New-York tribune., 1918-05-12
Varsity Wins by Four
Lengths; Freshmen
by One
By Louis Lee Arms

PHILADELPHIA, May 11.-Over the
winding Schuylkill this afternoon the
University Of Pennsylvania added log
ical sequel to it's glorious record of
!9lS by virtually winning the intercol-
legjate rowing championship of the
United States.
BY margin of four lengths the stall
wart sons of William Penn won the
varsity eight race, while the freshman
eight, as stylish first year crew as
ever spun over any waters. trimmed the
highly touted New Haven freshmen by
an even length in what proved to be
the better race of the day.
Joe Wright's crew, trained to the
English style of transmitting it's power
at the top of its stroke and rowing
with amazing stroking rapidity, prac-
tically walked away from the Blue. Be-
tore the two crews had reached the
trolley bridge, which is a half-mile
course. there was a length of open
water between the shells. and at the
head of the island. where Penn crews
have learned to squirt, the Red and
Blue was leading by three and one
half lengths, making it another half
ere the prov of their glistening shell
shot over the finish line.
Because of the winding course down
the ,Schuylkill, the crews start from a
mark which runs diagonally to the
shore and the majority of the spec
tators' view. The inside, or eastern
course, therefore, contains a psycho-
logical, if not actual, advantage, in
that the crew nearer the eastern shore
always seems to be in the lead. Such
actually was the case TO-DAY.
Penn offere' Yale the more advan-
tageous course to-day, but the Blue pre-
ferred to match for the courses and
lost, the toss. In consequence the
Quaker crews rowed on the inner
course and the advantage which they
had over their rivals was accentuated
by the physical aspect of the water
travelled
While Penn rowed with beautiful
rhythm, speed and power the work of
the Yale crews bordered almost on a
debacle. Both the freshmen and the
varsity eights splashed badly from
start to finish and their slower and
longer stroke put them at decided
spectatorial, as we'll as nautical, ad-
vantage. In the matter of condition
too, the Penn crews seemed to excel,
the varsity rowing with increasing
power and superb poise as the razor
edged she'll shot along the banks of
the bluegreen river.
Like a toiling, snakelike caravan,
hundreds of automobiles followed the
crews down the river in each race, and
thousands of rowing enthusiasts lined
the shores of the river. The spectators
We're rewarded by beholdinp 8 varsity
crew come logically into a national
championship and top the rowing board
for the first time in eighteen years.
1t was in 1900 that Pennsylvania last
gained position equal to that she
holds to-day by sweeping the river at
Poughkeepsie. 1t was that same year
that the victorious Penn crew, favored
by meteorological conditions, estab-
kshed the record of minutes and %
seconds for the extant Henley course
on the Schuylkill.
nitely in favor Of the crews. A light
breeze swept legion of myriad wave
let's upstream and probably contrib
uted to the sloppiny rowing style
The Blue crews were weakened by
the loss Of Weir and Robinson, who
have gone into service, and were row.
ing in waters less buoyant than those
In which they accomplish their prac-
tice, though by no stretch Of imagina-
tion Gould it be said that the Yale
eight could have defeated the Penn
varsity to-day under any conditions.
1t was conceded early in the day
that the freshmen race race probably
would be competitive1y the better Of
the two. 1t was whispered in the Penn
boathouse that the Yale freshman, led
by the young stroking prodigy, B. L.
Hemingway, had to it's credit a victory
over the Yale varsity.
Clad in white Jerseys aud blue. pants,