The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-09-09
BRITAIN DOWNS AMERICA
 ON CLASSIC PUTNEY COURSE
toontinued from Page One,

NOIf1tAuaOu AEOAA & HSO O-aD'S
 
 full varsity course and as neither crew was at It's best, the result was not regarded as decisive The Harvard eight is admittedly one of the best ag- gregations of college oarsmen ever seen in an American shell, and every follower of the sport has been conf dent that in the international struggle on the Thames Americas rowing strength was typically represented in the Harvard boat.
 Efforts of Lehman.
 The race was brought about through the efforts of R. c. Lehman, a member of parliament, who acted as instructor to the Harvard crews for two years, his last visit to Harvard being in 1898. It was agreed that the two crews should be as nearly as possible the same as those which raced against Yale and Oxford respectively. Both the oarsmen of Cambridge and liar yard were eager for the contest, and the arrangements were not long in making. The fact that Harvard must necessarily cross the Atlantic and row over a course with which they were not familiar was regarded as a strong point in favor of the English crew.
 The personnel of the crews agreed upon for today's test shows few changes from the winning organiza- tions which manned the Cambridge and Harvard shells in their victories over their formidable home rivals
 The Harvard crew sailed from New York July 26 and went at once to Bourne End, England, where they re- mained until ten days ago. It was deemed advisable that the crew should go to Putney for the last days of the practice in order that they m m& ht be- come familiar with the tortuous course over which the race was rowed The water between Putney and Mortlake Is different from any the American oarsmen have ever encountered. for at New London and at Pughkeeps;e the American courses are straight away for the full four miles.
 It was necessary especially that Blagden the Harvard coxhw ~ln, who only weighs 100 pounds. should have an opportunity to study the tide and the currents around the sharp turns in the Thames, for ignorance of these at the time of the race might mean the loss of several lengths. Change of climate had ar effect upon the Harvard so after their arrival at Bourne End and for a time 1t was thought the personnel Of the eight might be seriously impaired. But un- der the carefully supervision of their medical advisor. Dr. Manahan, and the famous coach. Wray. the crew soon came around all right and in the latest figures sent over 1t is shown that the conditions have event. uaIly proved so favorable to the American that nearly all have taken on from one to ten pounds in weight.
 Since the American crew took up its quarters on the Thames the row. ing sharps of England have had much to say in praise and criticism of the work of Wrays men, The old discus- sion as to the relative merits of the English and American styles of row ing has been revived In all its various phases and there Is no thought that even the result of today's contest will have serious weight In settling the much mooted question.
 Change of Sentiment.
 rbara was a remarkable change in sentiment among the English eNrertS during the last few days, however and from the opinions freely expressed, when the Harvard crew first landed. that the Americans would have no chance with the Cambridge rowing n,achines. many of the most noted of the critics on the eve of the race pre- dicted success for the visitors from
 The steady way the Harvard men have of rowing. with a stroke which varied barely at all during the full journey, over the long winding course. set the Englishmen to thinking ponderously, and sent the betting odds tumbling from to 1 in favor of Cambridge to very nearly even money two days be- fore the rowing of the race.
 It was said that Cambridge would make A big effort to upset this long, steady ace-devouring stroke of the Harvard eight. tY making tantalizing