Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-09
Ability to Get Away Quickly the Deter
mining Factor
CRIMSON CREW MAKES PLUcN FINISH
All Are in GsOd Condition, While Two
Britons Are Exhausted.
BANQUET FOR oAR'MEN IN EVENING
Ambassador Reid and Captains of
Both Crews Make speeches
Great Crowd witnesses
the Race.

PUTNEY, Eng, Sept s.--Today'e boat
race between crews from Harvard and
Cambridge universities. which was won
hy the Englishmen by two lengths was
probably the most surprising ever rowed
on the Thames, not so much because of
the result. but the way in which IL WAS
won.
Cambridge. as had been feared by Har-
ward and hoped for by Englishmen. got
away the better, securing a lead which
they increased to three lengths before
Hammersmith bridge was reached Both
crews, as they went under the bridge,
were rowing steadily at twenty-etght
strokes to the minute, neither apparently
exerting itself Suddenly Harvard COM
menced to use more power, and although
Cambridge already had the race won and
had the advantage of water conditions.
the latter was compelled to increase the
stroke to thirty-three and finished a tired
cut crew. Donaldson was ready to coll
lapse and Close Brookes in the bow was
nearly as bad, The remainder of the
crew padded the boat to the landing
stage. The Harvard men on the other
hand apparently were quite fresh and
took their boat across the river at a
brisk rate
English experts say there is but one
explanation for the result. that of super
iority of English oarsmanship and OF the
English stroke Harvard had one of the
finest crews physically. ever 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. II also had the
advantage of choice of side but those
who know the river best say this was
little In their favor with the tide and
wind as they were today.
Great Crowd Sees Race.
The crowd which lined the banks from
Putney to Mortlake, massed on bridges.
roofs and balconies and weighted down
the branches of trees was a record gath
ering for recent years. To estimate the
number of persons who Witnessed the
contest would be Impossible. but they
stretched in unbroken strings for four
ana one-half miles on either side OF the
river. or Americans there were hum
dreds, all showing the Harvard colors
chiefly in specially chartered boats. The
crimson, however. only showed in splashes
amidst the endless display of the light
blue of Cambridge. When the light blues
were seen TO have gained an advantage at
the start a great cheer went up from the
crowds on Putney bridge, in Fulham park
and on the Putney towpath. It was taken
up by those further along and continued
with interruption to the end of the race,
when there was a final tremendous out
burst from the people on Barnes bridge.
the excursion steamers anchored at the
finish and thousands upon thousands who
had gathered at Mortlake.
Stroke Stuart OF the Cambridge crew
said. 'sEillay
magnificent race. We are glad we won.
but sorry to defeat such good fellows"
Captain Fflley OF the Harvard boat,
locanically declared that his men had been
beaten fairly and squarely. Coach wray
was gloomy and had nothing TO say ex-
cept that he had no excuse to offer Coach
Mattebury of Cambridge said The Har-
ward men made UP the best crew ever sent
out from the United States With another
year and a little more of the English style
the Harvard men will be dangerous rivals.
I hope the Americans will favor US with
another visit"
AZ Crews Dine Together.
The crews dined together tonight at
Princes restaurant. Colonel william, who
rowed against Harvard in the oxford four
In 1869, presided, with Captain Filley on his
right and President Goldsmith, OF the Cam
bridge Boat club. on his left, and Ambas-
sador Reid and other distinguished guests
surrounding him. Colonel william pro-
posed the health OF King Edward and
President Roosevelt. Mr.. Reid in replying
to the toast to President Roosevelt, said
that while he was not altogether contented
with the result OF todays race, he was
sure the president would be satisfied with
the way Harvard had borne defeat. He
promised the Cambridge crew a warm wei
come in America should they decide to go
over there for a return race. Colonel will
Ian proposed a. toast to the crews.
Captain Filley. replying for the American
oarsmen said:
There Is no question that the best crew
won. We have nothing to say TO the Coz
trary. Had the race been rowed fro@s
Mortlake to Putney instead of as II was
the result would have been the same I'm
sorry we did not give them better race"
As the afternoon advanced dense crowds
gathered at the starting point and stretch
ing 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 before. The thronss were wholly
cosmopolitan and cheered with equal en-
thusiasm all appearances OF the wesrers Of
the crimson or of the blue.
The breeze freshened somewhat as the
time for starting the race approached and
there was much esgerness to ascertain
which crew was the winner OF the toss for
positions. as II was calculated that the
choice Of the Surrey side Of the river might
give the lucky crew an advantage OF as
much as a length.
Crews Stay I'm Quarters.
The crews themselves kept mostly TO
their respective headquarters at the
Leander and London Rowing clubs, saving
every ounce OF power for the coming
struggle. The doubts as TO the outcome
we're evidenced by the nervous anxiety OF
the supporters OF both sides among the
general public, but those IN close touch
with the two "eighths" remained calmly
confident, satisfied that their charges wera
in the pink OF condition and ready for
desperate struggle. The Harvard crew, in
the nouraa NJ A.