The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01
CHERRY AND WHITE
MINNESOTA WON THE EIGIPF-OAR
FROM DULUTH IN A HARD
FINISH.
DULUTH CREW LOST AN OAR
WHEN WITHIN \ SHORT DISTANCE
OF THE FINISHING
LINE.
BUT IN MADE NO DIFTERENrE
In the Result of the Race in the
Judgment of Those who
Saw Il.

The Minnesotas won the eight-oared
race from Duluth yesterday afternoon
at Minnetonka, after a bruising strug-
gle, which would have been even still
closer had not an oar broken in the
Duluth shell not forty yards from the
finishing line.
AS it was. some doubt was expressed
by the admirers of the lusty Duluth
ianS as to the fact that the MinneSotdS
were in the lead when the miShap Oc-
Cured, but the judge of the finish, as
well as the spectators on the dock, say
that the St Paul men were from five
to twenty-five feet to the good when
their adversaries were obliged to quit
rowing. At all events, by means Of a
magnificent squirt in the last sixteenth
of a mile, the Reds OVerhauled the
Zenith City crew and pulled in across
the line winners, and We're instantly
given the decision. The time was very
slow, S:15. due to the rather strong
wind which blew from the east across
the course, and also to the fact that
the winners let down after the accident
to the Duluth men. The St. Paul boys
shared their doughty rivals regret that
an accident prevented an absolutely
conclusive decision as to the speed and
endurance of the two Fights. 1t was a
great race. and was witnessed by
large number of people, many of whom
went out from St. Paul and Minneap-
oils. and either occupied places in the
paViiions 81 followed the boats III the
VIII
Gals and press representatives. Much
interest was manifested in the move
ments Of the broad-shouldered fellows
as they emerged from the boat house
and entered their shells preparatory to
rowing down to the starting point off
the Lake Park hotel The Minnesotas
got out first and made d splendid APP
pearance. looking bit beefer than
the lads from the head of the lakes.
The Minnesotas wore red jerseys.
After the TOnka had put off and
started down to send away the crews,
Col G. Nee. Reeve was picked up and
after being furnished with a big speak
ing horn lined up the crews and gave
them an excellent start. Messrs- w. c.
Sargent, of Duluth, and tom" Wann
and +. G. Halbert, of the MinnesOtas
acted as timers. w. w. Heffelfnger
was referee, and George Potter acted as
judge at the finish.
Minnesota won the choice and Coach
Kennedy selected the course nearest
the Lake Park. A smart wind was
blowing out of the east, first a little to
the north, and then a little to the
south, blowing from right to left across
the oarsnen. The lake was choppy
and more like the water the Duluth
men are accustomed TO working IN
At $40 the start was made. the Min
nesOtas catching the water first and
pulling away at a 81 stroke while the
Duluth crew splashed a bit going off,
but soon took on a 80 clip and bent
TO after their rivals. When the Duluth
men had fairly settled down to bust
ness the reds took their turn at splash
ing, and ''NIerrie" Bend. the stroke.
ami d away his left stretcher, rOtwftn-
standing which he kept bravely at it.
i he stroke fell to 80 to the minute, and
the men from the head of the lake
made a strong try to lead to the mar
rows, a quarter of a mile away. ST
Paul whipped it up to Sc, however, and
made a fresh start.
1t was a, pretty struggle from the
outset, and as the two crews lined out
their courses through the narrOWS, ii
was seen that the Duluthians were
forging slightly ahead George Gibson
set his men quick, snappy stroke
and they fairly reveled in the chOppy
water which they found at the entranca
to the narrOWs
On they went, Duluth in the lead and
slightly to the right of the center
with Minnesota to the left, both crews
letting down a trifie on their strokes
Duluth falling to 81 and st. Paul 20
b.
G
from the narrOWS a full length to the
good, and COXswain Cox pointed the
boat straight for the Lafayette. Mean
time, Little Joe SWartZ, steering the
st. Paul beat. pulled it way out TO the
left, and lost some ground Coach
Kennedy. who sat in the stern of the
judges boat, saw this and shook his
head. but he had faith in his men. AS
the two crews pulled nearly a mile
side by side with the MinnesOtas MAX
ing every effort to overhaul their com
petitOrs, who were slightly in the lead,
a cheer went up from the judges boat
and the reds hearing it, shook up their
stroke somewhat, and, although not
rowing as many strokes to the minute
as Duluth, We're covering the distance
in excellent shape With their long sweep
and pretty recover. Their blade work
stood them in good stead. The spoons
vert in promptly and We're given the
pull the entire distance up to the in
slant of recovery. It's still Duluth"
said Kennedy, and the Duluth men on
the judges boat were wild with sup
pressed excitement. Capt. Sargent had
explained that his boys We're depending
upon their beef and grit from the pistol
to the finish, and it began to look as
if the combination would win out. Ken
nedy was plainly uneasy.
''Ths is the place where they give
N Themselves he CT;
and the words We're hardly out of his
mouth when little SWartz cried out:
Boys. you only need about forty
strokes more to do it." Duluth was
probably a length and a half in the
lead. and not more than a sixteenth
of a mile from the finishing line.
Down went the Minnesota blades
deep in the water, the stroke iumDed
UP to thirty-siX and the shell fairly
lance between the two boats was les
sened, the reds fairly rowing like de-
mons, but with admirable precision.
Their staying powers did the business
and within a few hundred feet Of the
line they had taken the lead, and as ii
turned out, the race.
After being passed by the St Paul
boat the Duluth crew began a squirt
when McPhail, rowing No. 5, snapped
his oar in two and the crew stoDped
rowing. The st. Pauls, seeing this. LET
down a trif1e and finished the remain
ing distance leisurely. Owing to the
angle at which the finishing line was
buoYed off the impression got abroad
that the Duluth crew was in the lead
as stated above, when they omit row