New-York tribune., 1902-06-22
CORNELL SWEEPS THE RIVER.
THE CREWS FROM CAYUGA WIN ALL THREE RACES IN
POUGHKEEPSLE REGATTA


to Highland staggering IN her accustomed
ataxic fashion with heavy loads Of collegians,
graduate and undergraduate. with banners and
battle cries. The observation train must have
carried three thousand persons when 1t finally
took it's gay and gaudy way up the western
bank of the river to the two-mile mark To see
the start OF the four-oared race.
Ii looked at this time as though the races
were to he rowed in a heavy downpour of rain
like that which had soaked Poughkeepsie all the
morning. hut there no sign Of wind there
was little doubt that the contests would come off
no matter whether the spectators were having
a good time or not. And come off they did. but
the spectators had a better time than at ono
period of the festivities seemed at all likely. for
only a little rain fell all afternoon. and nobody
got any wetting that was at all serious
The umbrella men did a rushing business.
aided as they were by the gloomy aspect of the
sky and the banks of fog that hung over the
river and threatened every minute to precipitate
themselves in the form of something more un-
pleasant Squads Of undergraduates appeared
clad in oilskn suits and hats which they had
with great forethought provided themselves with
at the hands of POughkeepsie merchants. Others
wrapped themselves IN rubber coats and cheap
mackintoshes, purchased for the occasion while
one elderly man who carried Columbia flag
wore fishing boots that came to his hip and
which had obviously seen nara service III many
a trout stream There was not great deal of
pre-race enthusiasm. and for this two things
were mainly responsibilities. the weather and.
second. the belief that Cornell was to have an
easy thing in the big race. The real extent Of
the victory that was lowering over the cardinal
flag was, however. not suspected. though there
were plenty of Cornell men walking up and
down in front of the observation train inquiring
piteOusy for Columbia money" and Wisconsin
money" and implorng people TO give them
chance 10 bet at odds of two to Cornell
against the field. Now and then they found
some person so obliging to accommodate
them but for the most part their entreaties fell
deaf
The Cornell enthusiasm increased with each
victory, of course, but the loyalty of the losers
was appealed to, and they cheered their de-
feated representatives heartily as Cornell
howled for the winners. If not with hearts that
quite light.
READY FOR THE BIG RACE.
1t had done a little business-like raining just
before the start of the freshman race. and had
held up again just before the youngsters ap-
peared in their shells, and the long train
pulled up the river for the third time to the far
distant line Of rowboats the mists began to roll
away, and the blue sky appeared in patches and
the shot through over the tops of the west,
ern hills and fell aslant on the launches and
the committee boat they busted themselves
with the final prepare tions for the race.
Pennsylvania was the first varsity crew TO
appear at the starting line She was just on
time and appeared at 5:30 o'clock. The rest
were late, and 1t seems objectionable that any
coach should permit his crew to delay the start.
especially when any moment may bring down
pour of rain half gale Of wind, as was
the case yesterday. For all that, it was ten
minutes before o'clock when Syracuse,
the last to appear, came padding up the river
Georgetowns crew made most unfavorable
impression upon the critics on the observation
train Her No. and No = seemed to have
nothing in common, and one or two others were
rowing in different times. However, the OBJ
iectors were told that these faults disappeared
when the crew hit up a racing stroke. They
didn't though, as the result showed.
1t was almost Is o'clock when all the crews
had backed up to their starting boats, Pennsyl-
yania nearest the shore. Cornell next, and then
Columbia, Georgetown, Wisconsin and SYRIA
cuse All the doffed their jerseys, dropped
them into the river and poised their for the
word. The referees boat swung down behind
the racers. and Referee Eustis. standing on her
bow inquired of each crew, Are you ready?"