Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
WILL ROW IN RAIN
Weather Conditions at Pough-
keepsie Very Unfavorable.
GRO w DIS STAY AWAY
WISCONSIN FRESHMEN CREW A
STRONG FAvoRITE.
Cornell Varsity Has the Call Among
Big Fellowship Bet Against
Georgetown.
GRO w DIS STAY AWAY

out single rift in 1t to justify the hope of
clearing, greeted the weather sharps this
morning when they looked out to see what
the indications were for today's boat race
When the rain would slacken a bit out
from the small crowd in the hotel corri-
dors would go a squad of hopeful college
men, gazing skyward to see if they could
see rift in the gray or a solitary streak
of sunlight that would give encouragement
to the expressed hope that the races could
be held this afternoon.
The early morning rain had a depressing
influence, not only on those who were here
but upon those who intended coming for
the early trains from the north and south
which usually bring a good squad of peO-
ple brought practically no one, and up to
the middle of the forenoon there was the
smallest gathering of spectators ever seen
in PoughkeepSie on a similar occasion.
With the rain there was little or no wind,
and the course was perfectly smooth. Mr..
Bangs and Mr.. Fortmeyer of the Amateur
Association expressed themselves as be
lieving that if il cleared up the conditions
would be ideal for the making of fast time,
and that, in any event, even if the rain
continued, the races should be rowed.
Will Row in Rain.
The crews, therefore, will row this after
noon even If the rain continues, for the
water is in good condition, and the rain
will not materially hurt the oarsmen. 1t
pointed out, however, that while the
rain smoothed out the water of the course
1t would be impossible to make record time,
the men would be cold and chilled with
the rain, and would not timber up for the
races the way they would if there was
good, warm sunshine.
All of the crew coaches this morning said
their men were in good condition for the
race, and, indeed, this has been one of the
features of racing al Poughkeepsie, for, al
though there are at present 146 oarsmen
here and in other years there have been
from 100 to 123, it is remarkable fact that
On race day morning all of the men are in
variably reported to be in the best possible
condition, and no excuses are made by
losing crews except that they were fairly
beaten. .s.-..,-
The oarsmen Iounged around their boat
houses this morning, or kept well in quar-
ters to avoid the natural chill in the at
mosphere.
Little Betting on Result.
Late last night there was little betting,
but this morning, probably because Of the
fact that few, if any, Of the college men
have arrived, it was pretty hard to find
anybody who wanted TO put dollar on the
races. For the freshmen eight, Wisconsin
was this morning decided favorite, and
even Cornell ba ckers, who are usually quick
to take bets, especially when odds are Of
fered were asking for to l, with Wiscon-
sin the favorite. In the varsity Cornell is
a strong favorite, and, although In some
cases the field was offered against Cornell
at a good advantage. there were few takers.
The only wager of any Importance laid was
one of S1,000 by Pennsylvania adherents
that their varsity crew would beat George
town, the Georgetown adherents taking II
at an advantage of to l. The thousand
dollars was offered by a single individual,
and the $500 which was laid on Georgetown
hy n
porters.
Coach Courtney of the Cornell crews said
this morning that while he considered his
varsity crew very fit, he did not share any
outside predictions of sure victory. He
thought it was going to be a very hard
fought race and would not be won until to-
ward the end of the last mile He talked
this to his men, preferring that they should
go out with the feeling that they would
have to row the race for all they were
worth to win.
Columbia the Tail Ender.
Curiously enough, although there are a
good many Columbia College people here
there is little if any money being placed
on Columbia to win. In a pool made last
night on the varsity race, I'm which Cor
nell sold for So, Wisconsin for 81, and
Pennsylvania for 81, Columbia sold for 81
This is strange in view of the fact that
Coach Hanlon has talked very favorabiy
great showing.
The unknown factor in the race is
Georgetown. Its varsity crew has rowed
very fast over the four-mile course but
the general impre ssion amCng the rowing
sharps is that while she will be very for
midabe for three miles she will not be
able to keep the pace to the finish. SYRIA
cuse does not seem to figure in the before
the race predictions" and Pennsylvania
whose crews have always made big
showing. and on several instances have
won on this course, is also getting very
little consideration among those who are
picking winners.
Conditions Grow Worse.
Toward 10 O'Clock while there was no
abatement of the rain there came up a
nasty wind from the south. 1t blew straight
up the course and even with the flood tide
kicked up quite a swell portending that
when the tide ebbed and if the wind con-
tinued to blow from the south there would
be such conditions that the race could not
be rowed. AS the day advanced the wind
increased and stayed in the same general
direction, from the south, but the indica-
uons toward II O'clock were that il might
get around to the west.
At noon the rain had stopped and the
wind, which before was blowing from the
southeast, shifted to due south The choppy
water had subsided and the river was
smooth.
There was no sign of sunshine but old
river HlSIl expressed the opinion that the
rain was over and that it would be fine,
clear weather by the time the first race
was called.
Ellis Ward, the Pennsylvania coach,
sprang a surprise on his own men as well
as the entire rowing colony this morning
by rigging his shells with aluminium wash
boards. This is an innovation in the rig
ging of eight-oared shells, but it was gem
orally considered a clever idea. None of
the crews did any rowing this morning
except to take their shells from their re-
spective boat houses to the ice house at
the one-nlfie point, which is to be the
rendezvous of all the crews before the
race.
At $40 o'clock. when the referees cutters
began to police the course, a drizzling rain
was falling and heavy fog lay over the
river. so that it was hardly possible for
spectators to see over mile of the course
The water was smooth. The wind shifted to
the northwest, and conditions showed signs
Of improvement. Tide just started to run
down the course.
THE Syracuse launch. with two shells in
tow. has gone to the ice house, where the
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