The San Francisco call., 1909-04-18
BERKELEY SWAMPS
STANFORD WINS
BOAT RACE
Cardinal Skill Avoids Rough
Place in Course and Vic
tory Follows
By w. Russell Cole
stanford, 'o5


stanford oarsmen captured the first
Of the series of intercollegiate athletic
events Yesterday by winning the third
annual eight cared race with the Uni
Versity OF California. 1t was not a race
10 stir the blood or raise excitement
10 the fever pitch, for but one shell
finished the three mile course over the
Oakland estuary, yet the victory was
clean cut and decisive.
Half way over the course, at the
sharp turn in the estuary where the
head wind had ruined the water into
choppy surface. the Stanford coXswain
proved himself a better waterman than
his adversary in the blue and gold
shell He steered his eight sturdy oars
men safely through the dangerous
tEtretch of water while the California
boat shipping ater at the turn. foun-
dered as il turned into the stretch a
mile and half from the finish line.
While the race was spoiled from a
spectacular standpoint by the swamp
ing OF the California she'll the laurels
sof victory belonged TO the Stanford
crew as certainly as though the race
had developed into a close grilling
tcontest at Ihe finish. IL was not luck
but skill in Craftsmanship that saved the
sSrsnford eight from the fate that be-
-1eu the opposing crew, and at the time
lie Berkeley crew met disaster the
stanford shell had already forged ahead
unto a safe lead.
ESTUARY BARRED HEREAFTER
One result that is almost certain to
Follow in the wake of yesterdays dis
appointing regatta is that no more in
tercollegiate races Will be rowed over
the estuary course. Stanford consented
10 row over CALIFORNIA; home practice
waters only after a protest. and with
an understanding that an observation
rrain would be run over the Southern
q n
t1ollow the race. This detail could not
be arranged. however. and the thou
sands OF partisan spectators who at
tended the event had no bther opportu-
anity OF viewing the race than that af-
tordeo by taking positions along the
shore Of the mole near the finish line.
Moreover. the water proved just as
treacherOus on the estuary as IL has
ever been on the Sausalito course, and
the lack of an observation train pre-
vented the alhleuc management OF the
universities from securing any financial
return TO compensate for the heavy ex-
penses incident to the training of the
crews and the rowing OF the race
The early boats from San Francisco
carried hundreds Of spectators to the
Oakland mole and other hundreds ar
rived before 10 O'Clock on the local
trains from Oakland, Berkeley and Ala
fmeda- For half q mile near the finish
line at the end of the mole the shore
feven the dull day did not blight the
kardor OF the rival roofing sections
(which gathered at points of vantage
crews even before the course had been
%cleared for the race.
COURSE Is CLEARED
The handling Of the course was In
echarge OF tugs and launches from the
FTeyenue cutter service, and from 10
clock until nearly noon the estuary
was closed TO shipping and TO the pas
usage OF the creek ferry boats With
the course cleared for its entire length
n z hos
i and private pleasure vessels herded
safely beyond the finish line. there was
no excuse for delay and the varsity
race was started within a quarter Of
n hour of the scheduled time.
In the smooth water at the start Of
the course near the Webster street
bridge in Oakland, the crews made a
good start, California jumping almost
Immediately into a lead Of a quarter
OF length, which was maintained for
the first half mile. The slower stroke
10 keep them IN position, however, and
at the half mile the Stanford shell
pushed ahead into first place and
gradually increased the distance be-
tween the boats TO four and a half
lengths. 1t was with this interval
between them that the shells rounded
the course.
There was a roar of Here they
come from the. crowd at the finish
line when the shells came into sight
followed by the official launches Of the
referee and his assistants, and the
Stanford and California ye1ls swelled
simultaneously. It was only a minute
however, until IL could be seen that
the California oarsmen were in trouble.
There was a splash OF white foam
along. the sides of the California shell.
and then the rowing ceased.
The blue and gold she'll had
swamped close in TO the shore Of the
estuary at the bend. and the nine oc-
ecupants Of the frail racing craft were
t'sioundering in the water Stanford.
with its safe lead was rowing easily
1.-THE crew dipping to 81 strokes a min
kute, which is considerably under the
kusual cardinal racing speed. It was
2 not only skill that saved the Stanford
crew from disaster, but an advantage
fsccruing from the fact that Coach
Murphy had supplied the cardinal
boat with canvas washboards before
Eputting il into the water while the
tCalifornia shell was rowed without
Washboards.
STANFORD TAKES LEAD
Stanford took the stretch easily with
the speed reduced 10 80 strokes a
!eninute and with the crew rowing in
excellent FORM The head wind stirred
up choppy course, however, and the
cardinal shell shipped water all the
way down the stretch, crossing the line
with the boat two-thirds filled and
with the oarsmen having trouble in
greeted the shell as IL crossed the
line. and the race was over.
St8nIorQS : victory was not won bV
any great margin Of safety The shell
was deep in the water when the finish
line was passed and on the turn after
the race was over the boat threatened
10 swamp. as the California shell had
done. Captain Reynolds and Wilde.
rowing respectively numbers 2 and 3.
dived simultaneously and so saved the
shell from laundering. 1t bobbed into
position and was kept upright until
Il could be rowed close inshore for a
tow. The official time taken on the
Stanford shell was IL minutes and 40
seconds.
FRESHMAN RACE ABANDONED
The freshman race, which was to
have been rowed Immediately after
the varsity race. was abandoned on
account of the rough water and will
he rowed at 1890 O'Clock Monday
morning over the same course.
The personnel Of the varsity crews
was as follows:
Fillian .-----.- .1So- Bow -Nisrkwart I6f
Reynolds lCapt.)l6 Davis ...... ise
Wilde $500 10 Dignan I7l
Day .....-.... 10. 4 Hardy - IS:
Chamberlain no. Ashley .......IS 81
Dole .....-..-...1S5.. Ball Capt. l6e
Huston .-.-...I7s.. Davidson - ls(
FITTING --.-..-- lS2- stroke Robertson Il.
AfrC~