The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-09-21
SPORT S
HARVARD BEATEN BY
CAMBRIDGE OARSMEN
MAGNIFICENT RACE ROwED CAMBRIDGE DE-
FEATED THE AMERICAN OARsN1EN-THE WERE
COLLAPSE END-ENGLIsH STROKE DID THE


LONDON, September S.-Today's
boat race between Harvard and Cam
bridge universities, which was won by
the Englishmen by two lengths,
was probably the most surprising ever
rowed on the Thames, not so much be-
cause of the result, but the way IN
which it was rowed
Cambridge, as had been feared by
Harvard and hoped for by English
men. got away the better securing a
lead. which they increased to three
lengths before Hammersmith bridge.
Both crews, as the~ won't under the
bridge. were rowing steadily at TWEEN
weight strokes to the minute, neither
Iapparently exerting itself. Suddenly
Harvard commenced to use more pow
or and although Cambridge already
had the race won and had the advan-
tape Of water conditions, the latter
was compelled to increase their stroke
TO thirty-hve. and finished a tired
out crew.
Donaldson was ready to co'laose,
| and Closebrookes, in the bow was
nearly as bad. The remainder of the
crew padded the boat to the landing
stage. The Harvard men, on the 9th
err hand, apparently were quite fresh,
and took their boat across the river
at a brisk rate.
English sports say there is but one
explanation for the result that of SUI
periority of English Craftsmanship and
the English stroke. Harvard was one
-,1,,
seen on the river, but WAS unable to
overcome that training which English
oarsmen receive from childhood. The
Cambridge crew. too, had in Stuart
one Of the best strokes England has
produced.
The crowd, which lined the banks
from Putney to Mortlake, massed on
bridges. roofs and balconies, and
weighed down branches of trees. was
record gathering for recent years.
To estimate the number of persons who
witnessed the contest would be impos-
sble, but they stretched in unbroken
strings for four and one-half miles on
either side of the river.
The members of the American colony
in London and many American visitors
to England were early in the field, TAX
ing up points of vantage to enliven the
American crew with Harvard's college
yell. In fact, the enthusiasts from
across the Atlantic were so numerous
that when the Harvard crew turned
out for their practice this morning,
they might, judging from the cheering
and American college yells, have al
waters
The majority of the expert opinion
gave the final verdict in favor of Cam
bridge but Vivian NicRalls the old
oxford oarsman, and quite a number
of other past masters in the art OF row.
ing bet heavily on Harvard
Although in some quarters patriotic
pride drove the Cambridge stock up
to as high as 100 to 80 on the light
blues most of the betting was done at
nearly even figures.
As the afternoon advanced dense
crowds gathered at the starting point !
and stretched along the river banks as
far as the eye could reach testifying |
to the fact that the sporting instincts |
of the British public had been aroused |
as they had seldom been aroused be- |
fore. The throngs were wholly cosmo- |
politan, and cheered with equal enthu- |
sasm all appearances of the wearers |
of the crimson or of the blue. The |
breeze freshened somewhat as the time |
for starting the race approached, and |
there was much eagerness to ascertain |
which crew was the winner of the toss |
for positions.
AS the Americans stepped into their |
frail craft they presented a picture of /
sturdy development and endurance. |
Without being big men. they had the |
fine lines of thoroughbreds and the |
pinkness of skin denoting good condi-
tion. They smiled good-naturedly in
acknowledgment of the applause with |
which their appearance was greeted |
and seemed imbued with plenty of
confidence and stamina A vast crowd |
besieged the boathouse and there was
an encouraging yell from thousands of
threats before and afterward as the
Harvard men stepped into the boat
There was a moment OF intense ex-
pectancy as the two crews backed
their craft to the stake boats and then
leaned far forward awaiting the sig
nal. The pistol shot, flied by r.. c.
Lehman, broke the spell and both
crews got away from the mark boat
clearly, amid a deafening roar from
the multitude. The start was perfect.
both crews taking the water at the
same instant. Neither splashed, but
with soft, steady precision the Cam
bridge men drove the bow of their boat
half a length ahead within the first
two boat lengths. AS the English boat
shot ahead a wild yell went up from
the patriotic masses.
Although the Cambridge oarsmen
struck the water only twenty times in
the first half minute to Harvard's
twenty-five, the nose of the light-blue
boat Immediately showed to the front,
the drive being so strong and the re-
covery so prompt. Slightly quicken