Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-19
M1DD|ES WERE
NEVER HEADED
Defeated the Columbia Univer.
sity Crew That Recently Won
From Harvard.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. May 1s.-The navy
eight defeated the Columbia varsity crew
on the Severn river this afternoon by q
length and a half in what was declared the
prettiest race ever rowed over the An
napolls two-mile course, the midshipmen
covering the distance in ten minutes thirty
three and four-ifths seconds. Although
at some points, notably about the halfway
buoy, Columbia crept up perceptibly. tho
midshipmen's lead secured at the start
was never overcome, and tho navy's boat
was always short distance In front OF
the opposing shell. The beauty of the race
was added to through the nearness Of the
crews both ways. blanket could have
covered them as they fought for supremacy
down the course, with only about twenty
feet of sparkling water between the ends
of the flashing oar blades.
Had Eyes on Poughkeepsie.
The midshipmen pulled with Poughkeep-
sic in view. There was delay in starting
the race, which had been originally sched-
uled for 2:3O pm, and it was just about
before the start was made. The water
conditions were almost ideal, with barely q
ripple to mar the surface Of the course
Drifting clouds kept the sun OF the con-
testants and to a small extent Offset the
heat which was great for such strenuous
work The race was witnessed by an .,I1.
craft at the academy, including several
fast torpedo boats and the government tug
Standish, were in use and crowded. Scores
course, while all sorts Of sail boats were
anchored at vantage points about the I'm
ish.
The officials of the race were: Lieut.
Commander n. E. Irwin, starter; Mr.. F. 8.
Bangs. chairman of the intercollegiate
Rowing Association, referee: Midshipman
r. ]. Coffman, navy, and ]. D. Gillies, CO.
lumbia, judges at the finish.
Middies Led From the Start.
The start was flying one, and at the
very crack of the referees pistol sixteen
blades caught the water together. Navy,
mindful of Columbias fast lead over Har-
ward at the start. took the water at an I'M
usually high stroke. Capt. Ingram starting
his men at forty-three to the minute. Co
lumbia's stroke was forty. Although
neither crew could have kept this heart
pulled from three to four strokes faster all
the way The faster stroke pushed the
bow of the mdshipmen's craft ahead In
the first minute. and then Capt. Ingram
let down his stroke to thirty-nfne while
Columbia. still pretty fresh physically.
came down to thirty-six. They maintained
this stroke and relative position to the
half mile. The Columbia stroke, although
buoy picking a winner was a very difficult
matter. Navy was pulling thirty-six and
Columbia thirty-two, but this speed soon
told on the visitors. The midshipmen's
stroke was fast but perfectly clean. and
their form was as good as at the start.
Three-quarters of a mile from the finish
mark the crews answered their barking
coxswains' calls for quicker stroke. CO.
lumbia raised to thirty six. but Navy met
this with a forty-to-the- minute squirt. The
increased stroke told on the visitors. Half
a minute showed whose race 1t was and
the result became only a question Of dis
lance. A quarter of a mile from the finish
Navy increased to forty-one strokes. while
Columbia went to thirty-seven. This was
the stroke for the remainder of the course.
Nayy's better endurance told and that
shell kept creeping ahead until It crossed
the line amid an accompaniment Of
screening whistles and air-splitting
cheers. with half length Of open water
between it and the bow Of the Columbia
boat. The result was extremely gratifying
to the Navy contingent, particularly in
view of the game, hard fight the visitors
made and the fact that they have already
defeated Harvard.