The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-23
WILL ROW CORNELL.
bLUE NATT TO CHALLENGE TIE
oRACK ITHACA GREW.

1oyu men u n btbnFhto hAhoe = II y III
angular Event with Harvara-Ir Rowed at
Rev London. There win Probably Ne Three
Dual Races. Each Mig VARSITY Taking Part
In Two Events-Ysic Willing to DO Almost
Anything to Meet the Champions. and
an OmctnI Communicates VIII no sent 20
the Cornell Navy shortly Naming Torms.
Yale's policy in rowing matters the coming
year will undoubtedly provide some rare aquatic
sport. Unless all signs fail, the question Of
supremacy among the leading intercollegiate
oiRht-oared crews will DO decided in one. or pos
sibly two. races, to be rowed on a course to DO
selected later. In q word, Yale is now willing
to row both Harvard and Cornell either sep
arately or together. This will DO In the nature
OF q big surprise to the college world, as tho
impression has gained strength that as Yale
and Harvard have already signed o i've years
agreement to indulge In all branches Of sport.
Cornell would be shut out of a boat race next
June. But Yale will not be contented unless
the victorious Ithaoans can measure blades
with the Blue.
According to an indisputable authority, THE
U is In q position to state this morning that
the Yale Navy, which controls boating affairs at
New Haven, will soon issue an open challenge
10 Cornell to row q four-mile stralghtaway race
next June. The challenge will be accompanied
By an explanation that Yale will row Cornell
alone or will gladly admit tho Ithacans to a
three-cornered race, with Harvard as the third
crow. In other words. Yale 10 willing to row
two races, II necessary. to meet Cornell. The
only stipulation that the Yale Navy 10 likely to
mako Is that the race or races do not take place
at Saratoga Lake. Yale is not exactly in favor
OF Poughkeepsie, and Is particularly DESTROYS of
rowing at New London.
On the proposition to row ut New London
the whole situation depends. Yale and Harvard
have already agreed to row at that place by the
terms of their five years agreement, but both
are anxious to have Cornell In with them. Har.
ward. however. feels that the Thames course 10
cot wide enough for three crews. and 10 willing
to row q three-cornered race elsewhere. Cor
nell has been against New London for a similar
reason, and would probably decline tho invita-
tion to onter . triangular race II 1t was stipu-
lated that 1t should DO rowed there. Yale,
always in favor of tho Thames, and
quito confident that the course 10 plenty
wide enough for three crews, has been anxious
for some time past to induce Cornell and Har-
ward to come to that way OF thinking. But as
the relations between Yale and Cornell have
been badly strained in tho past. no informal
communication has taken place between them.
Both have boon fighting shy. Yale has also
boon rather reluctant to ask Harvard to carry
on negotiations. because of the position hitherto
held by the wearers Of the blue. Yet o desire to
be sportsmenlike and settle the aquatic cham.
pionship pervades Yale mon. and they are about
to act with oommendsble observation-disclosures.
Ever since the Cornell Varsity won that
magnificent victory over Yale and Harvard last
juno at Poughkeepsie the Ithaoans have boon
regarded everywhere as tho Intercollegiate
champions. Before the race was rowed Yales
coach and rowing advisers distinctly stated
that wiu M loaa thu pluo rraw vnuld p.v>r
row Cornell again. As Yale had been practi.
cally forced into that race by Harvard and had
accepted the terms with the agreement that the
Now Haven men would receive tho privilege
OF naming the course next year, many per-
sons believed when the race was over that
Cornell. with her undisputed championship.
would receive the cold shoulder. Indeed. 1t was
reported Immediately after the Yale crew re-
turned to New Haven that In the future the
crew would engage in dual races with Harvard
only. but, to tho credit of Yale men, this ru.
NOR was promptly denied. Still. the New Ha-
ven boating authorities would not say that
another race would be rowed with Cornell, 80
that people began to believe that the Ithacans
would be quietly dropped and o Harvard Yale
race would be arranged without delay.
The fact that Cornell 10 the acknowledged
aquatic champion. however. has been appreciated
at New Haven, and the authoritiee there have
some to the belief that the only way to regain
lost prestige In shell rowing is to meet the
1thacans in a square,. fair encounter on tho
water. Cornell's sportsmanlike action In not
growing over Yale and Harvard. which the
lthacans would have been perhaps justified in
doing in view of past circumstances has made
many friends for Courtney's oarsmen, especially
at Yale. When 1t Ii remembered that Yale all
along refused to meet Cornell and ct the
same time practically laid claim to first
honors in the college boating world after each
victory over Harvard. the action of the Ithacana
In saying nothing but simply saving wood is q
remarkable exhibition of self-control. But the
Cornell men have felt that as their crew 10 rec
ognized as the champion eight because of its
decisive victory over Yale and Harvard al
Poughkeepsie. 1t would be decidedly out oil
order for them to demand another race with the
Blue and Crimson. They also have declared
that II Yale and Harvard decided to flock by
Themselves, their crew would row the usual race
with Pennsylvania and Columbia, or 1t might bt
sent to Henley again. Never for a moment
though. has the Cornell Navy made any re
quests for q renewal of the relations thai
brought about one of tho greatest boat races
ever rowed in this country.
Hale's decision to challenge Cornell, which
was made only a few days ago. is, therefore. q
move that the Ithacans have been most anxious
TO have the Blue make. 1t is, also. the only
proper way to bring about another race. and tn,
Yale Navy will receive widespread commenda
tion Tor assuming such a fair policy. II Cornell
does not want to go into a three.cornered rao,
~ New London with Harvard and Yale. It 10 tn,
privilege OF the Ithacans to row Yale alone
which ID an opportunity long wished for by thu
hardy New Yorkers. If Cornell accepts tn,
oner to indulge in a dual race with tn
Blue. there will be no test between Court
noys crew and Harvard unless they aRre,
TO row a separate race. In advocating q Yale
Cornell race, representatives of the Blue ga,
that II Yale 10 willing to row Harvard In anothe
contest. the Crimson should DO willing to row
Cornell separately. or, In other words. that thre
dual races could be rowed-Yale vs. Cornell
Cornell We. Harvard. Yale VS.. Harvard-an,
that similar freshman events could also DO al
ranged. Yale boating men offer this argument
Keeping in mind that the races will be rowed Q
New London. and also figuring that it 10 not to
much of "a strain for the big varsity crews +
row two raCeB aDieCe within an intarval NJ tu