Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-28
WINS
The Varsity 4-MiIe Race at
Poughkeepsie, Tuesday.
Wisconsin Has the Race Won, But
Loses by Poor Steering.
Cornell HopelessIy Behind and Columbia Still
Farther in the Rear.


the most exciting 4-mile boat races
ever witnessed in the history of col
lege rowing. Five thousand persons
on the observation train yelled them
selves hoarse in frantic appeals to their
various crews to do their best and with
the other 1900 they saw the red and
blue carried over the line a winner by
short half length from the Wiscon-
sin Badgers, who lost it in the last 200
yards by bad steering. Cornell, the
victor of former years, pulled after
them a good four lengths in the rear.
and Columbia, never in the fight. after
the end Of the first mile. trailed in a
good three lengths from the stern Of
the Cornell boat.
1t was the kind Of a race that makes
the blood Jingle in the veins and the
nerves become tense under the excite
ment and these elements We're injected
into il by the crew that came over 1000
miles to meet former victors, for with
out the gallant Wisconsins in the race
IL would have been a doleful process
sion after the second mile was entered.
To say that there was surprise on
the observation train and amidst the
great crowds upon the banks when the
Wisconsin shell swept mile after mile
Of the course until the last half was
reached, with a clear lead upon all the
crews is putting it mildly. When
those on the train saw the gallant
struggle. they dropped their appeals
for their own crews and yelled in
friendly manner for the boys from the
West. The alleged ragged stroke. the
badly kecled boat, the too long reach
were all forgotten as the fast moving
craft kept its nose TO the fore. until il
was seen TO turn out towards the shore
at the finish and lose the race to the
men from Pennsylvania by a short half
length.
Well did the Pennsylvanians obey the
injunction Of Ellis Ward not to lose
their heads. From the first eighth Of a
mile they rowed a stern. hard chase, at
one time being astern Of both Cornell
and Wisconsin. but their pluck and en-
durancc sent them over the line win
ner in good time and by such a small
margin that the glory is greater.
For Cornell, the winner Of many bat
ties, it proved to be n race only for two
miles. For these first two miles she
did gallant work. but she was strug-
Cling against evidently better crews
and il was only by excrtions of phe-
nomcnal nature that she managed to
keep the nose Of the boat ahead Of
Pennsylvania for a brief time in the
second mile.
OF Columbia it may be said that she
was outclassed from the start and bar
ring an accident never at any time
stood chance Of winning. She went
to the rear in the first quarter of
mile. although she made a good start.
and stayed there all through the race.
All day long there was a lull about
the city and the crowds quite early
strolled over to the river.
At o'clock. or a few minutes after
the Pennsylvania crew arrived at the
start, where the observation train al
ready was. and there was a long wait
which was explained on the ground
that the Columbia launch while towing
the shell up the river had broken down.
The Pennsylvania crew. which was get
ting into the boat from the float at
The start. were Serenaded by a lot Of
enthusiastic roOters, who had secured
cOrnet to accompany them in the
song 'Hurrah for the Red and Blue.
At 6.45, the referees boat signalled
70 Cornell and Wisconsin. both crews
being at the Cornell float just above
the start, 10 come out, because Column
bia had just rowed into sight. Seven
minutes later the four crews We're in
line and had answered the referees
query: Are you ready in the affirma-
tive. Cornell had the channel course.
where the advantage is said to lie. with
Columbia directly next to her and then
came Pennsylvania and Wisconsin,
close in shore. 1t was rather pitiful to
hear the three Eastern crews receive
cheer after cheer ard the Western crew
not any.
please keep quiet, observation
train" called the referee and there was
quietness enough SO that the referee
could plainly be hard saying: Are
you all ready?"
Yes came back the answer from
all the coxswains, and, at 6.5430. the
pistol flashed and the four crews SEEM |
ed to take the water together.
Hardly had the crews rowed five |
lengths before it was seen that No. . |
Of the Wisconsin crew had jumped his |
seat and the coXswain threw up his !
hands appealing for new start. which |
he had a right to do inside of 30 sec |
onds. the referees boat whistled the |
crews back and the fact that CorneIl'S
boat was further down the river at the |
time raised Cornelrs hopes. second |
time the crews were lined up and al
6.57.55, another start was made. For |
some reason or other some one in Co |
lumbia's boat raised his hand as if in |
trouble and for a second time the |
boats were called back to the start.
IT was 7.05 o'clock when the third |
start was given and this time the crews |
got away without accident. The starl |
was a beautiful one. the four boats |
noses seeming to hang together for the 4
first two strokes. AS they settled /
down 20 the stroke taught them by the /
various coaches, Wisconsin seemed to |
be rowing the lowest number of strokes /
per minute of any of the crews. but (
her boat was.going faster than any OF |
the others Wisconsin rowed 90: Penn !
sylvania, 90: Cornell, "a: and Columbia. |
%. Before the first eighth Of a mile 1
was finished the Wisconsin boat had 4
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