The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1906-09-08


q ideal weather and water condi- q
Q tions Cambridge university won .,
o the rowing race from Harvard q
!. An Immense crowd lined the q
o Thames to witness the event q
. .. . o . q o . . . o o . o . q o
London, Sept. S.-"They are off,
was the yell that echoed from Putney
bridge to Craven cottage when the
signal shot was fired and like some
huge and many-legged monsters the
two shells of Cambridge and Harvard
broke from their leash and began
their wearlsome struggle for victory
against more than four miles of cur
rent, toward Mortlake. beyond which
the finish line is located. The old stone
bridge at Putney, Hammersmith
bridge, nearly two miles up the stream
and all along the bank on both sides
of the picturesque Thames hundreds
of thousands of people were crowded
together from early morning, patiently
waiting for the great event of the
day, the race between Cambridge and
the crew from across the water.
The crowds were not a bit smaller
or less enthusiastic than when the
great varsity race between Cambridge
and Oxford was rowed. Although the
race today is not for the champion
ship, but merely as a test of the su-
periority of the two contesting crews
without reference to their past record
the race appealed to the sporting
spirit of the Britons, who love a race
or fight for IT'S own sake. The match
between Cambridge and Harvard was
arranged by r. C. Lehman and F. L.
Higginson, jr, who was captain of the
Harvard university crews of 1899 and
1900 and who is now in England. The
first offer was made by Harvard and
the Cambridge men did not hesitate
to accept the challenge and invite the
Harvard crew to come over here for
a race for the mere sport. This is the
first time since 1868 that an American
university crew rowed against an
Oxford crew over the same course of
four miles and three furlongs. Har-
ward rowed a splendid race, but was
beaten by small margin. That event
stirred up a great deal of interest on
both sides of the ocean and it is safe
to say that today's race will cause
even greater interest
As might have been expected the
Americans now on a visit to England
displayed great enthusiasm for Harv-
ard from the moment the announce
ment was made that the race would
take place. When the American crew
arrived in England, they were received
like princes and only the absolute
necessity of strict diet and careful
training prevented the American en-
thusiasts from putting their favorite
crew completely out of condition for
the race, by dining and wining them
to excess.
The Harvard crew worked hard and
conscientiously ever since their ar
rival, the first week of August, but
they are at decided disadvantage
against the Cambridge crew In the
first place the Cambridge men have
been in training ever since the race in
the spring, while the Harvard men
were out of condition, when they ar
rived here. The difference in the clim-
ate, water and other conditions, were
also against Harvard and, last, but not
least, the character of the course
over which the race was to be rowed.
At Putney bridge, where the race
started, the river is about 100 yards
wide, with the lighthouses of several
of the Thames rowing clubs, includ-
ing that of the famous Leanders, on
the left bank and the palace of the
bishop of London on the right. For a
stretch of nearly a mile the river is
straight and then the first turn comes
lat Craven point. Then comes another
turn at Dung wharf. followed with
another straight stretch to Hammer
smith bridge, where the sharp horse
shoe curve begins, which continues to
Chiswick. Then comes a slight double
curve to the Barnes railroad bridge,
where the last sharp curve of the
course begins, which continues to the
finishing line beyond Mortlake.
The two crews at today's race are
made up as follows: Cambridge Bow.
G. ID. Cochrane; No. 2, III. F. Benham;
No 8, III. M. Goldsmith; No 4, M.
Donaldson; No S, B. C. Joshstone;
No. s, r. v. Powell: No. Z. E. w. Pow
ell; stroke, ID. @. Stuart; coxswain,
Al. c. L. Hunt.
Harvard Bow, r. M Tappan: No.
2. s. w. Fish; No. 3, c. Morgan: No.
4, g. Glass; No. 5. =. Richardson; No.
g, r. T.. Bacon; No, 7, ID. Al. Newhall;
stroke, Q. D. Filley, coxswain, f. M.
Blagden
The light blues had the advantage of
choice OF stations which gave athem at
least q length to the good in conse
quence Of the wind sheltered water on
the Surrey side of the river. They
got away ahead at the start and were
enabled TO maintain their lead and even
increase It as soon as they reached
the wind roughened water at ChiswiclS
Eyot II was a pretty race throughout.
Neither slashed but with swift.