Editor’s Note: Our Boys in the Boat is a series about the legacy of Whatcom and Skagit County rowers on the University of Washington crew that won Olympic gold in 1936, depicted in the book and movie “The Boys in the Boat.” Today’s story includes excerpts from Don Hume’s diary kept during the 1936 Olympics.
“Boys in the Boat” stroke oarsman Don Hume kept a day-by-day diary, written in pencil, from those months leading up to and after Aug. 14, 1936, when the University of Washington crew won dramatic Olympic gold in Berlin over Italy and Adolf Hitler’s German team.
The diary of Hume, who grew up in Anacortes, is remarkable not only as a well-preserved historical document, but also for Hume’s detailed observations and penmanship — in cursive, no less.
It is part of a collection of memorabilia held by Hume’s nephew, Tim Hume of Olympia, who shared it and other items during an interview with Cascadia Daily News.
[ Read more: UW’s 1936 Olympic rowers shaped by hard work, struggles ]
Among the memorabilia is a booklet with names of the 334-person U.S. Olympic delegation, which set sail July 15 from New York City on the ocean liner S.S. Manhattan for the week-plus voyage to Germany.
Besides the UW rowers and their 62-foot-long shell, the Husky Clipper, passengers included Seattle legendary boatbuilder George Pocock; Jesse Owens, who would win four gold track-and-field medals in becoming one of the greatest figures in American sports history; Dr. James Naismith, to be honored for inventing basketball 45 years earlier; and lesser-known Olympic miler Louis Zamperini, a World War II B24 bombardier who would be shot down and imprisoned in a Japanese camp. Decades later, his story became Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 book “Unbroken.”
Editor’s Note: In 1936, Hitler’s regime hid its racist, militaristic character while hosting the Summer Games. Hitler exploited the event to impress many foreign spectators and journalists with an image of a peaceful, tolerant Germany, according to The U.S. Holocaust Museum. This is reflected in some diary entries. American officials had declined an Olympic boycott despite warnings from diplomats of Nazi exploitation of the Games for propaganda purposes.
Excerpts from Don Hume’s diary
Diary guide: Köpenick is the village where the U.S. rowing team stayed. Grünau was the rowing venue, located on a lake in the southeastern outskirts of Berlin. “S.O.B.” refers to “Save Our Bodies,” UW rowing coach Al Ulbrickson’s directive to his crew to take rest time. Moch is coxswain Bobby Moch.
Wednesday, July 29, 1936, Köpenick, Germany (16 days to medal race)
Cold in chest but rowed in morning. Felt foul but finished the turnout. Stayed in bed with hot packs on my chest in afternoon. Coy (Hume’s backup) stroking and boat going just as good if not better. In bed after dinner and hot packs on my chest. Can’t sleep nights — nuts!
Saturday, Aug. 1, 1936, Köpenick & Berlin (13 days to medal race)
Went 1000 meters at racing heat in 3:03 — very fast! Boat is really coming.
To Berlin & the stadium for the Opening of the Olympic Games. Stupendous and magnificent occasion. Marched & stood for hours in weather that threatened rain but never did. Watched the crack Reichswehr goosestep — those babies can really march. Rode on slow special old fashioned continental train thru Berlin.
Talked with German soldiers in the Kantein a long time before bed. They’re good eggs.
Sunday, Aug. 2, 1936, Köpenick & Berlin (12 days to medal race)
Took 2,000 meters at 26 in 6:53 against wind. Many boats on course — rough. Went to opening day of competition at the stadium. Big crowd, sat near Hitler … Two German girls won javelin — Johnson won high jump. Three Finns romped off with the 10,000 meters — inspiring sight to see Olympic winners crowned with laurel wreaths. Runner lit torch from Olympic torch to carry on to Kiel. Olympics are wonderful thing — 100 meter and 800 meter heats today — US looks to have them in the bag. Home late and apple strudel before bed. Tomorrow we bear down on the rowing.
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 1936, Köpenick & Grünau (three days to medal race)
Another good day which is really unusual, but I’m getting another cold or something — nuts.
Took a small morning workout. In afternoon the old U.S.A. took a terrific beating. Harvard four with cox, last in their heat. Pair without (cox), last & Dan Barrow was last in his heat. Cripes — it’s up to us to do something tomorrow. Went to the drug store again for Kodak but he says tomorrow. To Hell with that guy. Walked with some German girls up to the avenue. Mien goot!
Wednesday, Aug. 12, 1936, Köpenick (two days to medal race)
S.O.B. all morning, but not very nervous. Can’t seem to get enthused about races anymore. Went down to course at Grünau & into dismal psychological atmosphere. All U.S. crews, doubles & fours were a very poor last in their heats.
Britain, France, Japan, Czechoslovakia and U.S. in first heat. We rowed a terrific heat & had to break the Olympic record to beat the British — they can really row! Thought I was going to die the last 300 meters. Haven’t gotten over cold yet I guess. France 3, Japs 4th. Hungarians won their heat and Swiss theirs. Time 6:008 … Beat British ½ length. Now for Friday.
Thursday, Aug. 13, 1936, Köpenick (one day to medal race)
S.O.B. all morning — very wet, cold day so no turnout. Poor British have to row again today to qualify. Also Germans but they picked themselves an easy heat. Went to Grünau in the afternoon to watch qualifiers. Bad headwind — glad we didn’t have to row … Went for a walk — the whole outfit got passes to rubber factory — will visit it after the race.
In bed at 10:30 & we’re going to knock over the world tomorrow.
Friday, Aug. 14, 1936, Grünau (race day)
Well, the top of the old ladder is finally reached. Probably the toughest race we’ll ever have to row. No beef, but we got the outside lane (No. 6) which has been proven two lengths slower than the first lane & of course Germany got lane 1, with Italy lane 2. We got another bad start and had to row pretty hard to hang in there the first 1000 meters. We were fourth place there. Then we took a big minute at same stroke & Moch looked over & the Italians had a length! Two minutes to go & we raised it four & really laid the wood. We gained back the length in 20 strokes, held even with them along the grandstands & beat them the last ten strokes. Time 6:28 | bad head wind. Italy 2, Germany 3, England 4, Hungary 5, Swiss 6.
Saturday, Aug. 15, 1936, Köpenick
Thank God rowing is over for this year. This season was far too long. Up late, breakfast & a visit to the rubber factory. At 11 o’clock rowed for newsreel men. Got a bad crate to ship shell in and George (Pocock) had a hard time fixing it. Went to stadium in afternoon to get gold medals. Had to watch Italy beat Austria in soccer finals before ceremony … Hunt and I came home early to get some sleep — Adam & White stayed in Berlin.
Last night Moch and I went into Berlin to the stadium & spoke over world hookup. We spent 22 marks taxi fare and met some good guys. Drank champagne.
Coming Wednesday: A story of the re-creation of the University of Washington’s shell house for the “The Boys in the Boat” movie.
Meri-Jo Borzilleri is a freelance journalist whose stories have appeared in Cascadia Daily News, The Seattle Times, New York Times and ESPN.com, among other outlets. A former sports reporter for the Miami Herald, Colorado Springs Gazette and Hilton Head Island Packet, she was rowing a single scull when nearly run over by a tugboat during a Learn to Row session on Lake Union.
