The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-12-26
Their First Victory
Ans Exciting Race Among
College Men. :: :: =: ::

TINT pedutllul MaS AFTERNOON tlcN lett
within themselves that their time hal
come at last. The warmth of the set
ting sun as It slowly approached the
hllltops which guard Cayuga On the
west, the deep blue OF the lake and the
breath of spring In the soft southern
breeze seemed all to foretell some goal
fortune. Then, too, MS the crews row
cd up the lake the first ycnr men had
pulled together beautifully, their cars
had struck the water In perfect unison.
with never break from bow To stroke.
1t was coming. and they knew 1t, for
they had struck their stride. a. the
runners say.
blast from the whistle of the
coachs launch drew their attention to
the varsity and the sophomore crews
which had proceeded mile farther up
the lake. From this point the two sen
Tor crews were TO race for three miles,
picking up the freshmen at the mile
mnrk. As the freshmen watched them
the distant shells turned slowly and
took their positions A moment they
lay motionless; then, ms jet of W hite
steam shot up from the launch lG
broad oar blades flashed In the san.
mud the race was on.
IL looked TO the eager freshmen rs II
the sophomore crew had lcapcd 10 the
front with the first stroke, the heavier
varsity being unable to catch the water
ns quickly rs had their nimhIe rivals.
and ~ the two shells came racing over
the CLASSY surface of the lake II WAS
evident that the second ycnr men wefr
increasing their advantage
Look ut 'em gain, Look mt 'rm
galn!' cried Crowell up In bow seat.
Crowell always became excited when.
ever he watched others rneing. but as
soon as he got in II raee himself he
was tho steadicst man IN the boat
That's all right" said Bruce tbr
sturdy stroke: "the sophs may jump
EN- at the start, but you wait until that
varsity gets down to work +"
And almost before he hid uttered
them his words We're proved tyuc. for
the class crew censcd to gnln on their
seniors. For time the two sheiis pail
ed ut almost equal speed the white
launch speeding along close bohinl the
second, the coach up IN the bow direct
Ing the oarsmcn through his great nlu
minimum megaphonc Though the fresh.
men could not hear him they knew that
he was upbraiding the varsity fur nj
lowing n class crew Ia get ahend Of
Them Aud soon lila re5laae-l 49, =
| thatr affnat for
seen 10 be slowly losing their leud na
the older men began to put their hearts
into the work. Slowly but surely the
second crew crawlcd up until the
length and II half of open water TINT
had separated 1t from Its fleeing rival
was reduced to less than n foot, and
then the coach's voice came ringing
over the water:
Get ready there, freshmen
The lIttle cockswain ceased crnnlug
his neck over his shoulder and, grasp
ing the rudder lines firmly. shouted
Ready MILL"
In response the eight sunbrowncd
boys before him settled themselves into
their seats and, lenning fur forward,
dipped their oar blades into the water.
Eyes In tho boat" cautioned the
cockswaIn, and they waited while their
opponents came flying toward them.
They heard tho painting of the launch'a
engine and then the sound OF the rush
Ing shells cleaving the stu water aud
the "schuh" of the oars la the rOwloCks
rs 10 pairs of arms shot out on the re
cover. Then the cold mans voice
again:
Are you ready, freshmen Then
gop
And with one giant heaye they were
or.
Bruce kept his eye steadily fixed on
the water just beyond the port gun
vale as 1t slipped past, still swlrlinp
and dlmpling from the blows Of tho
stout blades behind him. Quickly ant
yet with the utmost care he pullet
stroke after stroke; II sharp cnteh ant
II powerful heavc, then out shot hl'
hands, and his shoulders followed OF
the recover, but as his seat nearcd thu
end OF the slide he slowed 1t down tia
there might be no checking Of the boat
And tho seven men behind him Were
doing likewise, for once MS be caught
the water no felt the frail shell rise he
meath him and qulYer Ike living
thing A thrill Of cxultatlou pnssee
through every man In the crew. They
knew then that the victory was theirs
For the first time they had felt tht
shell live, aud that spelled victory
And now the little cockswan found
his voice.
STEADY. boys; steady he cried
keep your eyes on the stroke catcl
-catch--catchw
Then, with note OF triumph IN III
voice, he shouted:
Were gaining, boys; we're gaining
Keep her up"
by this time Bruce's breath va
coming fast, and the great drops o
sweat poured off his face. For an IN
slant he ventured to glance away fror
his patch of water, and out Of the cor
ner OF his eye he saw the other boat
now racing along on even terms an'
not half length ahead He was re-
called by the voice Of the cockswaln:
"rm going to give You ten. fellows
and when ! get through you've got L
be even with them. Iicndy now one
two, three-good work, boys four. i've
we're galning-slx, scven-No. .
don't clip your stroke--elght, nine, ten
We're up to them. Now ten more
One, two. three
But the other crews were pulling
their hardest, and between stroke
Bruce could hear the voices Of thel
cockswains as they, too, counted TEN
At the end the three were still even
and the question seemed to be one o
endurance. The cold man" In th
launch behind was shouting encourage
mcnt to the freshmen, for their burs
OF speed surprised and delighted HIN.
Go 1t, freshmen he called.
And "go IT. they did. His words pa