CREW DEFEATED COLUMBIA

On Saturday afternoon, April 17, the University crew easily defeated Columbia over the mile and seven-eighths course in the basin by about six lengths. The time of the University crew was 9 minutes, 54 seconds, and Columbia finished in 10 minutes, 13 seconds. The victory was a decisive one; after the first stroke , when the bow of the Columbia shell went a few inches ahead, the University crew led throughout. Early in the race it could be seen that Columbia had suffered from lack of practice, for the men were rowing more as eight individuals than as a crew.

The race was started under very favorable conditions. The crews had good water for more than half the course, but at the finish it was choppy. It was not until after a false start, caused by the pistol's missing fire, that the crews finally got away. The University crew, rowing 39 to the minute, went into the lead on the second stroke. Columbia was rowing 38. After securing a slight advantage, Sargent dropped the stroke to about 35, and the University crew passed the quarter-mile mark a third of a length ahead. At this point Columbia was still struggling desperately at 36 to the minute. At the half-mile the University crew led by half a length, and, although the stroke had been lowered slightly, still drew away. A quarter of a mile further the lead had been increased to open water, and at Harvard Bridge the University crew was leading by three lengths. At this point Columbia's high stroke began to tell on the men, and the crew was clearly out of the race. From Harvard Bridge to the finish the University crew gained steadily, rowing about 33. Entering upon the final stretch Sargent raised the stroke to 38, and the crew finished fully six lengths ahead.

The Columbia crew, with its long body swing, did not send the boat ahead well at a high stroke, and the crew did not row well together. The University crew, on the other hand, rowed together very well, and was able to draw away from Columbia rowing a lower stroke. The crew finished in good from.

The officials were: J. H. Ingeram of Annapolis, referee; J. F. Perkins '99, chairman of the regatta committee; and R. F. Herrick '90, timer.

The orders of the crews were:

Harvard--Stroke, Sargent; 7, Waid; 6, R. Cutler; 5, L. Withington; 4, Bacon; 3, Faulkner; 2, Lunt; bow, E. Cutler; cox., Blagden.

Columbia--Stoke, Cerussi; 7, Phillips; 6, Ryan; 5, Clapp; 4, Gatch; 3, Keator; 2, Jordan; bow, Steinschneider; cox., Rockwood.