South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-06-28
BY Frank G.. Mcnkc.

The big intercollegiate regatta with
Columbia slight favorite in the big
varsity race was to be staged on the
Hudson river this afternoon, while
$4,000 enthusiasts fractured the air
with their cheers-but refused 10 do
any extensive wagering on the out
come of any of the three races.
Less money was bet on today's
river battle than in any other held in
the history OF the American rowing
classic. The total amount at stake in
POughkeepsie on all three races prob
ably did not reach $4,000.
There was some intercollegiate bet
ting but very little wagering was
done on the big five college varsity
race that will close the days pro-
many dark horses that the gambling
element adopted the safety first"
rule and refused TO plunge.
Beautiful weather greeted the huge
crowd that was poured into the city
by special trains, "A fleet of excursion
steamers and an endless chain of au-
tOmObiles. POughkeepsie, before the
coming of the crowd was ablaze with
the colors of the rival calleges and
the waving pennants and streamers of
the visitors as they promenaded
through the town during the morning
hours added the final. wonderful touch
to an already beautiful scene.
Columbia FavOrite.
The rowing experts elected Co.
lumbia TO the favOrites positions
thereby linking Columbia. But they
gave Columbia only a slight edge over
Cornell However, the Odds to B
on Columbia against the field, were
considered almost too prohibitive by
even the most enthusiastic Columbia
men.
The betting was S TO 5 against
Cornell TO win, to l against
Pennsylvania. 5 20 l against Syracuse
and 10 TO l against the Leland stan
ford crew.
The rowing experts" decided that
the big varsity race would be among
Cornell. Columbia and Pennsylvania.
They did not concede Syracuse any
thing better than fourth position and
"doped" it out that the Stanford crew
was a joke outfit that would finish a
mile or two behind the winner
Non expert opinion was that Leland
Stanford and Syracuse lad a chance
to win-and a beautiful chance. Ii
would not have surprised us if Leland
Stanford and Syracuse both finished
better than fourth.
Reasons For Dope"
The Cornell. Syracuse and Pennsyl-
vania varsity crew this year did not
size up on paper as being equal TO
the crews that represented those col
leges on the 1914 regatta. And that
was one of the big reasons why SYRIA
cuse and Stanford in our opinion.
looked TO have a fine chance TO win
a victory in the greatest rowing race
in America.
The californians were the biggest
and heaviest that ever strOked a
shell Its average weight was Isl
pounds and it's average height was 8
feet ~ inches. That meant ire
mendous power. tremendous endur-
ance and tremendous reserve force
three OF the greatest assets in a rae
ing she'll.
NV boys were ordered to get away
in the lead" said Coach Frank Guer-
ena. of Leland Stanford. IF they fol-
low their orders and lead at the ,wo-
mile mark. they never will he headed.
The Stanford oarsmen are not equal
to their rivals in rowing skill-but
they've got the stamina and that
counts"
Syracuse. according 10 those on the
inside" was prepared TO spring the
biggest surprise of the day in the var
sity race.
Bear" stories Out.
The inside knowledge" fellows in
sisted that the stories about Syracuse
having a mediocre crew were OF the
bear" nature They declared that to-
days Syracuse varsity crew was al
most as good as the 1913 race winning
outfit, despite the fact that Syracuse
recently lost its star stroke Oarsman.
no new time records were looked
for in today's races. but the "eN-
perts" were all agreed that the big
varsity battle would furnish one of
the most thrilling contests that has
been seen in many years.
There was some interest in the
other two races-but II was almost in
significant in comparison with that in
the big varsity race. Very little bet
ting was done on the two small par
Elephants"
In the freshmen SCARED race. the
tip was out watch Syracuse" Despite
this Columbia was the faVorite with
Cornell second choice. Pennsylvania
third and Syracuse figured for last
place. Leland Stanford had no en-
tries IN the freshman or Junior var
sity affairs