The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-06-28

think they would so to pieces after the
first mile, the Wisconsin crew flew on.
When the mile was reached the Wis
consin boat had "a lead of clear length
over Pennsylvania and Cornell, who were
sec-sawing for second place. The Wis
consin crew had settled down to stroke
of thirty-tWo to a minute, the boat never
checking between the strokes, and the
blades cutting the water as keenly as a
knife. Look at those Westerners go,"
shouted those on the observation train,
and Wisconsin stock went up for q little
while. The slow recovery and the slow
strokes had behind them a wonderful
power and the Wisconsin boat never
checked or stopped as it went toward the
second mile.
In the meantime Pennsylvania and Cor
nell were having as pretty a fight for
second place as ever has been seen on
the course. Time and tine again the
Cornell crew put a little more back in
the stroke and sent the nose Of their
boat even with that of the Quakers But
it wds quite apparent that there was
little chance of their holding 1t there.
, Wards men were rowing IT magnificent
form, while Cornell was not yet rowing
with the usual Cornell reserve force
Their work was being done spasmodio-
ally, and they seemingly made a despcr-
ate effort to get to the front and stay
there long enough to dishearten their op-
ponents.
CORNELL SPURTS.
Columbia was rowing on behind a cou-
pie of lengths, but their boat did not
seem to have the speed necessary to keep
1t In the procession with the other boats
When the Wisconsin crew had reached
the mile and a quarter point they eased
off trif1e in their stroke. AT the same
time Cornell picked up their stroke and
showed their boat slightly ahead Of
Pennsylvania, and overlapping the stern
of the Wisconsin shell. Cornell" came
from thousands of throats on the OBJ
serVation boats, and the hope arose that
the Cornell crew was going to the front
IN their usual style. But with apparent
ease the Wisconsin stroke went back to
its regular thirty-two, and the boat shot
ahead again good half length At the
same time Pennsylvania boat, which
had been tagging a half length behind
Cornell, shot up level with the Cornell
boat, while Columbia, making desperate
EFFORT, placed the nose of its shell near
Pennsylvania's stern. AT this point II
was one of the most beautiful races i'm
aginable, the four crews rowing with
great regularity, and all of them with a
clean, neat stroke. Again, as they neared
the mile and a half point, Cornells boat
shell, but was unable to catch Wisconsin,
which now had lead over the two crews
of three-quarterS Of q length and was
still going. From this point on to the
two mile point the Wisconsin boat seem
ed to fairly fly. Pennsylvania was put
ting more strength in the oar, but in
stead of catching the Badgers, the West
erners' boat drew away from them with
ease. AS they passed the two mile mark
there was quarter of a length of clear
water between the nose of the Pennsyl-
vanla shell and the stern of the Wis
corsin shell, and then for the first time
those upon the train began to appreciate
that Wisconsin was not a one smile crew
and that having pulled through the first
two hard miles at such a splendid pace,
they were liable to make trouble at the
finish Cornell was even with Pennsyl-
vania at the mark and the two crews
stayed on even terms until the two mile
and quarter point was reached. Then
the seesawing began again, Cornell and
Pennsylvania alternately forging the nose
of their boats ahead of each other in
desperate effort to maintain the second
place, while the wonderful Western crew,
with the indescribable stroke and the
much criticised form, kept their shell
boat length In the van. Poor Columbia
struggled three boat lengths behind, row.
ing with all the power there was in what
they must have known was the losing
boat.
MIGHTY STRUGGLE,
At the two and three-quarter mile point
Cornell began to drop back a little. in
spite of the intunctions of the coxswain,
who was frantically appealing to his men,
while Pennsylvania spurted ahead a lit
tie, and finally Tapped the Wisconsin shell
She had fair length of advantage over
Cornell In the last quarter of the Sec
ond mile, where the course goes under the
great Poughkeepsie bridge, the crews of
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin struggled al
most like demons, the one to keep the
advantage and the other to gain it, But
Wisconsin was rowing better than Penn
sylvania. The Quakers' temper was er,
ratio as they made various spurts in their
endeavor to overtake Wisconsin, while
the latter was rowing steadily at thirty
two, their backs going backward and for
ward in absolutely perfect rhythm. AS
they passed under the bridge Wisconsin
had length on Pennsylvania, and one
and a half on Cornell. Just after thew
passed the bridge Pennsylvania made an
other endeavor to close up the gap and
did succeed in tapping their boat over
the Badgers stern, but the Westerners
Immediately responded, increasing their
stroke slightly.
At this time Cornell had evidently lost
its ability to put any more power in the
stroke, and could not keep up with the
pace set by the two crews ahead Cor
nelPs boat was fully two and one-haIf
lengths behind Pennsylvania, while Co.
lumbia was still struggling on three
lengths to the stern of the Cornell boat.
Passing the three and one-fourth miles
point Pennsylvania hit the stroke up to
thirty-f1ve, and there began one of the
most exciting contests ever seen in boat
racing. Slowly the bowman of the Penn
sylvania boat lined up with the coxswain
of the Wisconsin boat but just as he
had come on a line with him the Wiscon-
sin crew responded to the squirt and
again drew their boat away
FATAL ERROR.
It was at this point that Wisconsin
was seen to swerve badly towards the
Western shore, and, to the surprise of
everybody, maintained this course, al
though 1t took them inside of a number
of small pleasure boats and fully SOC
yards, if they maintained their angle out
of their course at the finish. Naturally
the Pennsylvania boat pulled desperately
by the Quakers gained on the Wisconsin
boat, and as they passed into the last
quarter the nose of the shells were on n
line. The Pennsylvania contingent on the
train were frantic with joy, and, standing
up, gave vent to their feeling with yels
to the crew to win the race The Wis
consin boat, unable to turn back into It's
lane, had found dead water in the lane
which they had sought near the shore,
and pull as they would and as desper-
ately as they did the nose Of the Pennsyl-
vania shell came out inch by inch until 1t
crossed the line a scant half length
ahead of the Badgers boat
1t a finish that set wild with de-
light every lover of good sport The Cor
nell boat was fully three lengths to the
rear of the Wisconsin boat, while the Co
lumbias finished gameIy their stern