Omaha daily bee., 1909-04-04
WITH The COLLEGE ATHLETES
Doings in the Field of Sport in East
and West.
CREWS NOW IN THE LIMELIGHT
other Colleges 20 Take Up Coium-
bias HOusebORt dea for Crew
Trainine-YaIe Likely to
ne strong.

ne strong.
The houseboat or barge which the Co
lumbia crew is using for its training APP.
peals to other colleges as an Improvement
worth while trying at Po~ughkeepsie. 1t Is
understood that Pennsylvania now is at
work on designs for such a barge as will
be able to go through the Rsritsn canal
and thus can be towed from Philadelphia
to Poughkeepsie. When Columbia took the
houseboat up there last year one Of the
coaches remarked sneeringly: We'll, it's
all light for them as likes it, but sppsr-
emily they have begun to see what a saw
ing It is and how many advantages such
training quarters present.
The Navy crew had a houseboat at
Poughkeepsle in 1907. This was the Ever
glades, owned by Colonel Robert NJ. Thomp-
son. a very luxurious boat, which he used
for the convenience Of his friends on fish
ing trips in Florida and on other occasions.
The Navy, with this household moored
at Krum Elbow. had a very fine and de-
lishtful place in which to train. 1t was
always cool at night and there was never
any difficulty about getting onto the water,
nor was # necessary to make any long
CilHiu up lnlO the MIN 1 Stl W Tie Tram
ing quarters.
The Navy. however did not have as ad-
vantageous A layout as does Columbia be-
cause the Columbia houseboat is so ar
ranged that the shells are stacked on the
main deck and the living quarters and COM
missary are on the floor above. 1t may
be as well here to point out a variance in
naval nomenclature. No one appears to
baVa aatohIfghal anu tarl,. r.. L-s.
boats as to whether the successive floors
above the water shall be called decks or
lofts.
Having this houseboat at Poughkeepsie
last year saved the Columbia crew many
annoyances, but chiefly was it a matter Of
reducing expense. The initial cost of the
boat and QUILTING it had to be charged
against the exorbitant sums asked by the
real estate owners in and around Pough-
keepsle for the use OF their property for
the limited time the crews are training
near the scene OF the regatta. 1t has been
remarked often before that the real estate
folks seize upon this opportunity once a
year to get ali they can out Of the crews
which visit Pougnkeepsie.
TAX of Moving to Milton,
At enc time this rspaciousness gave rise
to reports that the regatta mig hit be moved
down the river to Milton. where the col
leges were assured of as good a course and
Of reduced rates for living accommodations.
However this never came to pass because
each. year, after considerable struggles. the
colleges yielded TO the people who are try
ing to- make money on the one occasion
that presents Itself. Cornell recently had
some difficulties about Cakes the place
at Highland, where the Ithaca crews are
duartered. a very large house which In
rented at considerable expense.
Pennsylvania also mas been in difficult
ties regarding a proper place to train, and
II is probably for this reason that the
Quakers are most eager to get a houseboat
such as Columbia has, The saving by the
day in rent for the crews is really remark
able, and in a training period Of thirty days
Il is safe to say It makes a difference OF
nearly 1850, The oarsmen have all they
need right on the houseboat. There is a
galley and dining room, the food Is pre-
pared and eaten right on board the boat.
Down below are the racks on which the
shells are placed and there is nothing but
a walk down a few steps to get TO the
shells. They can launch them from the
float in front OF the boathouse, and there
they are all right.
Is the Columbia houseboat last year was
moored at the one-mile mark of the course
ssa II was then II was a very good point
also for observation, and It is very likely
that little went on along the river that
was not noticed by those who were In
charge of the columbia crews. This also
lie a very valuable thing, but 1t is not in
cluded in the ~nancia saving on the house
boat. There is, furthermore, the very great
advantage that there seems always to be
a breeze stirring down by the water and
It is recorded that the Columbia crews
slept under blankets every evening through
out their training period at Poughkeepsis
last year.
Yale Coming strong.
Furthermore. whether this be Coach
Rice's good judgment OF the geographical
surroundings. the oarsmen all gained
weight in their training, This. considering
the fact that they are working rather
hard In the warm season of the year.
speaks very well for the system employed.
Al any event, II more and more of the
colleges can make use OF houseboats II
will be found TO save a great deal Of money
and will gradually make the regatta as
Independent OF Poughkeepsie as Poush-
keepsie has become Independent Of II. Inter
est i'm the city Of Poushkeepsie itself has
been ,0SRRinR and decreasing nrororffon-