Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-06-29
We ALL
BUT WON.
iii Luck Makes Badger
Crew Lose the Big
Race.
Coxswain Dillon Steers
Wisconsin Eight Out
of Course.
Westerners Lead Entire
Westerners Lead Entire
4 Miles Except the
Last 200 Yards.

Poughkeepsie, N. Y, June 2S.-Twen-
ty thousand people Tuesday saw one of
the most exciting four mile races ever
witnessed in the history OF college
racing. Five thousand people on the
observation train yelled themselves
hoarse in frantic applause to their var
ious college crews to do their best and
with the other $4,000 they saw the red
and blue carried over the line a win
ner by a short half length from Wis
consin which lost in the last 200 yards
by bad steering. Cornell, the victor in
former years, pulled after, full four
lengths in the rear, and Columbia,
never in the fight after the end of the
first mile, trailed good three lengths
from the stern of the Cornell boat
1t was the kind of a race that makes
the blood tingle, and was made SO by
the crew that came over 1000 miles to
meet the former yictors, for without
the gallant badgers in the race, II
would have been a doleful procession
after the second mile was entered. TO
say that there was surprise on the op-
seryation train and amid the great
crowds upon the banks when the WIS
consin shell swept mile after mile OF
the course until the last half was
reached, with clear lead over all the
crews, is putting it mildly. When the
people on the bank, unable to place the
stranger crew, looked toward the OBJ
seryation train inquiringly and were
told that it was Wisconsin, they were
almost dumb with amaZement and when
those on the train saw the gallant
struggle mile after mile they dropped
their applause for their own crews anu
yelled in friendly manner Tor the
bovs from the west. The alleged rag
ped stroke, the badly keeled boat, the
too long reach, all were forgotten as
the fast moving shell kept its sharp
nose to the fore, and then the people
saw the leaders turn out towards
the shore at the finish and lose the
race to the men from Pennsylvania DV
a short half length.
About o'clock the Pennsylvania
crew arrived at the starting POM,
where the observation train already
WAS. and then there was long walt,
because the Columbia launch, Wnlle
towing the shell up the river, mad
broken down. 1t was $3.50 when tine
referees boat signalled Cornell ana
Wisconsin to come out because Colum-
bia had just rowed into sight, Precise
" seven minutes later the crews were
in line and all had answered the ref
eree's query, Are you ready IN the
affirmative. Cornell had the channel
course. where the advantage is said TO
lie. and Columbia was directly next TO
her and then came Pennsylvania, with
Wisconsin close in-shore. Tue east
ern crews were cheered to the echo,
Int the western crew was not particu-
larly noticed. At "a minutes ana ~
seconds after the pistol Mashed ana
the four crews seemed to take the wa
ter together. Hardly had the crews
rowed five lengths before it was seen
that a member of the Wisconsin ere"
had Jumped his seat and the co&swalh
threw up his hands, appealing Tor a
new start, which he had the right
to do inside of 80 SECONDS
The referees boat whistled
the crews back and a second time the
crews were lined up and at 81 min
utes and 50 seconds after 6 another
start was made. For some reason or
other some one on the Columbia boat
raised his hand as If in trouble, and
for a second time the boats were called
back to the start. 1t was minutes
later when the third start was given;
this time the crews got away without
accident. This start was beautiful
one. the four boats noses seeming TO
hang together for the first two strokes.
AS they settled in the stroke taught
them bv their various coaches, The
badgers seemed to be rowing the least
number of strokes per minute of any Of
the crews, but their boat was going
faster than any OF the others. Wis
consin rowed 80. Pennsylvania "a, Cor
nell "a and Columbia 80.
Before the first eighth Of mile was
finished the Wisconsin boat had showed
its nose ahead OF the other crews. with
Cornell second, Pennsylvania hanging
well on her and Columbia fourth,
dropping astern. When the first half