The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-06
The RACE AT HENLEY
PENNSYLVANIA TEAM DEFEATED
BY THE LEANDERs.
AFTER A VERY HOT CONTEST.
RACE MOST EXCITING EVER SEEN
AT HENLEY.

The American Visitors Greatly Dis
appointed, But the Members of the
Team Took Their Defeat Phi
losophicalIy-They Gave Their
Competitors All They Were Look
ing for, But the English oarsmen
Had the Superior Stroke.
Henley, July 5.-To the disappointment
of all the Americans at Henley the Lee
ander rowing club crew this morning de-
feated the crew of the University of
Pennsylvania in the final heat for the
Grand Challenge Cup. There was bright
sunshine and puffy cross winds blew from
the Bucks Shore, slig atty favoring the
British crew evinced the greatest conf
dence, and Leander money was every
where available, but this confidence never
exceeded anything beyond even money.
The Pennsylvanians' friends picked up
several hundred pounds and Philadel-
phia occupant of a house boat is said to
have invested $500 in favor of his crew
Both crews at the start showed no trace
of nervousness, and were sent away in
capital style, the Pennsylvanians rowing
forLy-three to the minute and the Lean
ders rowing forty-two, At the end of
Temple Island the Americans led by a
third of length. At Fawley the time
was minutes % 2-5 seconds, with the
Leanders three feet ahead. From there
on vt was a splendid struggle, out of
which the Leanders gained inch by inch
u tn
seconds, with the Leanders half a length
ahead, which they increased to three
quarters of a length. At the Isthmian
the Pennsylvanians made a desperate
squirt, but it was of no avail and two
men weakened perceptibly opposite the
grandstand. The Leanders won by a
length in.7 minutes 4 and 40 seconds.
"It was a grand race" said Coach
Ward, as. the Leanders crossed the finish
line. I'VE were simply outrowed and
have no other explanation to make"
A Most Exciting Race.
1t certainly was the best and most ex-
citing tussle ever seen at Henley. There
was scarcely the advantage of three feet
in the Leanders station.
The cheering for the contestants as they
struggled for the lead was terrific. Even
Henley had never before heard such wild
applause as greeted the Pennsylvanians
and the Leanders all along the course,
and the cheering was delirious from the
partisans as the latter's boat crossed the
line at the finish ahead of the Pennsyl-
vanians.
The Pennsylvanians reached their boat
house at II O'Clock, apparently as mt as
possible, while many of the followers OF
the red and blue showed marks of the in
tense strain of the final minutes. The
III laDohpd
coolly as though going out for practice.
British Were Very Cordial.
The Pennsylvamans excited much in
terest. All the prominent English racing
men took the occasion to shake hands
with the Americans and tell them they
rowed splendid, plucky race. The
Americans took their defeat in a very
sportsmanlike manner. They offered no
excuses and talked of trying again.
English rowing experts all agree that
the result of to-day's contest was pri-
anarily a victory for the English style of
rowing.
The prizes were presented at the grand
stand, Immediately after the regatta.
The Marquise dHautepole, grand
daughter of one of the founders of the
regatta. presented the prizes. Col Will
Ian made a capital speech in which he
paid a tribute to the American crew.
Cheers were then given for the King and
the President of the United States and
the regatta ended.
How the Americans Worked.
Theodore Cook, the Oxford oarsman,
wrote a description of the race for the
Associated Press, in which he says of the
crisis in the contest when Leander drew
up even with Pennsylvania:
''It was a splendid sight to see the
American boys refuse to let the Leanders
up. They slashed their big blades through
the water and put in all the steam they
knew, Allyn, Crowther and Davenport be-
ing especially efficient and the boat fair
~ rushed under their efforts. Still the
Leanders stayed where they were. 1t was
no further forward, but it was no further
back and every man was swinging right
up to his work, as elastic and free as the
start. And now that long swing began to
tell, but only by inches and 1t was but
two feet advantage at that that the Eng
lishmen had as both boats passed the
half way post in three minutes, % sec
onds
Gardner, the Pennsylvania stroke, then
put on a magnificent spurt and worked
his crew up TO AZ. but they could not
do IT,
How the Americans Lost.
"The Leauders only heightened out, at
a slower rate of stroklng and went fur
ther away at every stroke. They were
half a length ahead as the mile was fin
ished.
Never have1 heard such frantic and
continuous cheering as greeted both crews
while they raced down that brilliant
laue of excited spectators. every one Of
whom was wearing colors and shouting
as the Pennsylvanians made still another
Y A. l..vr
Passed. But two of the first fours were
nearly finished. They had worked like
heroes at the impossible task that had
been set them. OF using arms and legs
alone against the English body swing and
now exhausted nature claimed her trib-
ute and several men lost tho full power
OF their drive Stroke-side began 90 pull
bow side around and when the indomi-
table Gardiner called on his men for the
10go-t fbav could NOT roenOnd -