The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-23
Special to The journal.

Poushkeepsie, N. Y, June 2s.-Everything is
IN readiness for the annual intercollegiate re-
gatta. The weeks of training are over, the
crews are fit as under the circumstances their
coaches can make them All they ask is good
quiet water and no favors. They'll get the
latter. AS for the former, the wind gods will
decide. :. q -.
All three races which make up the days
, program will be pulled off late this afternoon
when the sun is declining over the western hills
that fringe the Hudson: The four-oared argu-
mens at two miles is down for decision at the
hour of a, while three quarters of hour later
the two-m1le affair between the freshmen eight
cared crews will be decided. The principal
contest OF the day-the heart breaking pull of
tour miles for the six varsity crews-comes off
promptly at 8 o'clock. As usual, all three races
will be rowed downstream. ~
The Cornell crew, as usual for the past FIVE
or six seasons, again are regarded as almost
Inevitably the victors. 1t is practically almost
as certain that the margin of victory will be
! nothing like the twenty-five lengths that sep
arated the Cornell and Syracuse Fights last year
! In the big Not only is it likely that some
crew may give Cornell particularly hard race,
but 1t looks as If several colleges would be we'll
up at the finish. There is even hope that an
other such grand finish as that which marked
| the race five years ago may be Forthcoming this
afternoon.
| One thing that lends an exceptional interest
| to the race this year is the fact that 1t is
likely to ssnalize the last appearance on eastern
waters for some years at least Of the plucky
oarsmen from Wisconsin. The badger eight is
we'll thought of by the critics. Every man in
the Wisconsin shell is Poughkeepsie veteran.
! This means great deal, and there are few
experts today who would be surprised to see
| the Wisconsin shell one Of the first three to
pass the line at the judges boat.
] Syracuse has sent one Of the best crews that
ever wore the orange. Unless all signs are
misleading, Syracuse will furnish the crew that
will give Courtneys men the race for first place.
Columb1a's crew has SO often been a disappoint
ment that it Is not much regarded in the big
| WiECOnsin
! town expected to fight 1t out for third place
The Pennsylvania crew this year Is regarded
with considerable favor, because 1t was the
only one that defeated Annapolis on the Severn
this spring. ,.~ -
/ Today's races practically mark the tenth an
| n1versary OF the big Poughkeepsie regatta. Vari
GUS attempts were made to establish an inter,
| collegiate regatta that would be worthy Of the
name as far back as 1873 but with little sue
! cess, and 1t was not until 1896 that the present
| intercollegiate association assumed control and
/ the races on the Hudson began to attract gen
4 eral interest turnout the country. Since thai
time Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania
| with Syracuse in 1904, have divided among
them the honor of winning the varsity eight
| crossed the line winners six times, while the
quakers have led the way in three races ant
Syracuse in one All these races were rowet
1 over the Hudson river course, with the excep
:, ton Of the 1893 race which was three-mile
contest and was held on Saratoga lake. This
/ race was of the three won by the Penn
sylvania crews. The race last year was won by
Cornell, with Syracuse second and Georgetown
I Columbia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin fnishinf
in the order named.
! When the crews returned to quarters from
their last practice last evening the center
Of boating interest moved from the river to tn,
little basement paintshop across the street from
the Nelson house. where auction pools are solt
and books are made on the boat races.
T. Cornell was usual made strong favorite fl
all three events from the moment the betting
opened. The following prices prevailed: Univer
4 stty eight-oared race, Cornell to 8, Syracuse
4 8 to l, Wisconsin to 1, pennsylvania 6 to /
Columbia to /, Georgetown 10 to 1; univer
sity foqr-oared race Cornell to 8, Syracuse
g to 3, Columbia 7 to s, Pennsylvania to
freshmen eight-oared race, Cornell to s. Wis
consin to 5, Syracuse to /, Columbia to 1
the favorite in all quarters where speculatio,
/ on the probable outcome of the regatta 4
4 INDUCED in, the betting odds do not in ever!
case coincide with the judgment Of men VIII
have been watching the crews at practice sine
their arrival
The morning opened dark and showery, wit
a promise that intermittent rain might be al
during the day. The water over the four-mil
straghtaway course leading from a point tire
miles above the railroad bridge which span
the river between Poughkeepsie and Highland t
the finish line one mile below that structure
was almost smooth as a millpond during tn
morning, and the promise of favorable rowin
more than Offset the gloom cast from frownin
clouds. ~
Shortly after brisk breeze from tn
. southeast sprung up and the clouds were swer
, away. The sun shone out brilliantly and wit
J no increase of wind anticipated the condition
for the regatta became all that could be desired
None Of the crews had hard practice this morr
ing, the rowing exercise being confined to pat
ding the shells up stream to the regatta heat
quarters. one mile above the bridge. Here a
the craft were stored under a huge canvas
where they will remain until just before it
time to start the races. The water continue
Ii favorable. this afternoon,