New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-06-16
WRANGLE OVER COURSES
Ward Backs Up Courtney-George'
tOzgn Cree 4r71Ues.
TBy Telegraph to Tho tribune !


Poughkeepsie, n. Y. June 15.-The wrangle
over the courses allotted in the intercollegiate
boat races here became more complicated to-
day when Ellis Ward the coach of the Penn
syvania oarsmen. declared that he would not
accept the courses drawn for his boats in the
four-oared and freshman races. Wards declara-
ton is backed up by statement from Captain
Kirk who the Quaker launch Ben Frank
lin, that the eddy at the pier of the bridge near
which the shells must pass, is strong that the
Ben Franklin was driven out of the lane at that
point
Opposed to a statement, reported here, that
Francis S Bangs, of the board of stewards. had
declared the courses would not be changed is
the remark made by Joseph NJ. Booth. local
manager of the Poughkeepsie- Highland Rowing
Association. Mr.. Booth said this afternoon that
the courses would he changed, if they operated
unfairly against any crew, and further that he
believed that the trouble had come because of
the repairs TO the bridge, which made it i'm
possible for the men setting up the marking
numbers to put them at the required points on
the structure
According to Mr. Booth the matter is up to the
Ialiroad company. Mr.. Bangs, however, seems
to believe that it is up to the stewards. Which
ever is TO be held responsible Will have explain
why course !. which according TO the announce
nent made long ago, should be seventy-five feet
from the pier centre is only twenty feet from
that point As matters stand instead of
having Court one hundred and fifty feet from
Course 3. which is on the opposite side of the
pier, 1t is many feet short of that.
There is a movement on foot 10 find out who
is the person responsible for the mistake 1t
was stated at first that Courtney was all wrong
in making the objection that he did. because the
rules of the regatta permit him to swing forty
feet TO either side of the imaginary fine which
represents his course. In the case of Course 1,
however, this swing he done to one side
only-that is, away from the pier.
The permission extends to Georgetown
also. and that college could swerve over TO the
side where Cornell is. It is stated by Ward that
this would be d dangerous thing to do, because
the eddy is strong enough to carry an eight
clear against the one in Course y. The
eddy is active to distance of seventy-fiVe feet
out from the pier.
Coach Ward in speaking of the situation,
said to-day:
There is no reason to row the race under the
conditions. If Courtney had not made a pro-
test. l certainly should have. The effect of the
naturally enough We would be most affected
then by the course in the four cared race. I
have written Mr.. Reath about this. and we shall
see what he viii be able 10 do about il.
Mr. Reath is the Pennsylvania member Of the
board of stewards. which is composed of f. S.
Bangs. Columbia; F. 3. Irvine, Cornell and Mr..
Reath.
The Columbia crews held 10 the upper course
this morning. In the afternoon the crews all
came down the river, working the full distance
for each division The varsity eight roWed four
miles. which may be called a time trial, because
Goodwin makes a practice of holding the watch
on mis- crews every time they go the course.
The crew looked Well
| Ellis Ward picked his varsity four after many
try-outs this morning. The four is made up as
follows: Galley, bow; Shoemaker, ,; Townsend.
3: Atkn stroke. The Pennsylvania varsity had
time row in the morning. and covered the last
mile in minutes and IS seconds. The men fin
shed tired.
The Syracuse contingent rowed miles
down stream in the morning. The varsity four
took a minute start the varsity and fresh
I men. The four failed considerably toward the
( end and rowed raggedly.
Cornell did a course row in the morning, like
| the others. None of the crews, except Column
| bia were active in the afternoon.
The Georgetown varsity crew arrived here
this evening. and will Join the others in practice
on the river tomorrow The Wisconsin crews
are on the way. and are due to reach here to-
| morrow afternoon. With their arrival all the
| crews scheduled 10 race in the regatta of June
| % will he their HndSnn River lighthouses