Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-02


mains unchanged that either the Leanders
or .Vespers will win the grand challenge
race. Yesterday the prevailing view was
that Vesper's chances of winning were
considerably better than Lenders, but to-
day the Leanders made a splendid impress
sion, on those who saw these practice rows.
and tonight people along the river are say
ing again there may be very close race,
and that it is nothing but guesswork 70
name the winner. Now IT Is regarded prac-
tically certain that the decisive heat of the
race will take place Wednesday, with
Leander and Vesper competing. Each has
drawn weak competitors for Tuesday.
Leander will row Jesus College and Yes
per Christ College. Winners of these two
heats are to meet on the following day,
and 1t Is assumed that the winners will
be Leander and Vesper. If Leander wins
there will be nothing for the Philadelphia
crew to do but to pack up it's boat and start
for home. If the Vespers win they will
meet Thursday the Belgian, Thames or
London eight. and should have no diff
Guilty. in beating whichever of the three
shall survive the preliminaries
The Vespers Pleased.
The vespers are greatly pleased with
the result of the drawing. They hoped to
meet the Leanders on the second day
rather than the. third. Another thing re-
su1tfng from the drawing that pleases them
Is they take the better side Of the course
in their great contest with Leander. No
other foreign crew ever drew this posi-
ton. The Vespers having drawn 1t. they
will have considerable advantage over the
Leanders If the day should be windy and
the wind should blow in It's usual direction.
The Vespers are thoroughly At for their
work, and do not hesitate nor waver In adj
herence to the belief that they will win.
President Thorn, Coach Dempsey and
Coxswain Abel say that they have not
altered their view of the situation a par
ticle. 1.-THE Vespers are going to win,
they say.
1t is quite evident. though, that the Lean
derS will make q tremendous effort They
are scared but they full of fight. 1t
Is said they are likely to have both
disabled men back in the boat Monday.
One of them rowed today. Their partisans
say that Leanders will tire out the Yes
pers in the first half of the race and easily
beat them on the homestretch. The Yes
pers laugh at this sort of talk Maybe it
will be the other fellows that will be tired
out, they say.
1t is possible that the Vespers may meet
the Belgians in the finals. In that event
the Britishers would have the mortifica-
ton of seeing two foreign crews competing
for its most cherished rowing trophy.
All Ready for the Regatta.
HENLEY, England, July 1.--Everything
is in readiness for the great international
regatta on the Thames next week, and
should the present weather hold, as it is
expected to do, the Henley regatta of 1905,
with a record for entrants, will be the most
brilliant of recent years. There are fewer
households anchored along the course than
in former years, but the loss In numbers
is made up in the magnificenee of their
decoration.
Tonight Henley is crowded with rivermen
and "wetbobs" of world wide reputation
who are looking forward to splendid con-
test in the race for the Grand Challenge
cup. in which the Americans are expected
to play perhaps the most prominent part
The Vespers went the full course this
morning at the rate of thirty-four strokes.
They moved well, but the dull muggy
weather prevented fast time. They went
out again this evening, but owing to
head wind, were contented with padding
over the course, much to the disappoint-
ment of the crowd that had gathered with
the expectation of seeing sprint. The
Philadelphians are all satisfied with their
condition.
The Belgian crew which is to compete for
the Grand Challenge cup arrived here today,
Work Practically Ended.
The vespers practically ended their prac-
tice work this evening. They will rest to-
morrow and will row for a while early
Monday morning but otherwise they will
save themselves for Tuesday and Wednes-
day All of the men are splendidly At.
There has not been any sickness among
the crew since their arrival and all are
confident.
Oscar Thorn, president of the Vesper
Boat Club and manager of the crew here,
said to the Associated Press today:
I'VE are confident of winning. The Yes
pers undoubtedly are stronger men than
any of the others, and their muscles are
more developed"
The Leanders are also confident They
contend that their method of rowing, which
consists in 5udicious employment of
weight as against muscle, will gain the
victory, as was proved by the defeat of the
University of Pennsylvania. 1t is not con-
sidered that the changes In the crew will
seriously weaken the Leanders.
The Americans are housed In a pretty
cottage from which floats large American
flag fanked by their club colors and the
Union Jack. The many American flags In
the town testify to the popularity of the
Vespers. who have won the hearts Of the
British oarsmen as no other American
crew has done. They hold themselves per-
haps. less aloof than have other crews
The Vespers have not shown their best
work in their practice. The fastest time
they have made was seven minutes, five
seconds, but President Thorn says they can
beat this considerably.
American rowing enthusiasts are deeply
interested in the outcome Of the sixty
seventh annual Henley regatta, which takes
place at Henley, England on July 4, and
6. The event is one of international impor-
lance and is always looked to as the banner
regatta of the rowing season. The Vesper
Boat Club eight of Philadelphia, which will
make attempt to win the Grand Chal-
lenge plate, has been closely watched by the
foreigners since they first placed their shell
in English waters
Last year the Englishmen had things just
as they wanted them, with no American
crews to disturb their enjoymen. or to in
spire them to excuses of worry and strain
This year things will be different and the
eight that defeats the Yankees will be well
entitled to the prize. The other entries re-
ceived for this race include the Leander
Boat Club of London. the Nautique de
nd IF polOf,frn nd he I