The San Francisco call., 1908-04-26
College Crews Show
Wonderful Form
Stanford Freshmen Share Days
Honors By Capturing First
Race in Eight"
BY r. A. Snnyth

The oarsmen OF the University Of
caiifcrnis and Stanford university
shared equally the honors OF the Sec
cnd annual regatta in eight Dared
shells yesterday over the course in
Richardson's bay, OF the Marin county
shore The men who sport the blue
and gold won the varsity race in a
decisive manner, while the cardinal
representatives carried OF the honors
in the freshman race, which was rowed
for the first time in "eights."
Conditions of day and water were
ideal. and it would have been difficult
70 place on the water four more even
ly balanced crews or better trained
for such a severe contest The race
was witnessed by several thousand
coilegians. who crowded about the
finish line in all manner Of boats or
viewed the struggle from the green
covered hillsides OF Sausalito. The
boats ranged from the flying Kanocti.
owned by Prentiss Gray. and which
has the speed OF & railway train. down
to heavy freight barges pressed into
the passenger service for the occasion.
The majority of these carried students
sporting the colors OF the rival col
leges. which made the scene one full
OF life and color.
Prohting by the experience of last
year. when the heavy weather which
came with the AFTERNOON winds
-. --..5 -. ,s-,.4 -L.,t- ~. o-.,,--
were out early in the morning. It
was thought the EARLIER the start made
By the varsity the better the water
would be-. but for once this condition
did not prevail Early in the morning
there was a gentle breeze. but it hard
" more than rufaed the placid surface
OF the bay After the finish of the
first race this breeze died out, and
when the freshmen appeared for their
race the conditions were especially ia
vorable.
POSITION OF THE BOATS
Both races were rowed on an ebb
tide. Stanford had the in shore posi-
ton in the first race, while Califor-
mia had ii in the second race. The
boat in the outside position won in
each case. 1t is doubtful If the posi-
tion made any difference in the out
come. although it was claimed that
the boat on the outside was in the
deepest part OF the channel.
The varsity crews were at the start
ing point shortly after 10 o'clock, and
&t,~-.e ,--es rg&@f. sa1s., - S.nSsn. @L.~,
away. The start was effected at
1o:i7:so. The start was an even one.
but before the men had pulled 20
strokes the bow OF the California shell
commenced TO forge ahead of the
Stanford boat. The California men
rowed a heart breaking stroke OF 30
to the pinute at the start. which they
reduced gradually TO 3e.
The Stanford crew had a little bad
luck at the start. when Cole lost his
seat and the progress Of the boat was
checked momentarily. Then in their
esgerness TO make up lost ground
some Of the men caught crabs"
which did not make FOR good rowing
form
At half distance both crews were
rowing about 3e TO the minute, but the
conventional eastern stroke taught by
Coach z. NJ. Garnett made the work of
the California men look the more ef-
fective. Inch by inch they gained on
their rivals, turning their lead of one
length into two, which they gradually
Increased to four lengths. by which
margin they won at the finish. The
time announced for the race. which
was over a course estimated at two
and a half miles, was 1913.
Both crews were stripped to the
waist and the bronzed skins OF the
sinewy athletes fairly glistened in
the sunlight, every play OF the power
fuI arm and shoulder muscles being
seen by the spectators. Neither crew
was rowed out and there was no sign
or men falling limp in the waist of
the boat, as usually occurs at the end
Of one of these trying contests. Both
crews stopped nomentarily after they
crossed the finish line and then made
their way to the San. Francisco yacht
club house. escorted by the launches
which had gathered about the finish.
CARDINALS CHANCE TO CHEER
With but little delay the freshman
crews took the places OF the varsity in
the same boats and were soon headed
tor the starting point. This time the
cardinal -adherents had their oppor-
tunity to cheer, as their crew showed
brilliant form The California young
sters- were carried away with the
spirit Of competition and started OF
with 4 rush which could not be sus-
tained. They rowed ~ strokes to the
minute at: the start to 30 for Stanford.
The latter crew. sHperbiy stroked By
Chamberlain, gained steadily and Sc
cured lead Of a length at the end
Of tire first half mile This was IN
creased 10 two and a half lengths att
the mile and 10 three and half at the