Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1901-04-05
First Victory
An Exciting Race Among
College Men, u :; :: 3;


As the freshmen sat In their shell
that beautiful May afternoon they felt
within themselves that their time had
come at last. The warmth OF the set.
ting sun az Il slowly a. ,roached the
hIltops 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 toretell some good
fortune. Then. too. rs the crews row.
ed up the lake the frst ycr men hal
pulled together beautifully. their oars
bad struck the water in perfect Unison.
with a break from bow q stroke.
IL vas coming. and they know It. for
they had struck their stride. as the
runners say.
A blast from the whistle Of the
coach's launrh drew their attention to
the varsity and the sophomore crews
which had proceeded n mile farther up
the lake. From this point the two SEN
Tor crews were 70 race for three miles.
picking up the freshmen at the mile
mark. As the freshmen watched them
the distant shells turned slowly and
took their positions. A moment they
ley ~motionless: then. as a Jet OF white
steam shot up from the launch Is
broad oar blades flashed In the sun.
and the race was on.
II looked to the eager freshmen as If
the sophomore CREW had lear, d to the
front with the first stroke. the heavier
varsity being unable to catch tn" water
rs quickly as had their nimble rivals.
and as the two shells came racing over
the CLASSY surface OF the lake II was
evident that the second year men were
increasing their advantage.
LOOK at 'cm gainl Look at 'em
saln!' cried Crowell up in bow seat.
Crowell always became excited when.
ever he watched others racing. but as
soon as he got In n race himself he
was the steadiest man In the boat.
That's all right" said tIruce. the
sturdy stroke; "the Eophs 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 were proved true. for
the class crew ceased to gain on their
seniors. For O time the two shells pull
ed at almost equal speed. the white
launch speeding along close haSi!I6 the
second. the coach up In the bow direct
ing the c1rsmen through his great alu-
mlIium megaphone. Though the fresh
men cotld not hear him they knew that
nc was upbraiding the varsity for al
towing n class crew to get ahead OF
them. And soon hls %rcprOaches had
their effect. for the sOphomores were
seen to be slowly losing their lead az
the older men began TO put their hearts
into the work. Slowly but surely this
second crew crawled up until thu
length and a half OF open water tina
Ind separated 1t from its fleeing riva
was reduced to less than n foot. anC
then the coach's voice came ringing
over the water:
Get ready there. freshmen
The little cockswain ceased cranlnl
his neck over his shoulder and. grasp
ing the rudder lines firmly. shouted:
Ready al-l-l!'
In response the eight sunbrownet
boys before him settled themselves int
their seats and. leaning far forward
dipped their oar blades into the water.
Eyes In the boat" cautioned til.
cockswain. and they waited while thcl
opponents came flying toward them
They heard the painting OF the launch
engine and then the sound Of the rush
ing shells cleaving the still water an
the "schuh'' OF the oars I'm the rOwlOck
as 10 pairs OF arms shot out on tine N
cover Then the 'Old mans voic
again:
"Are you ready, freshmen The
gor"
And with one giant heave they wer
on.
Bruce kept his eye steadily fixed o
the water just beyond the port CUR
vale az It slipped past. sdll swlrlln
and dlmpllng from the blows Of tn
stout blades behind him. Quickly an
yet with the utmost care he pulle
stroke after stroke: a sharp catch an
a powerful heavP. then out shot hl
hands. and his shoulders followed o
the recover, hut az his seat neared tn
end Of the slide he slowed II down tina
there might be- no checking Of the boa
ana the seven men nfuln0 ulm WFI
doing likewise. for Once as he caugh
the water he felt the frail shell rise b.
meath him and culver like a Twin
thing A thrill Of exultation pasSp
through every man In the crew The
knew then that the victory was theirs
For thp first time they had felt th
shell live. aud that spelled victory
And now the little cOckswain fOun
his voice
"Steady. boys: steady he crieC
"Keep your yes on tb4 stroke-catc
catch catchP'
Then. with a not, OF triumph In b
voice. ne shouted:
"we're gaining. boys; we're gaininl
Keep her up"
by this time Bruce's breath wa
coming fast. and the great drops {
sweat poured OF bis face For an Il
slant he ventured TO glance away froI
Bis patch OF water. ana out Of the co
ner OF bis eye be saw the other boa
now racing along on even terms an
not bali a length ahead He was r
called by the voice Of the corkswain;
"I'm going 10 give you ten. fellow
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