The Washington times., 1915-06-29
Charles {. Courtney, Cornelps
Tutor, Can Barely Stand to
See Boat Go Over Line.
|. AACAN STROKE SUPERIOR
Leland Stanford, Western
Crew, Which Saved Up" to
Come East, Is Second.

While his perfectly drilled varsity
crew was fighting winning battle
over the four-mile Hudson river in
tercollegiate course, Charles E.
Courtney, the "Grand Old Man" of
rowing at Cornell University, was
lying in bed at the training quarters
under the care of skilled physicians
who were stopping severe hem
orrhage from the ears. Not till the
Ithacans had entered upon the last
mile of their victorious march over
the waters was Courtney able to
stand. From the porch of Cornell's
quarters, the veteran coach saw his
boys sweep across the finish line
less than half a length ahead Of the
powerful Leland Stanford crew. Cor
nelPs time was 20:36 3-5.
"Well, my boys did it," quietly re-
marked the great e--acher of oars
men. Then he turned away and
went back to his bed, lest excitement
start his hemorrhage again. Court
ney, who is sixty-six years old, had
recovered sufficiently to return to
Ithaca during the evening.
Cornell won the great varsity race be-
cause Cornell had a better stroke than
Stanford had. and because Cornell knew
more about Workmanship. Stanford
did the best it could with a poor stroke
and poor workmanship. And Stanford
came mighty close to winning the race,
too. AS the Californians crossed the
line. 10000 spectators howled with Joy
over their wonderful showing. crying,
'>Come back next year. Stanford. and
win. it,
.. Today Leland Stanford,s sportsman-
ship is the talk Of the intercollegiate
world. They are penniless. the squad
came East from Palo Alto. Cal, with
little more than their return tickets. Ex-
penses at Poughkeepsie were higher
than they thought. and they were un-
able to pay their board bill. The boys
saved their spending money all winter
to make the trip. and 1t has vanished.
Now they are wondering how they will
eat on the way home.
They had better watch out for us
next year" said Coach Guerena. who
trained the Westerners, today. II hon.
estly believe had we been better acquain-
ted with the course and the tide, we
would have won.
But we showed the Fasteners some-
thing, anv way"
c. H. Orme. who rowed at No. 6, was
Stanford crew for 1916. and he expects
to have winner in the big race next
June.
w: N. Bratton. No. 6. is the new Co.
lumbia captain. with w. e. Chickering,
bow. the 1916 leader Of the Pennsylvania
crew.
Stanford jumped into the lead with
tho. pistol; and held its advantage for
Of Syracuse. Cornell. rowing on the out
side lane. was moving majestically
along, showing all the smooth power Of
the the Courtney stroke; At TIE mile Cor
was Ave lengths in the rear and seemed
At the mile and half the Californians
cuse. which had fallen behind Cornell
At two miles the Stanford crew was
fast catching up to the Orange, and at
thG three-mile mark they passed SYRIA
Joy for the pluckiness of the Pacific
coast crew.
All of the last mile from the bridge
southwark to the finish line was a tre-
mendous sprint. the three leaders strug
Cling with every ounce of power in them
At the three and half mile mark, Cor
nell led by half length, with SYRIA
ford. Approaching the three and a quar-
ter mile mark Stanford made her last
magnificent effort. She quickened her
stroke to 3s, passed Syracuse. caught
Cornell and actually got the Prov Of
her boat cleanly ahead of the Ithacans
But the former sprints had told too
severely upon Stanfords endurance
Possibly II the Californians had essayed
faster pace in the earlier stages and
had not permitted Cornell and Syra
cuse to gain lead so long, they might
have triumphed; but the spurts that
were necessary to cut down Their rivals
early leads took too much out of them.
And, SO they could only hold their
ther. Cornell began to gain and gain
and gain. Watching the prov of the
Cornell boat, one could see 1t leap for
ward stroke by stroke. until finally. at
half a lengths advantage. Stanford was
second by one length over Syracuse,
which Jed Columbia by five lengths
Penn was last, three lengths in the
rear Of Columbia's stern.
Thousands waited on the river bank
until barely the defeated Californians
turned and made their way up the river
Then such a roar Of cheers broke along
the Hudson as one seldom hears. Out
Of the, vast chorus of salutes arose the
cry: Come back and win next year,
you Stanford"
The Junior varsity eight-oared race
was also a victory for Cornell, Penn be-
ing second by length and n half.
Syracuse triumphed in the freshman
event. Cornell coming In second.
Western Polo Matches