The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-05-16
Preparing for the Great UNI
versity Struggle.
YALE COLLEGE AND HER RACES
Captain Cooks University and
Freshman Crews.
Names, Ages, Heights, Weights
and Positions.
Yale Bubbling Over with Boating
Enthusiasm.
NEW HAVEN, May Is, ls7k

Enthusiasm.
NEW HAVEN, May Is, 1874
Though rowing, as pasdme and physical exer.
else, came into vogue at Yale In the year 1914 IL
was until 1852 that the practice OF the art was
sufnclently advanced and the interest correspond
ipRly developed to lead the AMBITIOUS oarsmen
into trials OF speed with Harvard, their old-time
honored antagonist, and at which seat OF learn
ing boating has existed as institution since the
year 1874. Thus, the nrst boat race between their
representatives originated In o challenge from
Yale inviting Harvard to meet her at such time
and place as should be mutually agreed upon ITO
test the superiority OF the oarsmen OF the two col
leges." This challenge was accepted, and Centre
Haroor, on Like Winnipisiogee, sttuated In the
north OF New Hampshire, was selected
as the scene OF the contest. which took
place on the 81 OF August. 1852 It must
not be understood that the participants In this
race represented the best oarsmen Of their re-
spective colleges, and were selected from the
whole body OF undergraduates, as has been the
custom for several years past: but the event was
simply trial OF skill between certain OF the class
crews then in existence, and which inangurated
that character OF contests which have since figured
so largely IN the history OF rowing In this country
At the lrst meeting Yale was represented by the
cuo DUAL Cluu CLASS VI 'oo, viii t0e1T D0atS,
the Halcyon, Undrne and ATLANTA, while Harvard
sent their class crew OF the same year with the
eight-oared boat Oneida. The day was fine the al
mosphece clear and the lake scarcely ruined
BY breeze. scrub race took place early
IN the morning, in which the Oneida
came in frst winning handsome silk nag, OBJ
tained by private subscription, followed by the
Halcyon, Undne and Atalanta In the order named,
In the afternoon the decisive trial took place. in
which the Harvards won by two lengths. the prize
pair OF handsomely mounted black walnut oars
still being carefully preserved, occupying an hon.
ored place amid the trophies winch have since re-
warded the efforts of that university.
From tins time up to the year 1871 the history OF
boat racing
By THE UNDERGRADUATES
OF American colleges is mainly comprised In mar.
rattve o. the rival oarsmen OF Yale and Harvard,
since on the few occasions where crews from other
seats OF learning contested at the annual college
reunions, they had, until that year. been
so far behind the representatives OF the blue
and magenta, both IN skill and training as to
excite in the public an interest subordinate to
and often quite ecpsed by that taken in their as.
sociates. The second aquatic meeting between
Yale and Harvard took place Mt Springfield Mass,
July 81, 1855. 1t seems that in June OF that year
the citizens, being DESTROYS OF celebrating the
Fourth OF July with more than ordinary eclat, got
up regatta for that day. to be rowed on the Con-
necticut River, opposite the city, TO which the
boat clubs OF the Yale and those OF Harvard were
especially invited Yale accepted but Harvard
did not put IN an appearance. the disappoint-
ment Of the former in not meeting the latter led
to their sending them challenge, which resulted
In the second college regatta on the 2lst Of
that month. Harvard was again victorious The
course was one half miles down the stream and
flags, pennant jack and ensign, offered by the clti-
zens. Then there was lapse OF four years. On
Tuesday, July 90 1859, the FIRST race between crews
formed OF men seiected from the whole college
tended together. The water selected was Lake
Qunslgamond, near Worcester and at the time
this course was named 1t seemed to fulfil the re-
CURED conditions, and, judged in the light Of the
racing experience OF that day, was probably as
eligible place could then have been chosen,
afrording 1t did ialr three miles turning course
Tor two boats, being centrally located as regarded
the New England colleges, and very accessible
from all points by ran. But the history OF the
University races IRON 1859 through long series OF
years proved concusively that both the
COURSE AND THE LOCALITY
were wanting in the essential requisites for fair,
first Glass regatta, and, even In the changes
tnat were made, there was not much improve
ment until the action OF last summer was taken,
e!ecting Lake Saratoga as the scene OF all future
contests; but OF this more hereafter. The victory
again Tell TO the Canbridgeites, their time being
ION. 1885,, Yale, 20m. 49,, aud the crew
from Brown University, which also partici-
pated for the first time. pam. 4os. A
''citizens'" regatta took place the next
day, In the six-oared race Of which Yale and Har-
ward again met to contest for the prize offered by
the city OF Worcester Although Yale had been de-
pautosra dav IFS
were on this occasion the victors by
four seconds better time than that OF
her opponents the day before. This victory
inspired the classes OF Yale to challenge the
corresponding classes OF Harvard for the regatta
OF 1860 The Harvard Juniors declined, but the
Sophomores and Freshmen accepted. Toe second
annual Union College regatta took place on Tues
day, July "a, 1850, and the FIRST race between the
Freshmen crews was won by Harvard In 10 40
The sophomore WAS also won by the Harvard, the
Yale boat having been Withdrawn in consequence
OF the sudden illness OF OF the crew Just alter
turning the stake. In the third or as 1t rom this
time was Called. the university race, entries were
made by the picked Crews OF Yale, Harvard and
Brown. The Cambridge students repeated their
Victory, Yale second anc Brown last. Harvard
and faie met again on the following day in the
Citizens regatta, when Yale proved victorious
The following year they met Tor the fifth time the
Magenta winning in lo:SS, the fales making the
The outbreaking Of the rebellion caused disbapd-
ment OF the crews Ia the spring OF 1861. and IL was
not until the summer OF 1864 that sixth meeting
was had, when the famous Yale crew, when
celved their instruction from Wilbur Bacon, sue
ceeded for the Hrst Time In Q race for collegiate
honors IN carrying away the trophy, the time beng
10:0i They repeated this victory the succeeding
year, making their best time up TO that PERIOD
Ia2k-comnR home 26K seconds In advance
oil the HarvardA They also won next day in the
Citlzens regatta The trophy reverted to the
Harvards in 1885, they covering the distance in
19:l3x TO Yale's I9:lO. and In 1867 the Magenta
was again tue winning color In lS:l2Z, the Yale
crew making 1t In 10 251s.
Through the subsequent years-1ses, 1869 and
is70-Yale. suffered repeated defeats, and in the
IInIversty race In July OF that year intense was
the dissatisfaction engendered among the Yale
ere and their friends by the decision oil the um-
pire It cuminated In pledge being made by the
members OF the crew that they would never again
enter another contest on Lake Quinslgamond,
wnere Nv the way, sii the races from 1854 up to
that time mad taken place; and this decision was
subsequently ind0rsed by the action OF the