New-York tribune., 1921-05-08

eighths being lined with maritime fa
Some idea of the closeness of the
struggle between the midshipmen and
DIR. Spaeth's huskies can be gained
from the time OF the contest.
Princeton covered the distance in 9
nainutes and 4s seconds. while the Navy
rowed in 8 minutes and SO 3-5 seconds.
The result of the varsity struggle
completely reversed the calculations of
the rowing sharps. The stalwarts from
the Severn, chesty with the laureis won
at Antwerp last year, when they made
the best crews on the other side of the
Atlantic take their wash, went to the
line to-day heavy favorite in the bet
ting.
Navy Backers Confident
The best that Princetonian optimists
hoped for was a victory over Harvard
Backers of the midshipmen, on the
ether hand, were so confident that q
half hour before the three crews were
sent away they were giving practically
any odds asked in order to get their
money down.
Hundreds Of Annapolis cadets, naval
officers and gobs were in town to see
what they confidently expected to be q
slaughter of the collegians. When
Princeton, by one of the most heroic
sprints ever delivered by q varsity
eight, flashed across the finish line a
t;cant half length in front the followers
of Giendon's men could hardly believe
theiY eyes.
The same might be said of the
Princeton rooters, who, for moment
seemed stunned. When they recovered
they turned loose one of the widest
demonstrations on record. They
hugged each other for joy. Hats,
canes, coats and umbrellas were tossed
in the air, and nobody cared bit when
some of these articles fell into Lake
Carnegie.
While the two exhausted crews
ssagged in their shells, riot of en-
fhusiasm was going on and thousand
automobile horns raised defeaning
chorus above the frenzied cheering.
When the Princeton she'll reached it's
float, the eight oarsmen and the coxs-
vain were literally lifted from their
seats and carried to the boathouse on
the shoulders of the students.
Harvard Drops Out Early
Within a quarter of mile from the
starting line it became evident that the
contest was to be a duel between
Princeton and the Academy. The Har-
ward boat held the fierce pace for only
about 800 yards, dropping steadily be-
hind after that, and never being con-
tender for the lead
In the toss-up for positions Prince
ton drew the canal side of the course,
With the Navy crew sandwiched in be-
tween the Orange and Black and Har-
ward. All three boats got away to a
brilliant start, the Navy being slightly
IN the lead and setting furious pace.
Harvard and Princeton raised their
stroke trife, and the three shells
were momentarily abeam. Then Har-
Princeton crew nosed into the lead. At
the half-mile they were leading by
about three feet and rowing a long,
clean stroke, with lots of power behind
1t. When three-quarters of a mile had
been covered this lead had been
heightened to half length, and it
seemed only a question of whether
the Spaeth crew had the stamina to
maintain the pace, to the finish.
When Clark, the Navy coxswain,
called fer an accelerated stroke, the
nlidshipmen began to pick up. This
challenge was met with Princeton
sprint, but the Navy men appeared to
put every bit of their Drawn behind
their sweeps and inch by inch they cut
The lead down until soon the two boats
were dead abeam, and the men rowing
stroke and stroke.
BY this time all the very apparent
confidence of the Annapolis men had
oozed away and they realized they were
in race. BY what seemed to be a
superhuman effort, the Princeton boat
was again pushed into the lead as the
mile mark was passed. The Lake Car
negie oarsmen were pulling thirty-four
strokes minute, while the Navy's beat
was thirty-seven and Harvard's thirty
SIX.
Princeton's lead grew to three-quar-
ters of a boat length before the Navy
made its dying bid for victory This
challenge by the Annapolis men pro-
yided the most thrilling part of the
race. There were groans from the
ranks of the Orange and Black as the
sniddies were seen to be catching the
flying Tigers. Gradually the lead was
cut away and there were cries from
both banks that Princeton was weaken
ing.
Navy Shell Closes Gap
When the nose of the naval shell
was believed that it was going out
was believed that they were going out
80 win. But the Tigers had one more
spurt left in them and they evened
shisiS9 Ny @s tAS Shu q Hall HnaTh,
and from there to the finish it was
anybody's race.
1t was probably the magnificent
stroking OF Leh that put the Princeton
shell across winner. He responded
to the coxswain's last call for a final
sprint. and, although nearly on the
point of collal Sc, he raised the stroke
and produced the added power that
sent his boat over winner and low
cred the colors of the Academy.
The work of the Navy crew was
splendid, but defeat can probably be
attributed in part TO overconfidence.
Princeton's junior varsity won hol.
low victory over Harvard in the prelude
to the main event. Stroked by Captain
Cresswell, recently switched to the see.
yond varsity from the first, the secone
string Tigers went into lead in the
hrst quarter and increased it stead
ily. winning by five lengths. The Cam
bridge eight made a ragged showing il
this race using choppy stroke anc
splashing badly. Prineeton's time wa.
10 minutes seconds, and Haryard's II
minutes 20 seconds.
Haryard's freshman eight turned il
the only victory of the day for Cam
bridge. winning over the Tiger freshie,
by two lengths. The Princeton young
sters put up game fight, but the Har
ward eight won easily.
Ehoate School, of Wallingford, Conn,
won q sensational victory over two
Princston first freshman crews. al
+ three shells approaching the finish line