The Irish standard., 1899-07-01
MADE PLUCKY FIGHT,
Wisconsin Leads Most of the Way
in Poughkeepsie Boat Race.
Compelled to Steer Out of Her Course
at the Finish, and Is Deaten by
Pennsylvania Cornell
Crew Is Third.

Crew ls Third.
Poughkeepsie, y. ", June 2s.-Twen-
ty thousand people on Tuesday saw one
of the most exciting four-mile boat
races ever witnessed in the history of
college rowing. Five thousand people
on the observation train yelled them
selves hoarse in frantic appeals TO their
various college crews to do their best,
and with the other $4,000 they saw the
red and blue carried over the line win
ncr by Il short half length fromthe Wis
consins, who lost in the last 200 yards
by bad steering. Cornell, the victor of
former years, pulled after, full four
lengths in the rear, and Columbia, never
in the fight after the end Of the first
mile, trailcd in a good three lengths
from the stern of the Cornell boat.
n Gallant Fight.
1t was the kind of a race that makes
the blood Jingle, and was made so by
the crew that came over thousand
miles to meet former victors, for with
out the gallant Wisconsins in the race
it would have been doleful procession
after the second mile was entered. To
say there was surprise on the observa-
ton train and amid the great crowds
upon the banks when the Wisconsin
she'll 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 observation
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 milo
after mile they dropped their appeals
for their own crews and yelled in
friendly manner for the boys from the
west.
Beautiful start.
Two bad starts were made. 1t was
five minutes after seven when the third
start was given, and 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. Before the first
eighth mile was finished the Wis
consin boat had showed its nose
ahead of the other crews. with Cornell
second, Pennsylvania hanging we'll ON
to her, and Columbia third, dropping
astcrn. When the first half mile was
reached, so fast was the Wisconsin boat
going that ii had taken IFS whole length
ahead of the Cornell boat on the ex-
IRENE east.
AS they nearcd the mile and n halt
point, Corncl's boat came up even with
the Pennsylvania shell, but was unable
to catch Wisconsin, which now had .
lead over the two crews of thrcc-quar-
ters of II length and was still going.
Not n Onc-Milc Crew.
AS they passed he two-mic inark
there was quarter of n length OF clear
water between the nose of the Pennsyl-
vania and the stern of the Wisconsin
shell, and then for the first time those
upon the train began TO appreciate that
| Wisconsin was not onc-milc crew and
that, having pulled through the irst
two hard miles at such splendid pace,
| they were liable to make trouble Mt the
finish.
Fought Like Demons.
AT the az mile point Cornell began to
drop back little, in spite of the in
functions of the coNswain, who was
frantically appealing to his men. while
Pennsylvania spurtcd little and final
ly Tapped the Wisconsin shell, while
she had fair length of advantage over
Cornell. In the last quarter of the sec
ond mile, where the race goes under
the great Ponghkecpsie bridge, the
crews of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin
struggled almost like demons, the one
to keep the advantage and the other
to gain it.
Lost by Poor Steering.
1t was at this point that Wisconsin
was seen to swervc badly towards the
western shore, and to the surprise OF
everybody maintained this course, al
though it took them inside of Il num-
Der of small pleasure boats and fully SOC
yards, if they maintained their angle,
out of their course at the finish. Nat
urally the Pennsylvania boat, pulled
desperately by the Quakers, gained up
on the Wisconsin boat, and as they
passed into the last quarter the noses
of the shells were on line. The Penn
sylvania contingent on the train were
frantic with joy, and, standing up, gave
vent to their feeling with yells to the
crew to win the race. The Wisconsin
boat, unable to turn back into its lane,
had found dead water in the lane which
they had sought near the shore, and.
pull as they would and as desperately
as they did, the nose of the Pennsyl-
vania shell came out inch by inch until
it crossed the line a scant half length
ahead of the Badgers boat. 1t was a
finish that set wild with delight every
lover of good sport. The Cornell boat
was fully three lengths to the rear Of
the Wisconsin boat, while the Column
bias finished gamely their stern chase
almost four lengths behind Cornell
Pennsylvania time, 2O:O4; Wiscon-
sins, 2o:O5M; Cornell's, 2O:13; Column
bias, 20:20. The record for this course
is 1929.
A Remarkable Case.
Waterloo, Ia, June 2s.-One of the
most extensive skin graftings ever at