The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-09-11
W1LMINtON n. c.. SEPTEAIBEK II 1.Oe

4SV "ou Ile great Inter
,l 10 1onai boat race today, stalling off
ps q steady, powerful stroke all Har
'd4d desperate spurts. The light
Dlueo nad the advantage Of the choice
Oh position, which gave them at least
length to the good, in consequences
Oh the wind sheltered water on the
ourry side OF the river. They got ayav
ahead al the start ano were enabled
20 maintain their lead and even in
crease 1t as soon they reached the
WIND roughened water at ChiswicL
Eyot. 1t was a pretty race through
out.
mere was moment of intense ex-
penlancy as the two crews backed
tnelr craft to the stake boats and
then leaned far forward, awaiting tba
signal. The pistol shot broke the
spell and both crews got away from
lhe mark boat cleanly, amid a deafan-
ing roar from the multitude. The
start was perfect, both crews taking
the water at the same instant. Neither
iapIashed but with swift. steady nre-
clalOn the Cambridge men drove the
20" OF their boat half a length ahead
"lthln the first two boat lengths. As
the English boat shot ahead q wild
yell went UP from the patriotic mass
es
Cambridge went at tremendous
pace, forty two strokes to the minute
at the start, gradually reducing this
rate, while the Harvard men hardly
rOWed above thirty five.
The light blues gained stroke by
stroke until by the time the Craven
steps were reached day light showed
between the shells. Then the crowds
went mad and it was 100 to l that
Cambridge would be the winner.
On reaching the mile post the bend
Of the river on the Surry side gave the
Cambridge crew a great advantage. A
head wind, sent the tide rolling down
this reach, making a broken sea. Of
which the Americans got the full bene-
fit. while the Englishmen were shell
tered by the river bank on the Surry
side. By the time the boats reached
the Crab Tree, about Il mile and a
half from the start, Stuart, the Cam
bridge stroke, had taken his boat
over two lengths to the front. The
Harvard stroke, Filley at this point
called on his men for q great effort
and they responded gamely. The
quickened stroke soon told, the day
light between the boats was lessened
and when the Cambridge shell shot by
Hemmersmith bridge, the Englishmen
were barely length and a quarter
ahead.
The scene on the banks Of the river
was amazing. Americans and En-
glishmen We'd with each other in
cheering their champions, while the
din of the accompanying squadron Of
steamers was deafening.
Pushing on past the Lead Mills,
where both boats were doing 81 strokes
Cambridge maintained her lead and
the crew appeared to pc rowing we'll
at the bend and entered rougher wa
ter. Harvard again spurted. A mag
nificent effort sent the American DOac
upon it's opponent, foot BY foot.
Off the Doves. although Harvard lost
ground through wide steering, Stuart
kept up his steady stroke. A. ems
wick EyOt, the English stroke, shOOk
I'D his crew and began to pull away
from Harvard At the three mile posi-
Cambridge was over two and nall
lengths ahead and the race was prac-
ticallv over Harvard, however. was
game to the end and spur1ed again
gaining a length. But it was TOO late
to retrieve the fortunes Of the day ana
the Cambridge men passed the WIN
ming post easy winners OF a SallahI
race. by two lengths. lime Is niin-
utes, 16 seconds.