New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-06-28
THE SCENES on THE RIVER.
AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE CREWs-A GREA
DISPLAY OF SHIPPING AND BUSTING-IH

CROWDS AND THE RACE
IBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
NFw-LoNDoN Conn.,, June PA more perfect
day for a race than this has been would be hard 10
find The morning was bright with a slight haze,
and there was q stiff breeze up the river. Toward
the afternoon the wind shifted, and though 1t was
terribly hot Ut is hard to say how far into the nine
ties the mercury rose it turned out regular boat
racers day.
The city was crowded with visitors of all sorts
jaunty young cOllegians, men and young prls'
friends of the contesting oarsmen and great num-
Der of country people, real Connecticut Yankees
who had come in to see the race
During the day, the rival crews remained quietly
in their quarters. appearing upon the river only Ior
a short paddle about noon. The Yale men Kept
very secluded, and received few visitors. They
were cheerful and hopeful. The Harvard men were
accessible to many and they displayed little ner-
yousness or anxiety about the probable result OF the
race They passed much of the time IN their large
tent pitched on the lawn in front of their quarters,
and sat several times for the University photo
graphers to take their pictures. About IL a. H. inc
Yale launch steamed down to the Harvard quar-
ters and Mr. Wood, accompanied by several oifcers
of the Yale Navy, went ashore to toss with Harvard
for position. In the absence of Mr. Watson the
TOSS was postponed until noon and 1t then took place
at the Yale quarters, when Harvard won the choice
The preparations for the race had all been made
with the utmost care and with absolute exactltude;
and at the precise moment announced, $40 p H.,
the various boats which were to follow the crews
over the course-the umpire's, the press, and the
university steamers-left their respective wharveS
So far the management of the regatta had been per
feet and everything went on without the slightest
Earring misunderstanding or annoyance.
As the Wellington, the boat on which the cor
respondent of The TRIBUNE was stationed,
steamed up the course toward the quarters
of the respective crews, the sight was
very lovely one. The low, thickly wooded
hills on each side of the river were crowded with
carriages and people on foot, who had taken ad-
vantage of every point from which view OF the
finish could be obtained; while for tho last hall
mile of the course and for some distance below It,
there was on each side of the course dense line OF
vessels yachts steamers tugs, and sailing craft OF
every description, all gayly decorated with
bright bunting and swarming with specta-
tors. The grand stand just ut the finish
line was perfectly black with people, who
had filled the stand itself and had OverilOwed into
the reserved ground near it. There was also on
shore a moving grand stand of twenty-five cars
drawn by three locomotives. There were not less
than forty yachts and fifteen or twenty excursion
steamers anchored along this part of the course
The large man-of-war Portsmouth was anchored
lust above the finish, having taken up this position
yesterday,
While il is almost useless TO attempt to make any
estimate of the number Of people who saw the race,
it seems probable that there were at least 10000
persons on and about the course.
A PROVOKING DELAY.
After the press boat reached the quarters
NJ the crews there ensued one of those pro-
yoking delays which often attend boat
rocinq The crews came out about o'clock,
instead of half past A, as had been first ap-
pointed The whistle for preparation was blown at
$50 o'clock. The Harvards, who were already In
their boat-hOuse, launched their shell and mmedi-
aely rowed QUITO the starting point. The Yale crew
meanwhile sat in their chairs quietly In front OF
their quarters, and it was not until their launch
came up and they were told to get ready that they
proceeded to do SO.
Yale then objected to the rOughness OF the water,
and the race was postponed by Professor Agassiz.
of Harvard, the umpire, until five minutes OF 2.
Then one of the Yale crew managed to make
msstep in getting out of the boat, and nearly put
his foot through its bottom, checking it badly. and
making further delay necessary, so that 1t was
nearly half past before the crew came to the
starting point.
Meanwhile the Harvards, who had come out on
time had to sit in their boat for more than half
hour in the cold wind, with oil except one OF tho
men stripped to their waists.
THE BOATS SENT OFF.
At 1920 D. H. the umpire shouted " Co." and then
began what was probably the most uninteresting
and one-sided race ever rowed between the univer-
stiles Yale went away first. gaining an advantage
of nearly half length and pulling about ~ strokes
10 the minute Harvard, however, went of at the
rate of 80 or SO to the minute. and began
TO regain RAPIDLY what she had lost at the
10 Tho nd nh
of Yale At the half she clear length III front.
The rowing of the crews showed strong con-
trast The Haryards had a quick, strong stroke
with n good catch and prompt recover, swinging
together like piece of machinery and with plenty
of lite In the boat while the Yale men werepuling
somewhat raggedy, hanging badly over their
stretcbers and with q dead numbering look about
their stroke.
From the half-mile stake Harvard went ahead and
won lust as she pleased. She took and kept a
stroke OF about SO TO the minute until
the last mile, when she quickened II TO something
better than IS. The first mile was done by her In
H. So S. with Yale 25 seconds later. AT the second
mile Harvard led Yale by 40 seconds by this time
II had become rather difficult for those In the press
boat. which had 10 keep behind the Yale crew, to
make out what the men in the leading boat were
doing. for il was nearly o'clock. The water was
smooth as glass. but the sky was cloudy and the
darkness was beginning 10 come on rapidly.
As the boats came down the course toward the
finish line, the yachts anchored along the course
fired Gun after gun IN salute and the rigging of the
Government training-ship Portsmouth swarmed
with cheering seamen, though the yards were not
rceularIy manned, as il had been understood
they were 70 be- Harvard crossed the line in the
moor time of 22m los. and Yale came In I'm.
43s. later. Harvard won by more than quarter of
a mile The race was utterly devoid oil interest, for
1.. rho mt n finish Harvard Ind eYerything her