Evening star., 1909-04-18
HARvARD'S ROWERS
BEST COLUMBIA
Crimson Crew Wins From New
Workers by Six
Lengths.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass, April 17.-With a
powerful and finished stroke the Harvard
varsity crew defeated weaker and less
expert crew from Columbia on the
Charles river today by six full lengths
in a race of a mile and seven-eighths.
After the first few dashing strokes which
followed the referees pistol shot there
was never any question regarding the
outcome. AS IL impelled by a powerful
motor. the Harvard shell swept proudly
down the Charles river basin before 10000
people on the river bank and shot like
an arrow across the finish line. Behind
them trailed the Columbia she'll, with the
oarsmen plunging their blue and white
blades into the water in a vain effort
even to keep up with the flying Crimson
shell. Despite the almost perfect river
conditions, the Columbia boat rolled like
a knock-about in heavy sea, and 1t
was with difficulty that Coxswain Rock
wood kept the nose of his boat heading
down the course. Harvard's veteran crew
showed all the dash and force which
were out Yale at New London last year,
while the exhibition of Columbia, even to
Coach Rice. was disappointing.
The Start.
It was a few minutes before o'clock
when the two crews backed to their
punts underneath the Cottage Farm
bridge. The start came almost exactly
ut p. m. With the firing OF the pistol
the Crimson shell was the first to get
away. Both crews hit up the stroke
above forty, and for hundred yards
more rowed side by side. Then Harvard
began to draw away. Columbia continued
the high stroke for a couple OF minutes
longer. but presently Capt. Cerussi
dropped back to thirty-six. At the quar-
ter mile Harvard was half a length to
the good. and at the half-mile flag there
was open water between the boats. The
Harvard boat gained steadily. the Grim
son stroke decreasing to thirtytwo. and
a one time to as low as twenty-eight.
In the Columbia boat Coxswain Rockwell
was continually shouting encourag cement
TO his men, but with only partial sue
cess.
Under Harvard bridge dashed the Grim
son crew. with 5000 people watching.
Ten seconds later the Columbia shell
swept underneath and the two crews
started down the last mile Of the course.
Ths water was now rougher than in the
upper reaches of the river. The motion
Rad no effect whatever on the Harvard
shell, but the unsteadiness of the Blue
and White boat was the feature Of the
race from this point on.
Columbia's Spurt Futile.
Stroke Sergeant Of the Harvard crew
again dropped the stroke below thirty
but when the mile and a half flags were
passed there were five lengths Of water
between the boats. Coming down to the
finish. Columbia was the first to spurt,
but there was no gain on Harvard.
AS the finish line was neared Sar-
geant called upon his men for the last
effort. Up went the Harvard stroke
while astern the Columbia shell wobbled
uncertainty.
Then the red flag fell and Harvard
had won. Nineteen seconds later the CO.
lumbia shell rolled across the line like q
spent runner. Coach Rice said that his
men could not seem to get together. The
Columbia oarsmen showed dependency
after the race. but would not discuss 1t.
The times Of the race were: