The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-30

witnessed the regsttas at Poughkeepsie
and New London during the past week.
asked 10 name the greatest stroke oar in
America the honor would undoubtedly be
unanimously conferred upon Chris Cox.
the Washington boy who set the pace for
Cornell on the Hudson.
Never before in his career as a coach
has one Of Charley Courtneys crews
won a race by a smaller margin than
the eight last Wednesday, and while the
sage Of Cayuga deserves all sorts Of credit
for developing a wonderfully smooth
crew. nevertheless. II was the judgment
shown by Cox in timing his final squirt
which brought victory in the final event,
and saved Cornell ,ne embarrassment OF
going down in dzfeat in every race Of the
day
Seldom have two more evenly matched
crews gone 10 the stakeboat than Cornell
and Columbia last Wednesday. For years
Columbia had not been a really dangerous
factor at Poughkeepsie; however. those
who were IN position 70 know realizs1
that this season the Morningside Heights
eight was one of the very fastest ever
sent out by the Gothamites. and Coach
Rice believed that he had rounded out
eight men who were capable Of giving a
good account Of themselves in the fastest
company.
Courtney. time and again. warned the
Cornell Oarsmen that Columbia was the
crew that had 10 be beaten. and that to
win The Ithacans would have a mighty
struggle with the pupils Of Rice.
Nearly every year since the foundation
OF the big regatta Cornell has gotten
into the lead at the start and led
throughout On Wednesday. however,
things were different At the crack OF
the gun Columbia jumped TO the lead, and
stroke for stroke they fought Cornell
down the course. C0urtneys men were
physically the superiOrs Of their rivals.
and in form had an advantage on the
New Workers, but Columbia proved equal
10 the fight
Mile for mile it was only by the hardest
sort Of work that Cornell was able to
keep Columbia from getting a greater
lead. and after passing the bridge and
starting on the final mile OF the grueling
match the bow Of the Columbia shell was
yards ahead
At this point the eNerti0n commenced
To tell on each Of the sixteen giants
Here il was that Cox showed the rare
Judgment that entitled him to the title
Of the greatest stroke OF. the wear. The
first thought that comes 10 a stroke in
such a juncture is 10 commence TO squirt
and attempt 10 wrest the lead from the
other crew. But not so with Cox. He
realized that the men behind him were
weakening. and. even though the Colum-
bians were exerting themselves TO the
utmost 20 hold their lead, Cox refused to
increase his speed.
Finally the opportunity. which Cox had
been awaiting, came
With just leo yards 20 60. Columbia still
quarter Of a length in the lead. and the
followers Of the Light Blue and White
crew on the observation train frantic with
joy over the belief that their college was
about 20 win the most coveted victory,
Cox justified in the fullest measure his
selection for the all-important position Of
stroke. Strengthening himself up and
mastering every ounce Of reserve
strength, Cox with one yelp called for the
strength. The seven men behind him. so
weakened that they We're hardly able o
sit up. realized what was meant. and they
responded manfully. Every stroke told.
Foot by foot Columbia $ lead was cut
down, and when the flag fell at the finish
COrnells frail shell was less than five feet
ahead Of its rivals, and Cornell had
won one Of the greatest victories IN her
aquatic annals Cox fell forward into the
lap Of HIS COXswain. acknowledged by
those VINO watched his grand exhibition
as fine a stroke as any who ever sat in a
No. seat in a Cornell shell.
The writer saw Cox when he was an
athlete at Central High School He was
larger than any Of his teammates on the
football team, but seldom did anything
that was considered especially remarkable
in the way o. nerve and gameness. How
ever, if there was ever any doubt as 20
Cox's thorough gaIneness. mental STAN
ina, and positive refusal 10 accept failure,
that doubt was absolutely removed by the
grand exhibition which the Washington
lad gave twenty-five thousand spectators
last Wednesday. Tx