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

AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEST
First American Boat Crew to Contest
In Collegiate Regatta on The Thames
in Thirty Years-Harvard Makes
Fine Showing on a Crooked
Course.

Course.
London, Sept s.-Bulletin.-Cam
bridge wins by two lengths.
Putney, Sept. S.-By the decisive
distance Of two Nlengths Cambridge
won the great international boat race
today, stalltng off by a steady and
powerful stroke, all Harvard's desper--
advantage of choice of station which
gave thern at least length to the
z good, in consequence of the wind
sheltered water way on the Surrey side
OF the river They got away ahead and
were enabled to maintain the lead AMI
even increase it as soon as they
reached wind-roughened water at
Chiswick Fyot. It was pretty race
thruout Both boats got away clean
" amid ,deafening ear from the
multitude. The start wasNperfect, the
crews taking the water the same in
stant. Neither splashed, but the
Cambridge 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 Cambridge
went tremendous pace, AZ strokes a
minute at the start, gradually reducing
this rate, while Harvard hardly rowed
thirty-five.
Putney, England, Sept. S.-All the
members of the Harvard crew had an
excellent nights sleep and awoke this
morning feerl.g ready for the race of
their lives, and confident of success.
The Cambridge men were no less sat
1sfied they would be able to carry off
the aquatic palm. The weather con-
ditions were ideal. The two crews
turned out early for brief practice
starts. The breeze was from the south
west and altho against the racers, it
was very light and in the early hours
of the day. Excitement over the in
ternational contest pervaded all Lon
don. The business center was gay
with the stars and stripes and the
Harvard crimson was conspicuous ev-
erywhere.
The crowds began moving toward
the course early, railroads running
special trains taxed to the utmost ca
pacity. Early in the afternoon the
green banks Of the river were lined
with the people to an extent that
promised the greatest outpouring of
people. that ever witnessed a boat race
here.
The majority of expert opinion gave
the final verdict to Cambridge, but
quite a number Of pastmasters of the
rowing art bet heavily on Harvard. In
some quarters Cambridge stock was
as high as 130 to 80 on the light blues,
butNlnost of the betting was done at
nearer even figures
Members Of the American colony an3
American visitors were early in the
field.
crowds gathered at the starting point,
stretching along the banks as far as
the eye could see Throngs wholly Cos
mopolitan, cheered with equal enthus-
iasnl to all appearances, the wearers
of the crimson or of the blue. The
breeze freshen somewhat. Cam
bridge won the toss, and chose the
Surry side of the river, which is CAL
culated to give them the advantage.
The Harvard crew was afloat first.
The race started at 4:2S.
Cambridge took a slight lead at the
start, and was leading by length at
Beverly Brook. At Crabtree, Cam
bridge was length and a quarter
ahead.
Official time, 10 minutes, 16 sec
onds. Record for the course, Is min
utes. AZ seconds. by Oxford, in 's3.
Cambridge's time was 19 minutes,
1s seconds.
First international Rowing Race.
The race between Harvard and
Cambridge today, over the famous old
Putney- Mortlake course on the
Thames, narrow, winding waterway,
four and three eighths miles in length,
was the first dual intercollegiate race
rowed between American and English
crews in thirty-seven years. In 1869
Harvard sent four to Putney to meet
Oxford in a dual contest. The Eng
lish crew was victorious by nearly four
lengths. Today's dual race was the first
between British and American univer-
eity eights and apparently has opened
the way for many similar contests in
the future. Interest in the interna
1ional rowing event has been height