Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-02
Nkw LONDON, Conn, July /.

NKw LONDON, Conn.,, July 1.
A more perfect day for the race could not
have been wished for. The water was almost
calm. scarcely a ripple disturbing its surface.
The tide was about ebb, running with the
boats and what little wind there was came
from the north and blue directly down the
conrse. Thus three conditions, water, tide
and wind being with the oarsmen gave fav-
orable outlook for pretty work and fast time.
The crowd in town for the race today and
tomorrow is unusually large, all the hotels
being full before the arrival of the midnight
trains. Great interest was manifested in the
race as the three crews were conceded to be
unusually strong ones and pretty evenly
matched.
BY $50 crowd began to gather at the best
point for observation. The scene along the
river where the crews padded down was a
pretty one and the enthusiasm displayed by
the friends of the crews fully equalfed that
shown at the annual Yale. Harvard University
races. In drawing for position Yale drew
the east course and Harvard the west course.
There was little choice of position in the
race. just before the boats started the breeze
freshened and the water began to grow
rough. Columbia was first to show up at
ll.03, Yale being right at her stern followed
BY Harvard only minute behind. The crew
had to wait ten minutes for the stake boat
and the water meanwhile was growing rough
er and rougher. Harvard backed into po-
sition at I'LL and Yale at ll.20 Columbia
had difficulty with her stake boat and fin
ally abandoned it. When word was given
Columbia vas the first to catch water with
Harvard and Yale together. As the next TO
start. Yale made a tremendous squirt and
gained slight advantage, poking the nose OF
her boat to the front of both Harvard and
Columbia. Columbia began to splash and
dropped back. Yale's steering was circular
and she also came back q little. Harvard
held an excellent course. The water had
now become so rough as to be unfit for rae
ing. As the boats neared the half mile flag,
Yale having fair lead, heavy wave struck
her boat. broke through her paper deck, filled
the boat full of water and it sunk. The crew
were picked up by the Yale launch. Colum-
bia then spurted and held Harvard side BY
side. Columbia began to splash badly again
and was evidently shipping water. Colum-
bia began to show signs of distress, espec-
tally the stroke who threw his head about in
wretched form. At the mile Harvard held
her lead, and Columbia although trying to
get in good squirt. could not gain an inch.
At the mile and half both crews Increased
the stroke tribe, but it was plain Harvard
was sure winner, barring accident. About
200 yards from the finish Harvard put in a
final spurt, crossing the line a winner by
three lengths The only man in the Harvard
boat showing signs OF weakness was No. 4,
while several of Columbia's men were badly
pumped. Official times are Harvard ll.53,
Columbia 10.
The Yale launch steamed down to the ref
eree's boat, and entered a protest, and re-
quested that the race be rowed over again
later.
The result of the Freshman race today is
very unsatisfactory. While Harvard is given
the credit for her victory it is conceded on
all sides that the merits of the crews have
not been fairly tested and nothing really has
been decided. Yale was looked upon as the
winner with Columbia second and Harvard
third Rough water just reversed the chances
by giving Harvard the lee course, Columbia
next best and Yale worst. Yale was doing
some fine work when swamped and had
gained lead of from half to one length in
the first half mile. Columbla's boat at the
finish was nearly full of water. Mr. Nc
Cook, Harvard referee, is severely censured
for starting the boats in such water. The
officiale have been considering the formal
challenge made by Yale to Harvard for a
race tomorrow, but at last report nothing had
been agreed upon and according to President
Ames. of the Yale navy, there is little pros
pect of favorable answer, Yale men show
their disappointment plainly and Harvard
Freshmen celebrate their victory very quiet
". Indications point to a large attendance
at tomorrow's race, Harvard and Yale draw
ing up an agreement to cover accidents such
as oacurrad fodav