The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-04-30
PENN CREWS TAKE
TWO FROM HARVARD.
First Varsity Race Won by Is
Feet-.Margin i'm Second
Contest 6 Feet.

Pennsylvania varsity Fights defeated
Harvard first and second Fights here
this evening on the Charles River over
the Henley distance. The first varsity
eight. coached by the genial Joe Wright.
defeated the Crimson first varsity by
fifteen feet In the time OF minutes 6
seconds, excellent going in view of the
wind that tossed the shells and made
a really effective high stroke next to
impossible below the Harvard bridge.
The second Pennsylvania eight was the
winner over the Crimson junior varsity
by even a shorter margin--six feet.
The time in that contest was minutes
3 seconds N&
In the first race OF the evening. de-
layed from 4 80 p. NJ. as scheduled.
until 6 :15 p. NJ. when dusk was fallins
on the esplanade, the Harvard freshmen
swept over the finish line apour ten
lengths ahead OF the M. !. #. yearlings
in minutes IA seconds. It was APP
parent that the Harvard youngsters
were more powerful from the start. but
the race was made runaway when the
Tech strokes slide was broken more
than q half mile from the finish and he
was . passenger the remainder of the
way. Referee Walter l. Badger, Jr..
probably would have halted the race
there had he not wanted to send the
crews down into the mid-basin to test
out the waters which by then, as earlier
in the afternoon, were kicked up into
choppy waves by the cross wind
Harvard authorities, it was announced
after the race. will invite the Tech
youngsters to race the Harvard fresh
men again before the close OF the season.
Conditions Unsatisfactory.
The races which inaugurated the
system Of Dr. r. Heber Howe. Jr.. Of
Harvard in defeat saw two we'll trained
and powerful Crimson Fights 90 down in,
creditable and close defeat The races
were rowed in most unsatisfactory con-
ditions. Early in the afternoon. the
southwest wind kicked UP the surface of
the basin and while the oarsmen and
former oarsmen fingered about the
Newell boat house waiting for the decis-
ion Of Referee Badger there were many
interesting reunions. Only the eagerness
OF the Pennsylvania Fights to stage the
races and return to Philadelphia to-
morrow in time for their classes on
Monday influenced the officials in decid-
ing to start the races when darkness
was falling on the river.
The contest. rowed virtually in the
heart Of the Hub. was seen by few
persons. although many looked forward
from the esplanade and the Harvard
bridge. The finish was out in mid
basin and was marked by a buoy. So
dark was 1t at the finish Of the first
varsity race that the crews could not
distinguish the finish and rowed several
lengths past the buoy before the cox
SWANS learned that the contest was
over and that Harvard was defeated
by a margin Of fifteen feet.
That the rough water Handicapped
the Pennsylvania oarsmen more than
those OF Harvard is certain. In both
contests the Harvard crews did the
best work in the late stages of the
race. after the long. slim shells that
were so tossed by the waves had stuck
bridge and into the unsheltered waters
Of the broad basis.
In the first varsity race the crews
we're off to a fast. clean start. Pennsyl-
vania taking the lead almost instantly.
Although few of those unfortunate
persons who lined the esplanade and even
those who ventured out In launches
could see it. the Penn PROV was nearly
half length in the lead at the quertks
mile mark. the crew rowing about IS
strokes. At the half mile the lead OF
eighths and half length. Just how
the individuals were rowing 1t was i'm
possible to distinguish, even from craft
near.
Penn Eight I'm Lead.
The folks on the Harvard bridge saw
the two shells sticking their noses out
OF the dim dusk and wondered who was
ahead. An accommodating pilot of one
OF the semi-official boats shouted that
PENIS eight was length and quarter
in the lead, and he was right within
few feet. Penn was rowing about s. to
guished. when they slipped and shivered
out into the open basin below the Har-
ward bridge.
Then the effects Of the smooth rowing
conditions which the Penn Fights in
variably enjoy on the Schuyllill river
in Ouakertown began to assert them
selves. Harvard was more at home
than were the Philadelphians. Nog
more than a few hundred yards re
manned but the Harvard boat gained
The Crimson prov was even with the
Pennsylvania stern a few yards after
they shot out from the bridges shelter
Stroke Amory of Harvard called for
a raised stroke and 1t came up to .
In such water. Each stroke brought
the Harvard eight closer to an even
position with the Red and Blue.
r. III. Mattison, stroking the Penn
eight, also raised the pac. The Penn
crew rowed d well paced 81 as they
stretched out to save what seemed TO
be an endangered race. II was water
that no race at all should have been
held in. Fifteen feet was announced
as the official margin.
Had the race been mile and seven
'ighths, which is the longest course pos
,ible on the basin, probably 1t would
nave been Harvards race. Had the
ace been rowsd on smooth water under
hat the Penn Fights would have de.
'eated Harvard In both contests more
ieeisively.
The junior varsity race furnished the
,nly minutes Of the two contests in
which Crimson eight was leadins.
rhe Harvard men got off to a good
tart. but soon Wrights men sent their
,hell sliding along at n rate that over
iauled the Harvard juniors.
At the quarter mile mark. with &4nn
lowing about thirty-six. the beas mat
he crew maintained throughout the race.
he Philadelphians led by about = half
enath and that was increased IN the
next quarter OF a mile by another
luarter of length. That was as far
rs the Penn juniors. stroked by III. A.
Medholt. got away from the plucky
Crimson oarsmen. Harvard started to
,ick up before they got to the bridge.
Open water never showed between the
,hells.