Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-09-08

ened by the fact that Harvard's crew
earned a decisive victory over Yale DIT
New London June last, While Cam
bridge was this years winner in the
dual race With Oxford. In way, the
two crews We're representative OF the
best college rowing talent of the two
countries and the result has been
awaited With the liveliest anticipation.
The Harvard crew was defeated early
in the season in a two mile dash on
Charles river at Boston by Cornell.
but as the race was not over the full
varsity course and as neither crew was
at it's best. the result was not regard
ed as decisive. The Harvard eight
was admittedly one of the best aggre-
cations of college oarsmen ever seen
in an American shell.
The Harvard crew sailed from New
York, July 36, went at once to Bourne
End, England, where they remained
until ten days ago. 1t was deemed
advisable that the crew should go TO
Putney for the last days practice III
order to become familiar with the tor
tuous course over which the race was
rowed. The water between Putney
and Mortlake is different from any the
American oarslnen ever encountered,
for the New London and Poughkeepsie
American courses are straight-away
for full four miles. 1t was necessary
especially that Blagden, Harvard cox
VAIN who weighs only 100 pounds,
should have an opportunity to study
the tide current around the sharp
turns in the Thames, for ignorance OF
these might mean the loss of several
lengths.
The change of climate had an effect
upon the Harvard men soon after the
arrival at Bourne and for time 1t was
thought the personnel of the eight
might be seriously impaired. But
under careful supervision of medical
adviser and the famous coach, Way,
the crew came around all right and in
the latest figures it was shown the
conditions have eventually proved SO
favorable the Americans nearly an
have taken on from one to ten pounds
in weight The Harvard crew out
weighed the Cambridge eight nearly
four pounds to every man. Ihey
showed steady and unexpected I'M
provement from the very first day s
training on English waters and their
fast trials over the course caused
great tide of public favor to set in
their direction.
Had Cambridge Worried.
Faith in the superiority of the Cam
bridge crew was considerably shaken.
and as result interest in the race in
creased. English papers commented
on the fact that all the Har-
ward oarsmen sat in their boat at pre-
cisely the same height, their shoulders
being level, with the result that all
blades dipped at the same angle;
whereas different heights would pro-
duce different angles. splashing and
loss of power In addition to the
and skill. among oarsmen to-
days race was looked forward to keen
ly for comparison OF English and Ans
erican styles of boat building and
equipment. While the American shells
on the Thames represented the latest
model and Improvements, Englishmen
were amazed at some features of ths
American boat, but would not admit
the advantage Of any late equipment.
The Course.
The race started at Putney bridge, a
fine stone structure spanning the
WHICH, OulS a ldSOISo
few were permitted to view the geta-
way. On the left hand the course led
by the boat houses of half a dozen fa-
nous rowing clubs. On the other bank
is the palace of the bishop of London,
Fulham palace, full of historical and
interest. From Putney
the course is straight to Hammer
smith bridge, and the crew that gets
a good lead in this stretch of nearly
mile has seldom been headed in the
rest of the. turning, twisting course, in
the history of Oxford Cambridge races.
Under Hammersnlith bridge the crews
passed to a good stretch of water.
which takes wide, gradual sweep to the
first big turn in the course at Twick-
enham, past Kew. The course takes
another turn before Barnes bridge is
reached. This bridge is where the
London & Southwestern railroad
crosses the Thames and is regarded as
the crucial point Of the whole race.
There is a tradition that the crew that
passes first under this bridge cannot
be beaten. Only once has this tradition
been violated.
DE0III1Eo oA1A1 SAMARITAN