New-York tribune., 1901-07-03
SURPRISES IN MINOR RACES.
BOTH WOULD HAVE BEEN CORNELLS
BUT FOR ACCIDENT
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


to be the most foregone conclusion of the day.
namely, the race for four-oared crews, In which
Columbia, Pennsylvania and Cornell were to
compete. AS In the four~oared at New
London last week. the sharps had already picked
out the crew that could not lose Last week
it was the Harvard four, and the sharps were
right. Yesterday the Pennsylvania four was ex-
pected to call the turn, but this time the sharps
We're wrong. The Cornell surprised and
delighted their adherents by winning the two
mile after exceptionally spirited con-
test, trailing along in third position for a mile,
then wrestling second place from Columbia, and
in the last half mile crawling into the lead, de-
spite the most desperate efforts of the Phila-
delphia crew. and winning a victory by three
quarters of a length. The Pennsylvania men
were much downcast by their defeat, for they
had counted the race as good as won in ad-
vance It's all but the shouting! bel
lowed fat Pennsylvania on the observation
train as the Pennsylvania four, which was the
first TO appear padded out TO its starting boat.
and so II was only Cornell did the shouting
When the referee propounded the inevitable
question Are you ready?" the tide just
beginning to turn again toward the sea, but Ii
had not yet gained any perceptible momentum,
that there no advantage In position.
a light three mile breeze was blowing, just
trees that crown the heights above Goes
Cut and the water was fairly smooth. Columbia
caught the water first but within ten strokes
Pennsylvania half a length ahead, rowing
a thirty-eight stroke. She continued TO gam
and at the half mile quarter or length OF
open water showed between her shell and that
of Columbia, behind which. only third OF
length came Cornell. Just above the bridge
Cornell and Columbia both raised their strokes
and drew up Pennsylvania, and when the
three were settled down for the last half of their
task Cornell was quarter of a length ahead
of Columbia and only half length behind the
leaders. The beginning of the last half mile
found Cornell still gaining, and Pennsylvania
hit the stroke up to forty In her effort to with
stand the challenge; but the Ithacans, rowing
a steady thirty-six, took the lead, and when
they finished had stretched it to three-quarters
Of length. The Columbia four was beaten TWO
and half lengths by the Philadelphians Cor
nelrs time was 11:39 80, Pennsylvania's
11:45 %. and Columbia's 1850 80.
CROWD STICKS DESPITE CLOUDS.
The Comedians on the observation cars
made the hills resound to the tune or their
cheers and multifarous rejoicings as the long
and gayly befagged train rolled back to the
two mile start for the freshman race having
started the afternoon with a victory unlocked
for they could nothing but rosy skies above
them. This, too. despite the fact that the black
clouds that had been for some minutes poking
their threatening heads over the western chfs
were now rolling down from the northwest IN
good earnest while far up the river the forked
tongues of brilliant lightning could be seen
leaping from mountain top to mountain top
1t grew backer and blacker every moment and
a thunderstorm heavy enough to cause the post
nonement of the remaining races and give thou-
sands of spectators a thorough soaking seemed
imminent Yet not a person seized the oppor-
tunity to leave the open train ana seek snelter
1t was lluminative of the character OF the
crowd A Poughkeepsie crowd is out 10 see the
racing and to 1t it proposes. II there Is any.
Desnite the threatening conditions, the fresh
man crews Columbia, Cornell. Pennsylvania ana
Syracuse. all reached their floats few minutes
after the scheduled time, and after the usual
u1anpuyres to get the boats straight lot the
start the referee let them 60 Columbia caught
the water first and should have been length
ahead in a quarter of a mile, for one of their
strong points was their facility In starting. The
only thing that prevented was the misfortune OF
Updke who pulled No. I, and who jumped his
slide almost at the second stroke Before ne
could replace the slide Columbia was length ls
behind the three other boats. At the half Cor
nell had taken a half length lead, and was row
ing at the rate of "a strokes to the minute.
Pennsylvania had length the Dettef VI Co-
lumbia and was rowing a thirty-one stroke,
while Columbia had run the pace up to thirty
seven In the effort to overcome the handicap OF
her bad start. Syracuse was last by only half
q length, and everybody was still in the race
A NELL-PENNsYLvANIA DUEL.
It soon became apparent however, that the
affair was to resolve itself into duel between
Cornell and Pennsylvania. for these two drew
steadily away from the others. and the Ithacans
Of ole
water between them and Pennsylvania. while
Columbia was two lengths back. Syracuse be-
gan to go to pieces badly soon afterward. and
splashed and rolled wretchedly during the last
mile.
The delight of the Cornell shouters knew no
bounds as the distance to the finish grew less
and less and still the boys who sing about
Cayuga continued to gain. The cannon and
whistles OF the steam yachts anchored at the
finish were already saluting the victors. ON
shore the Ithacan bettors were beginning to
reckon UP their gains. Cornell had a lead of a
length and a half mile from home and was
increasing it momentarily. 1t seemed that she
could not lose.
But she did.
Suddenly Captain Borden, who was at No. Z
caught a crab and jumped his slide. In an in
stant Pennsylvania began to cut down the lead
Borden struggled and strove to replace the slide
and the rest of the crew meanwhile fought on
without him, while Pennsylvania drew up on
even terms. Just as she did Borden managed
to get his seat to rights again. and the crew
made plucky effort to snatch from the fire the
victory which had become defeat 1t in
vain. The lost momentum could not be regained
and the Philadelphia boat was first by length
Just the Cornell crew crossed the line No. !
broke his oar, but this accident had bearing
on the result. Columbia came in four lengths
behind the unfortunate Ithacans. while Syracuse
was making water spouts away back somewhere
IT was nard hard to lose, but what lost
it was nearly accident that the defeat may
justly be termed hard luck, old man" 1t was
clear that the Cornell freshman eight the
best the river. Pennsylvania's time was
1920 Is, Cornelrs 1923, Columbia's 1926 is
and Syracuse's 10:44. The freshman record for