Gilpin observer., 1906-09-13
HARVARD BEATEN
DEFEATED BY CAMBRIDGE UNI.
vERSlTY CREW.
TWO BOAT LENGTHS BEHIND
Performance OF American Crew is Dis
appointing-Did Not Show the Vim
Expected of Them-Finish In Bet
ter Condition Than Cambridge.

Expected of Them-Finish In Bet
ter Condition Than Cambridge.
Putney, England, Saturdays boat
race between crews of Harvard and
Cambridge universities, which was won
by the Englishmen by two lengths,
was probably the most surprising ever
rowed on the Thames, not so much
in the result as the way in which it
was run.
Cambridge, as has been feared by
Harvard and hoped for the by Eng
lishmen, got away the better, secur-
ing the lead which they increased to
three lengths before Hammersmith
bridge was reached. Both crews, as
they went under the bridge
were rowing steadily at twenty
eight strokes to the minute,
neither apparently exerting itself.
Suddenly Harvard commenced to use
more power, and although Cambridge
already had the race won and had the
advantage of water conditions, the lat
ter was compelled to increase its
stroke to thirty-three and finished a
tired out crew. Donaldson was ready
to collapse, and Closebrooks, in the
bow, was nearly as bad. The remain
der OF the crew padded the boat to
the landing stage. The Harvard men,
on the other hand, apparently were
quite fresh, and took their boat across
the river at brisk rate.
English experts say there is but
one explanation for the result, that of
superiority of English Craftsmanship
and OF the English stroke. Harvard
was one of the finest crews physically
ever seen on the river, but was unable
to overcome that training which Eng
lish oarsmen receive from childhood.
The Cambridge crew, too, had in
Stuart one of the best strokes England
had produced. 1t also had the advan-
tage of choice of side, but those who
know the river best say this was little
in their favor, with the tide and wind
as they were Saturday.
The crowd which lined the banks
from Putney to Mortlake, massed on
bridges. roofs and balconies and
weighed down the branches Of trees,
was a record gathering for recent
years. To estimate the number OF per-
sons who witnessed the CONTEXT would
be impossible, but they stretched in
unbrolen strings for four and one-half
miles on either side of the river. OF
Americans, there were hundreds. all
showing the Harvard colors, chiefly in
specially chartered boats. The Grim
son, however, only showed in splashes
amid the endless display of the light
blue of Cambridge. When the, light
n
advantage at the start great cheer
went up from the crowds on Putney
bridge, in Fullham park and on the
Putney towpath. 1t was taken up by
those farther along and continued
without interruption to the end of the
race, when there was a final tremend-
Gus outburst from the people on Barns
bridge, the excursion steamers an
chored at the finish and the thou
sands who had gathered at Mortlake.
Stroke Stuart of the Cambridge
crew said:
"Filley and his crew rowed magnl-
ficent race. We are glad we won, but
sorry to defeat such good fellows"
Captain Filley of the Harvard boat
laconically declared that his men had
been beaten fairly and squarely
Coach Wray was gloomy and had moth
ing to say, except that he had no ex-
cuse to offer. Coach Mattlebury OF
Cambridge, said:
"The Harvard men made up the best
crew ever sent out from the United
States. With another year and little
more of the English style the Har-
ward men will be dangerous rivals. !
hope the Americans will favor us with
another visit"