The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-09-08
BOTH CREWS PRIMED FOR THE RACE TO-DAY SMASH PRECEDENT AND GO ON JHE RIVER FOR PRAC~
 TICE.

Cambridge Men Out First and Do Two
 Minute Row at the Rate of Thirty
 eight Strokes to the NIinute-Great
 Interest in the Race-ExcusiOn Trains
 to be Run-Captain FiIIey to Keep
 the American Blades.
 Putney, Eng, Sept 7.-Breaking the almost universal custom of English university bat races to rest quietly the day preceding the contest, both the Harvard and Cambridge crews indulg- ed to-day in short practice in the pres ence of thousands of rowing enthusi- asts gathered on the banks of the riv- CT. The Cambridge men were out first and did two minute row at the rate of thirty eight strokes to the minute. A little later Harvard had minutes row at the rate of forty strokes to the minute. They soon slackened the stroke, however, but rowed for a few minutes at thirty-six strokes. Neither crew gave the slightest sign of stale ness, all being in the pink of condi- ton, and the importance of the strug- gle, quite aside from the international character, give an interest quite ex- ceeding that of any previous contest.
 The last few hours before the con- test see a great increase in the inter- est in the race. Thousands of tickets have been issued for places on the Barnes railway bridge. which marks the commencement of the final reach; and late this evening many Americans yainly endeavored to get seating ac- commodations near the finish.
 The Mortlake Railway companies will run excursion trains from all points, and tomorrow being a general half holiday, there Is certain to be a record crowd.
 The official betting prices still favor Cambridge, but the moment American money is offered the betting becomes even.
 In the matter of weight the crews are pretty evenly matched. In height the Harvard men are the more level the tallest being feet, 1 inch, and the shortest feet, 1-2 inches Of the 7Camhride men, the tallest is Raynes, 6 feet, 5 inches, and the shortest Ban ham. 5 feet, 1-2 inches.
 Captain Filley of the Harvard crew says that after trying Ayllng's English oars, which he found very good, he thought it wiser to keep to the Amer ican blades, to which his men are &C., customed.
 For the first time flags will be drop ped at salient points on the course, and if a record is being made 1t will have to beat 8 minutes, 52 seconds to the mile, minutes, II seconds at Ham, mersmith bridge, Il minutes, 15 sec- onds at Cheswick steps, 15 minutes, 34 seconds at Barnes bride, and IS min utes, AT seconds at the finish.
 Coach Wray is perfectly satisfied with the capabilities and endurance of his crew, and thinks they have more than an even chance of winning. Harvard S captain is also confident, and says that if the Americans are beaten 1t will not be until the finish of the race,
 Dr. Goldsmith, president of Cam bridge university, said to-day that he thought the EngIishmen would win, but that there would not be much space between the boats at the finish. He considered the Harvard crew as much stronger lot of men than this year s Oxfords, and he was satisfied that the former would TOW 1t out to the end of | the race" Dr. Goldsmith expects the Cambridge men to take a slight lead at the start, but he believes the struggle will be close,
 Ambassador and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid | will follow the race in a launch char tered by Harvard and Cambridge for the accommodation of their friends.
 The Harvard men, who have arrang- ed to sail for home September 15 on board the American line steamer St. Louis, will spend Sunday at Cambridge and go to Wrest Park on Monday as the guests of Ambassador and Mrs. 1 Reid.
 ! Whatever may be the result of the race, it is likely to have an important bearing on the future of English boat building. The introduction of the swiv- el oarlock is almost certain. It is used already by all English scuIlers and has been advocated by prominent boat builders here, who, however, have been
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