The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-30
(Whitten for The Times-Dispatch.)
by SOL METZGER.

The greatest Intercollegiate boat
race ever rowed took place upon the
Highland-P oughkeepsie course at
Poughkeepsie. N. y, last "Wednesday.
and the result was due as much to
the pluck aud determination of the men
who sat in the winning boat as to the
style Of Craftsmanship they rowed.
All the way down the four miles
OF the varsity eight-oared event in
terest was conferred in the two lead
ing crews, those OF Cornell and Co
lumbia, and upon the showing Of the
men In these two shells depended the
result. 1t was a grim. determined and
thrilling battle, and everywhere, from
shore, observation train and pleasure
craft, one could hear the shout, go 1t
Cornell!" or go 1t Columbian more
frequently the latter, for the crowds
| were with this newly developed eight,
which all but conquered the Outlines
victorious Cornell oarsmen.
| II was race in thousand, one the
outcome OF which depended upon the
| work OF every man In either eight
for only scant three feet separated
the two at the finish. remarkable when
| 1t Is recalled that the distance was
four miles. and at no time were the
shells apart; at no time did more than
| twenty-five feet separate the bow OF
| the comedian and white from the bow
| of the blue and white she'll. First one
| then the other led, and the leader was
always overhauled, because the other
| boat would tear It's oars through the
/ water a little faster. little harder
until the lead was cut down and even
4 assured.
Credit to the Stro;<es.
! The story Of this mighty race Is but
| the story OF the stroke oars, the mer
| who set the pace OF their boats, the
1 men who judged the ability OF theil
| two crews. who were placed In THESE
all-important posts in the shells be.
cause they We're the coolest, staunch-
est pluckiest and headiest boys from
/ their respective colleges.
| Wonderfully we'll had Coach Charlie:
E. Courtney selected his stroke wher
he chose Chris Cox as the boy for thi:
position in the Cornell eight, and popu.
lar Jimmy Rice, the new Columbia
4 coach. had taken Pete Cerussi for The
4 same work, with as keen an insigh
into the character of his man as hac
the grizzled "Old Man" OF Cornell, M
two men ever 'rGwed such a close rue,
as these two, and wliEIi-it is renlem
bered that the Cornell eight had all thu
! advantage and prestige there wa
4 honor enough In the outcome for these
two boys for the one from Cornell
n had won the hardest fight In Cornell
. long and triumphant career. and 70
tho other for directing the pace Of hi
crew. because this crew had learned ;
new style and lacking the weigh
that Is necessary In an event of thi
kind, had nevertheless rowed a rae
that had been declared impossible 70
I them by the men who mad followed tn
crews during the season.
The stroke Of college eight-oare,
crew las as much depending upon him
to say the least as the pitcher Of
ball nine or the captain of football
team. He must need be Remarkable
fitted for the work In sheer strengt
: and generally in weight. his stamin
and grit must be unlimited, and NJ
', mental powers should rank first amon
his qualifications. as 1t Is necessar
for him not only to be able TO judg
of his own ability In contest, but h
must also plan and replan each NOV
as the race takes In It's various phases
all the time keeping In mind the seve
| mon back OF him whose strength mus
be SO used that 1t will not be eH
n hausted until the distance has bee
covered 1t Is such man that tn
rowing coach seeks each season, ar
fortunate Is he who finds him earl.
for many race has been Won purel
Il through the splendid work of tn
stroke oar.
Il BrlGgs Stands Out Prominently.
n In recent college rowing history SON
! few names have stood out as repre-
| senting thia type. Cornell has possess
! I'D most OF them, and the Lest OF tn
!! Hot WAS little Johnny BRIGGS, who