Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-18
TECHNICAL BOYS
0UTR0WED BLUE AND GRAY

The Georgetown Preparatory School
e'sht-oared crew was defeated in a close
race yesterday afternoon by the Technical
High School eight over the mile and half
rowing course on the Potomac river. The
Props crew displayed more endurance and
skill than their rivals, but the weight and
strength Of the latter won out for them
In the last quarter in spite of the fact that
two OF the crew were seeing black" az
the end was being neared.
Both crews suffered from bad steering on
the part OF their coxswains, and this dis
advantage almost lost the race for the High
school boys, and it was by a series of DOW
erful sports to the finish line that they
managed to shove their boat across the
line about quarter Of n length ahead OF
the Props. After the race there was con-
siderable talk on the part of the Blue and
Gray supporters that the coXswain of their
eight understood that finish was at the west
end OF the float of the Potomac boathouse
instead Of a short distance to the east of
the float, and because of this msunder-
standing he eased up his crew too seon
and allowed the Techs to pass him. How
ever no kick was registered with the ref
cree or Judges. This let up at the west end
of the float was noticeable, and the specta-
tors aboard the steamer Bartholdi. which
was following the crews were of the opin-
ION at first that the youngsters from
Georgetown were the victors.
A more ideal day for a boat race could
not have been wished for. There was an
absence of any strong wind and the sur
face OF the river was as smooth as a pond.
The contest between these two schools in
augurated interscholastic rowing in WASH
ington and proved successful from the
amount of enthusiasm and interest taken
in the event despite the loose and unbusi-
ness like manner in which 1t was man
aged. Fully 800 followers of the two
schools and 100 others interested in row.
ing saw the contest either from the Bar
tholdi or along the course and at the Po-
tomac boathouse.
the Virginia side of the river and at the
word GO these clever little oarsmen
caught the water several seconds before
their. beefy antagonists and kept neat
little lead all the way to the Aqueduct
bridge. Their stroke was short and quick.
but 1t was clean and backed IN by every
ounce Of strength the youngsters possess
ed. On the other hand, the Techs gave a
sorry looking spectacle of skill. Their row.
ing was loose and from start to finish they
splashed enough to sink their boat, but
their weight and strength brought them
up even with the Props about 100 yards
west Of the Aqueduct bridge. and a few
yards further they passed the latter, and It
looked as though 1t was going to be pad
die for them the remainder of the course,
enced like the others In the boat. picked
out a course that was way out of the line.
and which resulted in their losing at least
two lengths. This bad steering gave the
Props a chance to catch up and take a new
lease on life. but their coxswain steered
them across the river close beside the
Techs, losing ground by doing SO. but with
1t all they were a few inches ahead when
the Potomac boathouse was reached, and 1t
was at this point that the crew eased up.
and their rivals passed them The official
time was eight minutes and forty-fve Sec
OndS-