1919 CREW RECORD INCONCLUSIVE

About 100 men reported at the first call on February 14. The men were immediately divided off into 12 crews and set to work on the machines. The coaches had been able to get a pretty good line on the most promising oarsmen by what they had observed during the fall practice; nevertheless a strong bunch who had been unable to report for the autumn work on account of football or some other athletics put in their first appearance. These men had to be looked over carefully and as a result a regular order for the first boat was not made for two or three days. That a good selection was decided on by the coaches in their first definite choice is illustrated by the fact that it was not found necessary to shift bow, five, six or seven until after the spring vacation. Two, three and four presented more of a problem, however, for their shifts were continual for some time. After vacation J. F. Linder, who had been rowing at number seven changed places with F. Parkman, who up to that time had filled the number five seat. Then the next shift came when Linder was forced to retire on account of ill health and A. Thorndike, Jr., was put into the boat awaiting the return of Linder. Just about a week before the men came down to the training quarters at Red Top G. D. Leighton came down from the bow to number seven and shoved the whole starboard side up one place. No more changes were found necessary until the arrival at quarters when Thorndike went to bow and C. Richards came out of that position and Thorndike's number three oar went to Linder who had now returned. A few days later G. L. Batchelder at six changed places with F. B. Whitman at five. The order was maintained until Linder left the boat once more; this time on account of a swollen gland. He was replaced by Richards whom he had previously forced out of the bow. The crew as it is at present follows: Stroke, R. S. Emmet; 7, G. D. Leighton; 6, R. B. Whitman; 5, F. Parkman; 4, G. L. Batchelder; 3, C. Richards; 2, W. R. Odell; bow, A. Thorndike, Jr., coxswain, D. Read.

The season this year, after promising to give the largest amount of outdoor time for rowing that the men have had since the building of the dam, was blocked up so tight at the last minute that it was not cleared until almost the first of April. The only opportunity that the men had, therefore, for water work was the mediocre advantages which the tank offered, and so before the race with Cornell they had had very little chance for real work-outs under the real conditions. Nevertheless, when they lined-up at the start of their first contest, they were very well prepared for the time which they had had and were well on the way to the attainment of the unity which they showed after their training at Red Top had got well under way. In the most exciting and the closest race of the day they came across the line triumphant by a matter of half a length.