The times., 1899-06-28
B BATTLE ROYAL OF OARS
The Pennsy Eight Clips Victory
From the WiScOnsinS.
The Defeat of the Westerners Due
to Mistake of Their Coxswain-
nell Proves Great Disappoint-
"reminiscences Along the Hudson.


probably the most sensational boat race
ever seen in America was rowed over the
Hudson Rivers four-mile course this af-
ternoon, while thirty thousand persons
looked on in simple wonderment. The
University of Pennsylvania Varsity, com
posed mostly of veterans who triumphed
over Cornell at Saratoga Lake last year,
proved victorious, but only by bare half
length over the University of Wisconsin's
eight, which proved a big surprise from
the very start. The Badgers, who had
been rather generally overlooked by the
talent since their arrival, rowed in mag
nificent form for three miles and half,
leading the procession down the river in
majestic style. But toward the close
Pennsylvania, with the experience and also
the superior physical training, increased
the power in their shell and slowly over
hauled the Westeners. 1t was a half mile
from the final stakeboat that the cox
swain of the Wisconsin crew lost his bear
ings and steered away out of the proper
course. incidentally numbers and 4, in
the Wisconsin boat, caught fatal crabs
or jumped their slides, accidents which
were directly responsible for their de-
feat.
When the two leaders crossed the finish
line there was so little difference between
them from the spectators standpoint that
nobody could tell which had won. Cornell
was sore disappointment to her sup
porters. The Ithaca crew did we'll for
half the distance, but the killing pace set
by the leaders took all the steam out of
them and they were beaten off worse than
ever before. They were three and half
lengths behind the Wisconsin boat at the
end all plugged out. Columbia's crew was
even more of a disappointment than Cor
nelPs. The men were never in the hunt,
rowed poorly, and dropped back so swiftly
after two miles had been rowed that their
shell seemed to be loaded with pig iron.
They were easily eight lengths in the wake
of Cornell and were in dire distress at that.
The race was rowed under perfect condi-
tions. The water was as smooth as could
be desired. There was no wind and
good ebb tide when the final start was
made There was a provoking delay be-
fore the shells were sent away, however,
which caused no end of grumbling. The
jockeying and scheming of the coaches for
supposed advantages was the sole cause
of the trouble. The race could have beeq
started at o'clock sharp under the best
of conditions, but the eights were not
ready until nearly an hour after that.
Then they moved slowly to quarters, and
there were two false breaks before they
got away for keeps.
The False Starts.
These poor starts were due to protests
first by Wisconsin and then by Columbia,
after all the crews had left the marks.
According to the rules, if protests are
made before ten strokes have been pulled
the crews must be called back and started
over again. In each instance the rule was
taken advantage of and all of the eights
had to begin again. Wisconsin for three
miles at least showed the best waterman
ship on the river. The crew was made up
of big, brawny men, who showed undoubted
strength. That fact was credited long ago
by a veteran who looked the crew over.
but when they began rowing with superb
sweeping stroke, cleanly pulled through,
with great long drive and sharp
though not jerky recovery, it was appre-
ciated that Coach McConville had worked
wisely and we'll The pace set by Wiscon-
sin was a killer, but it did not kill the
Badgers at all. When they had completed
their journey not one of them collapsed
Had the Wisconsin coxswain steered prop
erly the race would have been decided by
a few feet instead of half length, and at
that it would have been in doubt
The official time of the winning crew
was 20:04, while Wisconsin's time was
20:05 l-2 Cornell's 20:13, and Columbia's
20:20. By these figures II can be readily
appreciated what might have happened
had the Wisconsin men followed the reg
ular course and rowed cleanly to the end.
The crowd on hand was the largest that
has ever been seen here. Fully 10000 per-
sons looked down upon the four shells as
they came down the cleaning river. They
were on foot, on sailing and steam craft,
on the cars, on the hillsides. and even
on top of the lofty bridge. The railroad
accommodations for visitors were made
quate, and especially for those who came
up from New York. Beyond these un-
pleasant features the management was
good, although the coaches should have
been compelled to get the crews to the
starting line sooner than they did.
At $50 but one crew, Pennsylvania, was
in sight and another quarter of an hour
passed. Then the four captains were ask
ed II they were ready. All of them said
yes and then the referee fired his pistol.
Cornell had the outside. with Columbia
next. Pennsylvania third and Wisconsin
holding the inside position nearest the
shore. Hardly were they off when at a
signal from their stroke the Badgers
stopped rowing and the others followed
suit. AS one of the Wisconsin men had
slipped from his sliding seat his captain,
under the rules, had legal right to call
for another start.
AT o'clock precisely another start was
made. The shells had scarcely gotten un-
der way when Columbia's IS stroke raised his
hand and his men stopped rowing. this
time because a steamer was coming down.
The Start of the Race.
The pistol cracked for the third time
at 7:10. This time there were no mishaps
and the crews bore away to an even start.
AS the first 100 yards were covered the
Wisconsin men. rowing with the style
and skill of veterans, gradually shot ahead
and by the quarter mile mark were a full
length TO the good while Pennsylvania
had an advantage of few yards over the
Ithacans. II was at the half mile flag that
Cornell's representatives made their first
real effort. The Quakers had to give way
and the Badgers had their lead cut down
to a quarter of length. Suddenly the
Wisconsin men took in the situation at a
glance and spurted, but without hitting
up the stroke. But Cornell was out for
business and got their prov almost on
even terms with Wisconsins. Ii was nip
and tuck as the three-quarter mile mark
flashed by. Cornell was perhaps three
yards ahead for a moment after which
| the big Westerners went to the front again,
| with Columbia and the Quakers close up.
| Cornel's lead was only momentary, how
| ever. and the Badgers soon regained their
place. 1t seemed as if the Wisconsin crew
| was going to make a runaway race of it
| as they bore down the mile and a half
They opened up clean length ahead OF
| Cornell and made the pace so fast that
the Ithacans were unquestionably tired.
| This was the very thing looked for by
the Quakers, who now hit the stroke up to
| thirty-six and began to overhaul the ruDils