New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-29
CREWS ON EDGE FOR
LONG, GRUELL|NC RACE
Cornell the Favorite, but SYRIA
Cuse and Columbia Have
Followers.
HUNDREDS ON SCENE EARLY
,oughkeepsie Fills Up on Eve of
Regatta, Which Promises
To Be Greatest in His
tory of Rowing.
By Telegraph to The Tribune J


pouehkeepsie, n. Y, June 2S-Fifteen
...rs trained 10 the minute, are awaiting
18Th eager expectancy the fash Of the
-, tha, will send them off the mark in
,hs greatest college regatta here to-mor-
,ov ever seen on the Hudson River With
,,s races only a few hours away there
has been a tremendous wave OF sentiment
IN favor Of Syracuse, not only in the
varsity. but also in the freshmen contest !
and every train from the north is bringing
An Syracuse supporters by the score. who
are willing TO back their opinions with
eo,n Of the realm. Cornell is still the IA
yorite, however
Everywhere there seems to be more In
tsrest in the regatta than ever before.
late yesterday afternoon the forerunners
n the feet of yachts that have anchorage
p-,yileges at the finish line began TO steam
m the river, and revenue cutters came up
from New York In fiotilla headed by the
seneca Automobiles, too. brought throngs.
ana lodgings are at a premium. Both Of
me big hotels, the Nelson and Morgan
houses have cots in their Railways. and
have even gone so far as to rent vacant
houses and apartments 10 accommodate the
food OF guests.
Despite the orders and watchfulness OF
the chief Of police betting goes on apace
IN the Hobbies, and there is plenty of SYRIA
euss money in sight that is waiting takers.
columbia's advance guard is slow i'm arriv-
ing, and about the only Cornell shouters
on hand are Ninberg and Eschenberg. the
loyal bootblack and barber, respectively.
Of the Cayuga town. Both are willing to
bet their heads off on Cornell as they stand
around the Nelson House One bet Of $500
was made this afternoon at even money
that Columblas varsity four would beat
Syracuse to the line. The biggest wager
made in the varsity race was a $1,000 pool
on Columbia at to against Cornell
There Is little Cornell or Columbia money
In sight, but wires are coming in every
minute from alumni who won't be able to
reach Poughkeepsie until about the hour
Of the race
Although set back by unfavorable
weather in the last few days, the oarsmen
who will row in the races are on edge. as
the light practice spins which every crew
had just before supper tonight indicated
Unfortunately, the Wisconsin varsity eight
will not be able TO present fits full strength
because Cuff at No. 2, who has been both
cred with an infected hand for several
days, was taken 20 the hospital this after
noon suffering from blood poisoning. Ge-
lsin, the regular substitute for Cuff. also /
was unable to get in the boat for the final /
row, and Wood, a second string man, will /
be in the boat tomorrow.
Lioht Work on Eva of Raeas.
Hard work. was not thought Of to-day |
at the rowing quarters. The practice in /
the morning was light and in the evening /.
still lighter. The river was a beautiful |
picture at Krum Elbow Just before o'clock /
when every crew that will row tomorrow
was out for its final polishing up.
Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were prac-
Using starts at the half-1rile mark, while
Cornell, Syracuse and Stanford were jockey
Ing on the line. The Columbia she'll came
out late, and put the final touches to the
picture, the Blue and White crews darting
across the river 10 some good water on the
east shore, where Rice tried out all three
In some capital racing starts. BY $50
O'clock the river was deserted. The Cor
hell freshmen left their shells at the Wis
Consin boathouse and nearly all the varsity
crews took their shells TO the rendezvous at
the Columbia houseboat where Jim Rice
placed a special guard over them with the
Duke" as Waterman in chief.
Cornell. as said before. rules the favorits
in the betting at even money against the
field, with Syracuse coming down fast. the
latest odds being at TO /, while Columbia
IS lowering at 10 2. The Wisconsin, Penn
sylavania and Stanford crews are not con-
Eidered seriously. and. save for a few bets
a. even money among the three, they had
few backers this evening. Cornell also is
favored in the four-oared race at 10 .,
with Syracuse at 10 1 and Columbia at 4
70 J. The Ithscans ere the choice again
IN the freshman contest, the odds being
10 ?, with few hackers Syracuse is second
choke at 10 /, and Columbia, Pennsyl-
vania and Wisconsin equal at 10 1.
Promise Of Too Much Wind.
Weather conditions tonight are none too
promising for the morrow The sun went
down in q thick bank of clouds and heavy
wind came from the east, which the old
watermen say is a sure sign Of a blow.
Courtney, the "old man of the river
and Cornell coach, said tonight that ne
thought there would be good wind out
Of the north tomorrow and II his predc-
tons come true there should be some new
records when the final sheets are marked
up unless a nasty sea is kicked up.
Because Of The almost unbroken string OF
Victories there IS reason for Cornell being
red hot favorite for the varsity race, and
the crew does not show that this conf
dence has been misplaced. There have been
Cornell crews above and below standard,
but this years eight Is on par with any
eight that Courtney has ever turned out.
He says himself that the crew is rowing
as we'll as he knows how 10 teach IL, and all
that remains is for It TO show its strength
IN the actual race.
Rowing men have come to look on Jim
Rice as a wizard when It comes to produc-
ing crews from a handful Of men. Rice
Goes not have the kind Of support at Co
lumbia that he deserves. Where Courtney
has hundred varsity candidates and as
many more freshmen from whom 10 pick
and choose, Rice is fortunate # his entire
squad numbers half a hundred. He has
eesn turning out crews, however, second
only 10 Cornell in the six years he has
been on Morningside Heights. This year he
had nineteen varsity candidates and TWEEN
v-nine freshmen when the season began,
and It has been long, tedious task build
Ing them into the finished crews that are
on edge for to-morrow's races.
Syracuse Crew Marked Dangerous.
JimFen Eyck began coaching at Syracuse
In 1862 His first year was failure, but In
4aDf he surprised everybody by turning out
eight oarsmen who by sheer power pulled