Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-07-25
lBY OUR SPECIAL REPoRrER.l


Of another postponement. Every one was anx-
iousy watching the clouds, fearing that if they
wanted TO see the races they would have to re-
main another day. About o'clock the clouds
broke and thei sun came out, removing all
Tears OF postponement on account of
the rain. The wind was blowing as
hard as on the previous day, but as it was from
the northeast, instead of the south, the effect
upon the river was not as great as on the pre-
ceding day. At half-past eight, the hour APP
pointed for the freshman race, the water was
comparatively quiet, but far from being what
the college crews have found on Lake Qunsiga-
'mond in past years. A delay was now caused
by the hardness of the judges, who did not start
for their position until the time appointed for
the freshman race. The small cre.wd that had
gathered to witness the contest, were growing
and grumbling at the delay, and it was half
past nine before there were any signs of the
first race. During this time the wind was in
creasing, and the old barge that was in position
at the upper end of the course to accommodate
the press and judges, dragged her anchors
and fioated half mile down stream. Here was
another delay, the steamer Clyde having to tow
the barge back into position. Finally, at few
minutes before ten the gun was fired, and at ten
O'Clock the boats were in position for
THE FRESHMAN RACE.
The Sheffield Scientific were nearest the
eastern shore, Brown second, Amherst third
and Middletown nearest the judges boat The
Amherst crew wore white shirts with a purple
sash over the shoulders, white drawers and
white caps with purple baud. The Sheffield
Scientific crew stripped to the waist, with duck
pants and blue and orange cap for the bow,oar
The Middletown men wore drab drawers and
lavender kerchiels, and the Browns, stripped to
the waist, everywhere showed their Brown
color, on their skins as well as their caps.
Capt. BlbcOck directed the crews about main
tanning their position, which work was retard-
ed considerably by broken rudder on the Mid
detown boat.
At the word go Sheffield got under way first,
but Middletown was soon in front. Amherst
fouled the Sheffield, causing them to hold up,
while Middletown was rapidly gaining the ad-
vantage. Near the Williams boat house, about
half mile down the course, the boats were
well separated, Middletown being first, Amherst
second, Sheffield third, with Brown bringing up
the rear. A little further down Amherst had
oycrtaken Middletown and they pulled side by
side for some distance, Sheffield third and
Brown way behind. At the end of the first
mile Mddletown was two lengths ahead, Brown,
who made a splendid squirt, second, while
Sheffield and Amherst were side by side Mid
dletown was pulling forty strokes minute and
the three other boats about forty -four.
At the end Of the second mile Middletown was
pulling forty-two strokes minute, four lengths
ahead, Amherst next, rapidly closing the gap,
with Sheffield trying to overtake Brown, who
led3 length. All the crews were pulling well,
showing NO signs of exhaustion When near
the end of the race all made toward the right
shore, Middetown leading, Amherst second,
Brown third, but rapidly overhauling Amherst,
Sheffield last In this order they crossed the
line, all pulling in good order and without much
apparent exhaustion. The time was: Middle
town, ;O7 is; Amherst, II 30 49, Brown,
] $3.50; Sheffield, 1888.
THE UNIVERSITY RACE.
The interest, of course conferred in this race.
and at 1O4 O'Clock the pistol was fired for the
boats to come into position As one
crew after another pulled over the river to the
Judges boat the men who had invested in pools
watched them anxiously, and much praise was
given to each crew by the spectators. When
they iwere finally got into line thirty-six bet
ter looking men were never seen together,
for a race. Their positions were, beginning on
the east, Amherst, Williams, Yale, Bowdoin,
Harvard, Agricultural. Williams came out first
and wore royal purple. Bowdoin appeared in
white, with sleeveless undershrts; Yale, blue;
magenta; Amherst, purple and white
Capt Babcock, the referee, exercised an unusual
amount of care in getting the boats in position,
and at II :55 gave the word, care you rcady2
go!"
AT the word thirtysiX oars struck the water
and thirty.siX forms went backward as though
worked by machinery. The boats all seemed to
take the water at the same time, and for some
distance they were all in line, each man pull.
ing his best to gain a little advantage. At the
end Of the first half mile Bowdoin was creeping
to the front, Harvard second, Yale
third, Agricultural fourth, Amherst fifth, with
Williams bringing up the rear. All but Will
ams were hugging the shore, the "Aggys" and
Harvard being nearest together, Harvard four
lengths ahead of The farmer boys.
As the close Of the first mile was reached the
lead changed several times, Harvard leading at
frst by n boat length, pulling forty-two strokes
TO the minute. Bowdoin now spurted and pass
al ri e;.
minute. Amherst now came up and pressed
Bowdoin hard, the two boats leading with Yale
and the "Aggys' abreast, with Williams well
over to the eastern shore; the other boats were
well together The boats were all cutting
through the water at a tremendous rate even for
the first mile of race. Harvard Bowdoin and
Amherst were struggling hard for the lead,
while the "Aggys" were apparently holding
themselves in reserve.
At the end of the second mile Yale had got
ahead, and was leading Bowdoin one length,
BOwdoin about length ahead of Harvard and
The "Aggys," who were pulling nearly abreast,
Harvard having slight advantage. Amherst
was fifth, and Williams brought up the rear.
Yale was pulling forty strokes a minute, Bow
loin forty, Harvard forty-fvc, Agricultural
forty, Amherst thrty.six, Williams thlrty.fve.
Harvard was working hard to get even with the
leading boats, the "Aggys" were pulling well
together in good time, Amherst was holding
her own, and Williams was pulling up little
Away they went onward toward the winning
post, all striving for victory, with the result of
The race anything but decided. When half
mile from the winning post Amherst, to tho
surprise of all, put on one of the best Spurts
ever seen in boat race, overlook and passed
one boat after another, kept up their rapid
stroke, aud crossed the line, winning the race in
The unprecedented time OF ;S2 40. Harvard
was second, in 1851; Amherst Agricultural
third, 1910; Bowdoin fourth, t7:81; Williams
hlth' II 800; Yale sixth, 1919
THE RESULT OF THE RACE
m