The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-19
BY WILLIAM M. BRAUCHER

races annually fill several psyche
pathic wards with wire news report
ers who get that way trying to dis
tinguish between yellow and white on
the tip Of the g~listening oar blades as
the contestants lear the finish line,
what would you put down as the sweet
and abiding thrill of a boat match?
Is 1t the rowers whose great frames
often collapse under the terrific strain
Of four miles of work that you
couldn't hire ordinary men to do?
Is It that last half mile when a
bunch Of dark specks far down. under
the bridge swiftly enlarge into
rhythmic. pulsing, swishing machines.
shooting through the water like swift
snakes?
Or, would you say 1t Is the moment
after when painting ana conquered
men toss over into. the yictor's boat
those grimy. toil-streaked shirts as
trophies Of the battle?
The Happiest Moment
For us these things have always
been very well indeed in their way.
with an occasional thrill such as the
sinking of the Yale freshman shell
several years ago. BY the way, sew
eral members Of that crew knew not
one thing about swimming. which
made the experience all the more pal
plating.
But the happiest moment of all for
us has been the gathering Of stalwart
men after the varsity races, and their
manhandling Of the coxswain and
tossing him into the river. There
seems to be soTne poetic justice about
this playful custom that cannot be
denied.
From the seasons earliest workout,
that brat of a coxswain has sat there
In the shell, riding without ever
touching an q
Through that megaphone owe his
head he has yelled at you unspeak-
able things, oftentimes personal
things.
You have bent yotGr back until you
thought surely they'd have to stop
and put all hands to bailing the craft.
the water has rolled from your sweat.
ing body In such streams.
He has sat there through it all. that
brat of a coxswain, screaming at you.
goading you. stepping up" the stroke,
the personification Of Simon Legree-
until his bending back and swaying
body have become q nightmare in the
lives Of the crew.
He signifies all that is odious about
bossism. He rides there in front Of
you without paying a nickel. You are
In his power. II you refused to pull.
he couldn't advance an inch. He is
always ahead of you. giving orders,
orders. orders, through that accursed
megaphone. He takes you back to the
galley slaves Of old Greece. He has
become an ogre In your life.
The wonder Of a crew race, to us, Is
that no one ever has tied q milestone,
an anchor and a Hail safe about that
birds neck when the big fellows play
fully tossed him into the brook after
the joust.
Speaking Of Shirts
Someone wrote the other day that Z
crew race was the occasion that gave .
birth to the old phrase about losing
your shirt" Whether that's true or
not. 1t is one of the traditions Of the
sport that the rival crews usually
wager their jenkins among themselves,
and winner takes all.
You might be able to pick up one
Of these old shirts down at Columbia
university. The Columbia crew has
been very bullish on shirts this sea-
son. with impressive victories over
Yale, Princeton, Navy, Pennsylvania
and others.
AS q result there is something
about the Columbia trophy room that !
suggests ! laundry bag full OF very
old hosiery.
Should the Columbians cop in the I
national championship regatta lt
Pouehkeepsie June a. the trophy 7
room down there will be q good place |
In which to try out one Of the dew
army gas masks.
, Nine schools are sending their vars.
ity crews to that event. and Colum. !
bia stands q very good chance. should
the California crew get ricketts, a. !
n00nAthin0 hef0r0 thu 0al1linH nfarka |