cornell was rowing at thir-
ty-two and Yale was working away at
thirty-three and thirty-four, and evidently
tired
The last mile OF the race was probably
one Of the most sensational in the history
OF college aquatics, sensational not so
much from the fact that II recorded the
defeat Of the crews Of the two leading col
leges Of the United States, but that It
demonstrated TO the satisfaction of the
majority of those who have watched the
work OF the crews and the different meth
DDS pusued in their training that the I.eh-
smann and Cook strokes must bow 10 the
superiority Of the Courtney modification
OF the two, and that while weight and
brawn are factors, they must be combined
with skill, ana skill is that which Mr..
Courtney teaches.
As they approached the finish line. Il
was seen that the Harvard eight were
nearly 20 a man IN difficulties, while sew
eral OF the Yale men were flying signals
of distress. Then the Cornell crew. as IL
in mockery at the discontinue of their RI
walls, Increased their stroke to "a and shot
past the judges boat every man as fresh
apparently as when he started, and as II
not satisfied with their wonderful exhibi-
tion rowed for a quarter OF mile down
the river first giving three rousing cheers
10 the man who had coached them TO VIC
tory, Charles -. Courtney.
Ten seconds after Cornell, Yale crossed
the line and Immediately stopped rowing
with No. 2 whitney and No. 3 (CampbeID
In a state of collapse
Tnen came Harvard, IS seconds behind.
her entire crew used up and three OF the
men utterly helpless. Hardly had the nose
Of her shell reached the finish when
Boardman, stroke, fell back OF his seat.
Wrightington az No. 4, and J. r. Perkins
at No. 8, also lost their oars, and their
companions commenced 10 splash water
over them. In the meantime, Goodrich.
the captain, was trying 10 raise Boardman.
but was too weak, and the coxswaln was
throwing water over tho two.
After the race the Cornell crew were
taken on board their launch, which steam
ed proudly across 10 the boat house. where
a crowd OF 1900 men, women and boys had
assembled ana were waving flags, hand
kerchlef and pieces Of bunting The oars
men had 20 fairly fight their way through
the mob into the boat house. There could
be no relaxation In the training OF the
crew. as their superb condition must ~
maintained for the race with Pennsylva-
MIA and Columbia. 10 the men sat down ia
the training table at $50 .. m, as though
they had Just come In from an ordinary
practice row.