New-York tribune., 1908-06-28

shrill came the various commands of the five cox
swans. and in the dying sun the forty naked
backs rose and fell in almost perfect rhythm II
was amazing to Wisconsin's shell hang desper-
ately TO the leaders. the boat checked at each
stroke. Pennsylvania's work rough, and there
was lack of harmony in the body swings but the
recovery was sharp and the dipped in time If
the backs did not.
Syracuse getting there. There was still the,
short stroke, the queer Jerk in the Slides but the
shell moved gloriousy along no matter how il
was made to do So Far and away the prettiest
and smoothest crews the water Columbia
and Cornell. With each there the long, strong
pull. the exqusitely smooth dip of the blades in
which not of effort to waste the
perfectly smooth recovery pithou+ suspicion of
check.
Here it to be that no matter who won
or lost. James Rice and Charles Courtney had
done their best, and that for the
themselves to decide the issue. Just before the
two and Cne-half mile mark the race passed with
startling suddenness into its final phase Syracuse,
bold In their confidence challenged Pennsylvania,
and The sons of Pennsylvania could meet the
issue 1t was the beginning of The end for them,
and the lead at that critical point went TO the
Orange, never to be renquished. The Quakers
could not meet the Syracuse bid for victory. Cor
nell and Columbia yet ready for the issue
Just as the mark passed Wisconsin accepted
the challenge and tried magnificently for
For a staggering moment the seemed theirs
10 thousands, but just the of the ca 3Iinal
shell showed ahead for a moment Iakisch's great
frame dropped, and groan went up as his Ger
fell. Limp and useless he hung as the Cornell
shell swung majestcally by. and then. with his
three lengths behind, he grasped his oar and
tried 10 pull himself together. 1t seemed useless,
but dogged determination did for him what seemed
TO he impossible, and the frantic urgngs of his
captain were rewarded when the Wisconsin veteran
swung back into the stroke
What cheer there from fifty thousand
throats as the Scarlet blades dipped again and the
Wisconsin crew, hopelessly beaten took up the
heartbreaking task. douby with the hope Of
victory, so brilliant a moment before turned in an
instant to the cold ashes of crushing defeat. But
while the hearts and eyes of thousands were with
the crushed crew from Wisconsin, the others were
making history in the dash for the bridge and the
three-Tnile mark
Syracuse and Columbia were beginning to battle
for the ultimate triumph but Cerussi had not
called on his for the best that was in them II
was otherwise with Cornell and Pennsylvania, how
ever Now or never Pennsylvania had make
good. for Cornell making its desperate bid to
disprOve Courtney's forebodings and PENNSYLVANIA,
when Syracuse claimed the lead had TO Weld
The shell seemed TO drop back and Cornell passed
under the bridge and Towed toward it's quar-
ters-where Courtney waited be told the finish,
refusing a usual to watch the race-a quarter of
a length TO the good. There open water then
between Columbia and Cornell but Cornell was
drawing up Columbia, and away from Pennsyl-
vana with every stroke.
Down 10 the three and a half mile mark Cornell
made the rowing. The Ithacans had exceeded the
hopes of their best friends far, and they
on it seemed almost if they could win. Two
lengths they led Pennsylvania the beginning of
that last half mile and they had wiped out the open
water that had been Columbia's the bridge. But
this plucky fight had been made. and moment
showed that Cornell had shot its bolt
Then the glorious final struggle between
Syracuse and Columbia. Pandemonium reigned as
the shells tore through the water between the
yachts. At the start of that battle Syracuse had
hreequarters of length the better Of it, but inch
by inch Columbia shortened the gap. Stroke for
stroke they raced, snews straining. but the dis
tance TOO short, and Syracuse crossed the line
the victor with the Blue and White coming strongly
every stroke and gaining half dozen feet in
their last seconds Of heroic effort.
Surely two finer never fought out race.
Columbia waited. perhaps, a few moments too long
for that final spurt: lost by a second might
have been won by inches. But Syracuse knew
when TO go ahead and had the power to stay there.
and no one had word Of criticism to offer of the
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