The Washington herald., 1911-06-28
Cornell Wins Varsity
BY Sensational Finish
Columbia Leads to Final Quarter Mile and Then
Blows Up-New YoTkers Take Freshman
Race and Ithacars Capture the
Four-oared Event.

leading for nearly three and three
quarter miles over the smooth rippling
surface of the Hudson this afternoon,
the Columbia varsity crew blew up and
Cornell, suddenly bringing up with a
wonderful burst of speed, forged to the
front to win one of the most sensa-
tional eight-oared boat races ever
rowed in this country.
Columbia had phenomenal speed and
as soon as the Blue and White oars
men assumed the leadership. almost at
the start, there was the widest ex-
citement. Cornell, however, hurried on
with dogged determination, and though
Columbia's lead was gradually in
creased to length at three miles, the
Ithacans saved their energy until the
last. Then they came from behind with
superb gameness and in a jiffy Colum-
bias hopes were gone. Cornell won by
almost a length and a half, Columbia
having four lengths over Pennsylvania,
the Quakers being third all the way.
Wisconsin was only few feet behind
the Quakers, with Syracuse many
lengths away
Lack of Training Defeats Columbia
Columbia's sudden defeat was partially
due to lack of stamina. The distance
four miles-was too far for the Colum-
bians. E. A. Sage, bow oar in the Columbia
shell, collapsed when the crew had a
quarter of a mile to go. He fell forward
on his oar and caused no two to catch
crab. Sage pluckily tried to resume
his task, and rowed few strokes, when
he crumpled up again and was helpless.
AS the New York shell reached the first
line Downing, stroke oar, reeled over
and almost fell into the river. The other
men were tagged out. yet the crowd that
had cheered for Columbia all the way
down the river praised the crew for
their gallant fight. CornelPs oarsmen
were also a trihe tired. They rested a
few minutes, then rowed back to the
boathouse, where Coach Courtney shook
each by the hand and throngs of happy
Ithacans made Rome howl" Columbia
was victorious In the freshman race by
length and half. Coach Rice's young
sters, after a short, decisive strugge with
| Cornell for the leadership, went to the
front and remained there to the end.
Cornell finished less than a length in
front Of Syracuse, Pennsylvania half a
length back, and Wisconsin last.
Cornell was victorious in the FOUR
Dared event. beating Syracuse three-quar-
ters of a length. Columbia was third,
the same distance away, with Pennsyl-
vania last, nearly fifteen lengths out Of
tt
The official times were:
Varsity races-Cornell, 2o:l0 As; Column
bia, 2O:16 As; Pennsylvania, 20:33; wiscon-
sin, 20:34; Syracuse, 2l:o3 2-5.
Freshmen race-CoIumbia, 1913 1-5; Cor
. no <.
vania, 1O:25 As; Wisconsin, 1O:SS. No time
was taken in the four-oared race, but
unofficial watches showed 10:01.
Columbia Takes Defeat Well.
Columbia men, in discussing the race,
were positive that their crew would have
won II Sage had not collapsed. Fred
Colson. the former Cornell, coxswain and
captain, who was on the referees yacht,
expressed this opinion. too. But Colum-
bia men took their defeat IN the most
sportsmanllke way and readily congrau-
lated their rivals from Ithaca No race
ever drew a greater crowd than to-day's
race. There were more yachts and
steamers in the river than the old-timers
ever remembered. On the observation
trains and all along the shore probably
$1,000 spectators enjoyed the sport.
Everything passed off smoothly and the
managers Of the regatta received un-
stinted praise. ...
The freshmen and four-oared races had
been disposed of by the time the varsity
crews were notified to get ready for the
big event The wind was merely
zephyr and the water was perfect. Lit
tie wavelets that could do no harm
danced in the sunlight, but there were no
sweIls, because the revenue cutters kept
the crews clear of passing vessels. 1t
was 5:45 o'clock when all the crews ex-
cept Wisconsin were near the starting
point. The Badgers took their time pad
ding I'D stream and the crowd waited
impatiently The positions assigned to
the crews placed Pennsylvania nearest
the west bank with Columbia, Syracuse
and Cornell side by side in the order
named, and Wisconsin on the extreme
outside Vigilant men in dory dragged
a berry crate from the water. The bad
gers then appeared and all was ready,
hut the Syracuse crew went past their
dorv and had to turn around In a wide
circle to again line up. The crowd wait
ed in silence all the time, and the
referees voice could be plainly heard as
he asked each crew the usual question:
Are you ready?"
The pistol was fired and all the crews
were away on the instant, the time being
$50 o'clock The Columbia oarsmen
caught the water with their blades 50
quickly and settled down to such a fast
powerful stroke that the thin shell forged
to the front in the first so yards. The
New Yorkers hit up their stroke to
thi-ty-eight. and at the first quarter OF
a mile the Blue and White shell was half
a length in front of Cornell. Pennsylva-
mia, half length away. the Quakers
pulling forty in a desperate attempt to
hang on. wisconsin and Syracuse easily
outrowed. were out Of it, and their fol-
lowers gave up hope. At the half mile
mark Columbia and Cornell were both
rowing thirty-six. The Ithacans We're
trying to test Columbia's speed, spurted
and the bow of their boat stayed in
front for few moments. Columbia was
on the alert however. and regained the
lost advantages in few yards. The fast
uacs set by the leaders appeared to be
too much for the ouakers, who slowly
lost ground and were soon declared hope