The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-23
BRIGGS LOOKS FOR
A CLOSE HARD RACE
Former Cornell Stroke Does
Not Believe Any Man Can
Pick Winning Crew.

POUGHKEEPSIE. N. ~, June o.
Despite the continued cold weather,
rough water and the absence Of sun
shine, the fifteen college crews in train
ing for Fridays race were all at work
today.
Wisconsin, Syracuse, Pennsylvania
and Georgetown presented a pretty
sight, all rowing up stream together.
None of these crews held races, but
contented themselves with limbering
up and preparing for harder practice
late this afternoon.
Cornell'S Fights rowed seven miles.
They started up the river at slow
rate, but on the last mile there was a
hot brush. The freshmen had a lead of
two lengths and the varsity was un-
able to cut it down. In three mile
down stream the first boat won easily.
After seeing all of the crews at prac-
tice on the river Fred A. Briggs, who
stroked the victorious Cornell crews Of
1896, 1897 and 1898, made the following
statement:
'It would be natural for me to favor
Cornell and to believe that no crew
can whip ours until I see it done, but,
to speak conserVatively and according
to my best judgment, / do not think it
possible for any man, no matter how
much experience he has had at row.
ing, to pick a winner from among the
splendid crews that are training for
the coming regatta.
Il realize that Cornell is the general
favorite and I know from observation
of the men at work that they are
good average Cornell crew. have no
idea how fast theyto can go, as Mr..
Courtney has not told me the result Of
any of the time trials. Their form is
excellent and their weights and heights
are to their advantage, ibut you must
consider that all the other crews are
good. I won't say justsas good as Cor
nell, but the difference Is SO slight that
no man with any degree of certainty
can form an opinion as to which is the
fastest crew.
Il look for very close race and one
which will be worth going long dis
lance to see. If the leaders are not
Tapped at the ffnishvI shall be sur
prised." 1a5z5v
The Syracuse crew covered twelve
hard miles, yet the men were in good
condition at the end, and showed that
they were made Of sturdy stock.
The Georgetown crew roWed over
the four-mile course this evening, but
no time was taken. Coach Dempsey is
thinking of giving them a time row to-
morrow, as he thinks they are in con-
dition for hard tryout. The launch
crew by Thomas Fearon, Of Yonkers,
arrived today and this enabled Demp-
sey to follow his eight for the first time
since they have been here. lie gave
them considerable coaching to make
up for lost time. Shepard, who has
been out Of the crew for week on ac-
count Of malaria contracted in Wash
ington, resumed his seat at bow and is
expected to be able tosretain the place.
All the Cornell crews took easy prac-
tice this evening. Coach Courtney took
a trip across the river to get a view Of
Wisconsin. He would not express any
opinion about their merits, but he OBJ
served: 'It looks as if they were play
ing hide and-seek, but they will have
to show themselves on the day Of the
race"
Both Of the Wisconsin crews rowed
over the course this evening, but no
time was taken, the crews rowing a
slow, easy stroke of twenty -four to
twenty-six. The Wisconsin stroke has
not run above thirty this year. AS a
matter Of discipline Coach O'Dea took
Richards out Of the coxswain's seat
for running into a boat on Saturday
and put McNally in his place.
Dayton,NO. 6, in the Pennsylvania fresh
men crew has been disqualified by the