Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-19
THE COLLEGE REGATTA.
The University Race.
AN EXCITING CoNTKsT-YALR FIRST, WESLEY
AN SECOND, HARVARD THIRD

AN SECOND, HARVARD THIRD.
SPRINeFIELp, July 17.-Afser the decision Of
the Freshmen race, considerable delay occurred
In getting the University crews into position,
owing 70 the bad arrangements made by the
ton, to whom had been left ali mAtters per
taininlng to the regatta. On the arrival Of the
referees boat atthe starting point, it was found
that no gun had been provided with which TO
fire the signal notifying the various crews TO
get into position. 1t was, therefore, found ne
cessary to use the referees steamer, which had
been chartered by the committee of the Spring
field club, to 60 up and down the river to the
quarters Of the crews, in order to give them in
structions to get down the line. As the boats
were preparing to assume their positions, Cap
tain Dana, of the Harvards, came up to the
referees and complained that the stake-boat
from which his crew were to start was too near
that OF the Columbia and not equidistant from
that of the Yale boat. The referee, Mr.. j. q.
Babcock, OF the Nassau Rowing club, decided
that the Harvard crew should assume a position
as nearly equal between the two crews above
mentioned as possible, without being held by
the stern, as were all the others Over an hour
was wasted in getting the boats into position,
some OF the crews being unwilling to risk q long
wait at the starting point before the word was
given.
TAKING POSITION.
The first to get into position were the Column
bia and Amherst crews. Next came the Bow
dom, Massachusetts Agricultural, Cornell.
Dartmouth, Trinity, Yale, Williams, Harvard,
and Wesleyan, in the order named. When
they had taken their appointed stations as fol-
lows, numbering from the west bank: Amherst
L, DiAsedCuustlCs AGRICULTURAL z, ale 3. Har-
ward 4, Columbia 8, WESLEYAN 6. WiIlians.
Dartmouth 8, Trinity 9, Bowdoin 10, Cornell II
the signal for the boats to get away was given
a. Sas wat 9tb as snls time wa, jus. as
blowing, although a slight drizzling rain was
falling, making it particularly disagreeable for
the spectators along the banks and in the nu-
merous small boats which thrOnged the river.
THE RACP.
Nearly all the crews got away on equal terms,
although, after going few strokes, the Har
I'd nflnr 10 L.
In the front, with Cornell nearly level. Bow
doin, Columbia, Wesleyan and Amherst were
about on even terms, while Yale, who was
gradually quic&ening upon the stroke the crews
ing, were closely pressing the Harvard men.
The Dartmouth, Trinity, Williams and Gag
gies" were bringing up the rear. Opposite the
quarters of the Dartmouth men, Cornell and
Bowdon put on squirt, but were unable to
overtake the leading boat. The Dartmouth
men here crept to the front, being well over on
the west shore. The Amherst, who had been
slightly losing way, also put on a little quicker
stroke, and drew their boat forward but failed
to catch the Harvard and Yale crews who were
pulling particularly lively and telling stroke.
The Columbia men were striving their ut
most, and, considering that one of their
crew was sick from the accident of Tuesday
last, were fully maintaining their reputa-
ton and the credit of the college they represent
The "Aggies' now began to drop astern, much
to the astonishment of all who had witnessed
their performances while at practice. The
Trinity and Williams crews were also in trouble
and were putting up the signal of distress. On
arriving at the mile and half post it became
clearly evident that the race was reduced to a
contest between Yale, Harvard, WESLEYAN
Dartmouth and Amherst. At this point Har-
ward was leading all the other boats by about
two lengths, Yale and the Wesleyans and Am
herst being well up, however. Columbia was
leading the second group of boats, which were
coming along all in bunch, but gradually
failing out and reducing their chances of sue
cess. Trinity and Williams were whipping m
the rear. From this point until the finish the
contest was reduced to race between Harvard,
Yale, Amherst, the Wesleyans and Dartmouth,
though it was considered that Harvard, on &C,
count of the lead they held, was sure TO win.
However, Capt. Cook, Of the Yale boat, quick
his crew, the distance between them and the
leading boat was slowly diminishing. Amherst
and the Wesleyans, who were hugging the west
rse bsns along a
giants, who, contrary to general expectation,
were pulling long and steady stroke without
appearing to tire. They were unable, however,
to increase their pace, although all question as
10 their staying the course was set at rest. At
about two and one half miles from home the
Yale was pressing Harvard particularly close,
and was, In turn, hotly pursued by the Amherst
and Wesleyan crews. From different points IL
looked as though first one and then the other of
these crews was leading, until the winning line
was approached, when the most intense excite
ment prevailed.
From the grand stands on either shore shouts
were sent up for Harvard, who, it was thought,
yelled the loudest, and the judges on the press
boat, apparently considering that the race WAS
to be decided by reclamation, without knowing
or having any opportunity to know, with anv
accuracy, which crow had won, without even
stopping to hear the testimony of. jud eesOn !
shore, who were on the line, and could Correct
ly determine the facts. The jud ges, under these
circumstances, performed the extraordinary act
of calling the Harvard crew to them and for
mally presenting TO them the champion fisps.
The air was rent with I" 'R ali! 'Rah! ,Rahsl,' of
the Harvards, and the Harvard crew was con-
graduated on every hand as they rowed awav
proudly bearing the insignia of victory.
REVERSAL OF THE DECISION. -..
Now comes the humiliating sequence. Hay-
ing presented the flags, the judges bethought
them of the desirability Of ascertaiuing who
had won the race. The first intimatiou OF their
folly was received when TIE Yale crew rowed
alongside their boat, and Mr.. Cook, In concise
words and courteous manner, said :-"Gentle-
men, the flags belong to u.s." Whereupon arose
the question as to who they did belong to- and
MI Babcock, the referee, after q brief hearing
of their claim, went ashore and proceeded to
take testimony. The ties dmony was almost
without dissent, that Yale was the first crew
over the line. The testimony further developed
the fact that either the W esleyan or the Am
herst crew was second, a. d that Harvard in
stead of being first, as at first supposed, was
really the third in the race That is all that is
time. Harvard took ava, the coIors, and the
crowd went home supposn that they were the
victOrs; but they will have TO be reclaimed for
presentation to Yale, who Wins the race.
TIME.
The off cial TINA Ia os f,, ,u,s. E