New-York tribune., 1874-07-17
SCENES AT TIE STARTING POINT.

races are postponed till 10 o'clock on Saturday.
SCENES AT TIE STARTING POINT
SOME OF THE CREWS CONE OUT EXPECTING TO
ROW-THE SIGNAL MIsUNDERsTO0D-INJURY TO
THE TRINITY BoAT-A CONSULTATION, AND THE
RACE FORMALLY POSTPONED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSEl
SARATOGA, July 1G-After the steamer had started,
the question the press boat was, viii it be race
or no racer" member of the Executive Com
mittee called from the other boat, 1.-The race VIII
come off; and steamed away, 1t was the eXpec-
tation that. when we again drew up to the immense
crowd who waited patiently along the head OF the
lake. 1t would be to find them mad with excitement
the finish of the great race. AS the steamers
got farther and farther down the lake. however the
water got rougher and rougher. mile from the
start the white caps tossing gyaly. As we got
down to Columbias quarters, Cornell came across
the trough of the waves, loaded deep with water.
Far down in the Snake Hill Cove the Wesleyan
boat could be seen, with the crew about her. After
Cornell had landed q dense crowd gathered in front
of the Coumbias house, which is the grand center
of interest at the start of the regatta officials, who
had previously got off of the steamboat, and the
crews except Yale and Williams 1t was seen from
the press steamer, which did not land that the
scene was intensely interesting but soon the crowd
captains have agreed gentlemen" said the referee
as he passed U.S. that the shall be postponed
till tomorrow, at o'clock" Upwe went again, even
the steamer shipping an occasional sea- to ma the
patient crowd which had sat IN full, compact
array for four hours, still waiting. When we were
still half mile from the wharf, the seats began to
be vacated but not until the fact OF postponement
was certainly known, did the dense mass
of students, which sat III solemn ex-
pectation on the college stand, even move.
The grumblers, who may always be found
in crowd were not slow to declare that the water
was quite smooth enough for the race and that the
officials in charge of the race in collusion with
the hotel keepers and had postponed the race to keep
the crowd in Saratoga another day. This was not
the prevalent notion aud was absurd, the water
was actually too rough to permit the race to take
place and the posponement was IN the discretion OF
the crew captains, whom NOBODY in their senses
would suspect of being i'll collusion with the hotel
keepers.
At the boat-house of the Columbia crew, which is
near the starting point, on the east side OF the
lake, there was great disappointment at
the state of the water. During the afternoon
all the crews ANXIOUS to reach the
goal of their long labor and self-denial. One Of
them had made arrangements to 60 to Europe on
Saturday, and all had prepared themselves for an
evening of unfettered recreation, after the struggle
was over But their hopes dashed as
the brisk southwest breeze stirred the surface
of the lake into white-capped waves, and toward
the latter part of the afternoon, the breeze beng
still fresh they concluded that there was no chance
of race to-day but at quarter past FOUR the
referees little steamer came to their wharf laboring
in the rough water and Mr.. Wood bade the crew TO
be in readiness to row at six o'clock, II
the water should permit. The same notice was
give to all the crews, but as the Wlnd
showed no signs of Stacking, the oarsmen
thought the order supertuOus. A few minutes after
the Harvard racing shell was brought TO the Colum-
bia float. having been rowed from Harvards boat
honse by the three students who were not members
of the crew. The crew ferried over III SKIN
and arrived fresh and dry The race boat, however,
was considerably strained in the rough passage.
At sci the signal gun was fired on account of the
rule requiring the firing OF the cannon Az minutes
before the assembling of the crews IN this case
the signal was given in a way to be mis-
conceived. 1t was only intended that the
captains of the various crews should meet
near the starting point and decide concerning
the race Most of the crews thought from
the firing of the gun that they required to row
to the starting line and accordingly set out In spite
of wind and waves. The surprise Of the Columbia
and Harvard crews great when III few MIN
utts, tue wesleyan, cornell, lTlnlty anu lIluCelou
crews i'll the distance, trying TO
make their way to the start. Their rowing
was very difficult and their form was necessarily
bad. their oars splashing through waves and their
boat shipping water. The Wesleyan crew went
ashore the start where the wind and water had
been strong enough TO set adrift some of the
starting boats and swamp others. The Princeton
boat was heavy with water when it reached
the Columbia float, and when the men tried to get
out it filled and went under. bat was got ont without
damage. The Trinity also got soaked with
water III landing, and found to their dsmay
that rowing in the rough water had
crooked their boat badly IN two places. The
Cornell crew was the next to come. with
the men weary and wet. Yale Williams, and Dart
mouth did not at all. The referee and Messrs.
Ferry and Thomas of the Regatta Committee landed
AZ the Columbia wharf. hurried consultation with
the captains present showed that none of them
willing to row la such water.
The hope OF row to-day was gwen up. The next
point was the time for the deferred contest. Capt
Goodwin of the Haryards advised liking the race
for tyInorrow afternoon. Mr.. Ferry, Commodore
Brady. aud Mr. Wood appeared 10 favor that