Birmingham state herald., 1897-07-01
MAGNIFICENT BOAT RACE Three American Crews, With
 American Methods, SHOW GREAT ENDURANCE A See-Saw Race Finally Won by the CorneI Freshmen < CoIumbia's Sput
 Came Too Late.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, June 90.-Cornell won by hree-fourths of a length, Co., lumbia second by one-third of a length over Pennsylvania. Official time. Cornell 9:21 1-5, Columbia 9:22 3-5. Pennsylvania 9:23 1-5
 The freshmen race over the two mile course here this afternoon between three American crews rowing with purely American methods was one of the most beautiful exhibitions of boat racing in this country. It was inspiring, magnifi- cent. The freshmen of Cornell, CVlum- bia and Pennsylvania rowed with their heads as well as with their bodies and showed strength that was inspiring. It was any ones race until the instant the flag dropped and the fact that but two seconds divided the first and last crews and the boats laped over each other very nearly a half is evidence of the struggle. The time Is not a record because ale made the same course in 9:19 last week, but both Columbia, who finished second, and Pennsylvania, who finished third, made better time than did Harvard and Cornell finishing in the same places last Wednesday,.
 The feature of the race was the wonder full spurt made by the Columbia young sters in the last half milc when they closed up a gap between themselves and Cornell so fast that had there been an-s ether eighth of a mile to row they would have been in second place. A second feature was the remarkable rowing of the Pennsylvania crew which had been said by it's trainer to be in bad shape. This crew is very much inferior to the Pennsylvania varsity crew and the crit ics are wondering if Ellis Ward has not something up his sleeve" for Fri days race. The only criticism on the race made today is that pr. Walter Peel, the referee, kept the crews waiting so long at their step that when the oars d'pp. the n rvous stt ain took oH at least two seconds from the time.
 After Referee Peel had kept the crews waiting at their stake boats some five on six minutes, the youngsters showing the strain they were under, the pistol start was given and the crews were off. Pennsylvania caught the water first with a swift stroke that showed the nos9 of her boat clearly ahead of the others. Cornell and Columbia started easily and Cornell fell to. the rear. All started at a thirty-six stroke, but Cornell, true to the Courtney training, dropped down to th.r- ty-three, while Columbia kept 1t up at thirty-five and Pennsylvania was hitting away at thirty7three, At the eighth of a mile PennSy lHatltac w asy leading the Coz lumbia boat by an eighth of a length. while Cornell was a quarter of length DeHlnQ rtIle SOiuIuDld- DJdt.s. OotHcli MdS rowing easily, while, the other two were fighting 1t out for first place, but the Cor nell stroke had strength. At the quarter Cornell had passed Columbia, and at the half Cornell had drawn up to Pennsylya- mia. Vieiously Pennsylvania hit the wa ter, but slowly the Cornell boat gained inch by inch. Columbia, too, was com ing along, and the Pennsylvania lead of a quarter of length was reduced ira the next quarter to a bare eighth. Then the Quakers did fight for life, and down to this end of the first mile there was O terrific race for place. So this con- tinued for another half mile down to the mile and half point First the nose of the Pennsylvania boat would begin to draw away from the Columbia boat, and then Columbia would draw up on Penn sylvania.
 Entering the last half it was apparent to all that there would be a memorable struggle. At this point Cornell had lead of a quarter of a length over PenrS sylvania, and Columbia was a quarter of length behind Pennsylvania. Co., lumbias stroke oar caught crab at this time and lost fully four strokes, but quickly fell in.
 Whether this had any disastrous ef- feet on the boat or nos was rot apparent from the train, but just following it Co., lumbia hit up the stroke from the 35 they had at first been rowing uniformly dur ing the race to a faster 36. Cornsll had made the lead three-quarters of length and was still going when that spurt was begun, and when it was we'll under way was a length away. The boat of Colum- bia seemed to fairly lift itself out of the water. Pennsylvania responded with 35 stroke. but the long shell of the New Workers failed. Lifting itself up by the Pennsylvania shell and the Columbia shell like a thing bewitched, on it went the bow tapping the stern of the Cor nell boat and creeping up toward the stroke oar, Frantically did the 16-year- old coxswain call to the crew and we'll did they respond, and the two boats crossed the line and the Cornell was the winner by three-quarters of length. Pennsylvania finished only half length behind Columbia. Not man in any of the boats was distressed by this remark able exhibition.
 There was some discussion, and some squabbling over the time between the ref cree boat and the pr5ss car The Asso- ciated Press time for Cornell, taken with the greatest accuracy, was 9:20 3-5. The first of the time-was given out as 9:21 and the corrected tima given out this evening was 9:21 1-5.
 Cornell averaged 32 strokes a minute during the race for normal work; Penn- sylvania 34 and Columbia 35. Columbia claims they would have won the race bup for the crab caught by the stroke and Referee Peel confirms this statement in part.