The Delawarean., 1900-12-22
Their First Victory
An Exciting Race Among
College Men. :: :: :: ::

AS the freshmen sat in their shell
that beautiful May afternoon they fell
within themselves that their time Mad
come at last. The warmth of the set
ting sun as it slowly approached the
hilltops which guard Cayuga OH the
west, the deep blue of the lake and the
breath of spring in the soft southern
breeze seemed all to foretell some good
fortune. Then, too, as the crews row
ed up the lake the first year men had
pulled together beautifully, their oars
had struck the water in perfect unison.
with never break from bow to stroke.
1t was coming, and they knew ii, for
they had struck their stride, as the
runners say.
blast from the whistle of the
coach's launch drew their attention to
the varsity and the sophomore crews
which had proceeded a mile farther up
the lake. From this point the two SEN
ior crews We're TO race for three miles.
picking up the freshmen Mt the mile
mark. As the freshmen watched them
the distant shells turned slowly and
took their positions. A moment they
lay motionless; then. as jet of white
steam shot up from the launch. 1G
broad oar blades flashed in the sun,
and the race was on.
IT looked to the eager freshmen as if
the sophomore crew had lcaped to the
front with the first stroke. the heavier
varsity being unable to catch the water
as quickly as had their nimble rivals.
and as the two shells came racing over
the CLASSY surface of the lake it was
evident that the second year men were
increasing their advantage.
Look at em gain Look at 'em
gain" cried Crowell up III bow seat.
Crowell always became excited when
ever he watched others racing, but as
soon as he got i'll race himself he
was the steadiest man in the boat.
That's all right" said Bruce, the
sturdy stroke; "the sonhs may jump
'em at the start. but you wait until that
varsity gets down to work"
And almost before he had uttered
them his words We're proved true, for
the class crew ceased to gain on their
seniors. For time the two shells pull
ed at almost equal speed, the white
launch speeding along close behind the
second, the coach UP in the bow direct
ing the oarsmen through his great alu-
minium megaphone. Though the fresh
men could not hear him they knew that
he was upbraiding the varsity for al
lowing class crew to get ahead of
them. And soon his reproaches had
their effect. for the sophomores were
seen to be slowly losing their lead as
the older men began to put their hearts
into the work. Slowly but surely the
second crew crawled up until the
length and a half of open water that
had separated it from its fleeing rival
was reduced to less than foot. and
then the coach's voice came ringing
over the water:
Get ready there. freshmen"
The little cockswain ceased craning
his neck over his shoulder and. grasp
ing the rudder lines firmly, shouted:
Ready al-l-lw
In response the eight sunbrowned
boys before him settled themselves into
their seats and, leaning far forward,
dipped their oar blades into the water.
Eyes in the boat" cautioned the
cockswain, and they waited while their
opponents came flying toward them.
They heard the painting of the launch's
engine and then the sound of the rush
ing shells cleaving the still water and
the "schuh" of the oars in the rowlocks
as 16 pairs of arms shot out on the re-
cover. Then the "old mans" voice
again:
Are you ready, freshmen? Then
gow
And with one giant heave they were
off.
Bruce kept his eye steadily fixed on
the water just beyond the port gun
vale as it slipped past. still swirling
and dimpling from the blows of the
stout blades behind him. Quickly and
set with the utmost care he pulled
stroke after stroke; sharp catch and
Il powerful heave. then out shot his
hands, and his shoulders followed on
the recover, but as his seat neared the
end of the slide he slowed it down that
there might be no checking of the boat
And the seven men behind him were
1oing likewise, for once as he caught
the water he felt the frail shell rise be-
meath him and culver like living
thing. A thrill Of eXultation passed
through every man in the crew. They
lnew then that the victory was theirs.
For the first time they had felt the
she'll live and that spelled victory.
And now the little cockswain found
bis voice.
STEADY, boys; steady" he cried.
Keep your eyes on the stroke-catch
-catch-catch!"
Then, with a note of triumph in his
voice, he shouted:
"We're gaining, boys; we're gaining.
Keep her up"
BY this time Bruces breath was
coming fast, and the great drops of
sweat poured off his face For an in
stant he ventured to glance away from
his patch of water. ana ont of the cor
~, 1f bfe a,-a Ia ca ~ fba pfbap IN. -