The Indianapolis journal., 1889-06-29
THE BIG UNIVERSITY RACE
The Yale Crew Have Little Trouble in
Rowing Away from the Harvards.
An Exciting Boat-Race in Which the victors'
Superior Training Gives Them a Great
Advantage Over Their Competitors.

New LONDON, Conn. June 2s.-The four
teenth annual four-mile, straight away,
eight-oared race between crews represent
ing the universities Of Yale and Harvard
was rowed this evening over the Thames
river course, from Winthrop's Point to
Gales Ferry. and was won by Yale by six
boat lengths. Official time: Yale, 21:30;
Harvard, 2l:55. The series of races between
these colleges now stands: Yale. eight VIC
tories and six defeats; Harvard. six vic
tories and eight defeats. Yale also holds
the record for the fastest time over the
course, made last year.
The crowd which saw the race was un-
usually large. there being several thousand
more strangers in town than for several
years. A large Eastern delegation came in
on the special train from Boston, and New
Haven sent over an excursion train of
twenty-four cars, besides large numbers on
the regular trains. Scores of steamers and
sailing yachts, with hundreds of small
craft, were anchored on either side of the
course. in double lines, nearly to the
half-mile flag. An observation train of
twenty-four cars, with a crowd of 5000 fol-
lowed the crews. while the new railroad
bridge, Deadhead Hill, and all desirable
points along the course were packed with
people. Bunting of every description was
profusely displayed. and throughout the
race the demonstrations by friends of the
two crews were noisy and exciting to high
degree.
The race was originally set for IL O'Clock,
but was postponed until evening on ac-
count of very rough water. The Yale crew
were first to show up, coming down the
river at 6:25. and getting into their boat at
$50. Harvard was very slow. They had
their shell stored in a boat-house near the
start In spite of this, they kept the Yale
crew waiting in their sh ell fully forty min
utes. At 7:l4 Harvard pushed away from
their float and pulled tn tho line, where
they were quickly lined up. and after Yale
had made false start, promptly sent away
by the referee at 7:20. At the
word "Go" Harvard caught the water first,
and her shell forged ahead of Yale half
length. Harvard started off with O stroke
or thirty-four and Yale thirty-two. Har-
ward held her lead for about 150 yards;
then Yale's she'll began to gain at every
stroke. and at the quarter mile they were
about ten feet. Both crews were in excel
lent form, and for the next quarter of
mile neither could gain an inch. Just at
the haf-mile flag Harvard worked her
shell up on even terms, and the flag-pole
was passed In 2:2s. with the boats bow and
bow Yale pulling thirty and Harvard
thlrty-two strokes per minute. Just after
passing the half-mile flag Harvard took q
lead of about ten feet. This lead they held
put few seconds, and as the crews neared
the mile nag, Yale spurted: running her
stroke up to, thirty-three. By this spurt
Yale gained lead of quarter length,
passing the mile flag in All, pulling thirty
three strokes. with Harvard two seconds
behind, pulling thirty-one. .fs
1he spurt by which Yale took the
lead at the mile settled the race.
as after passing that point she gradually
Increased her lead, and Harvard was una
BILE to prevent it. From the mile to the
1nile-and- -a-half flag Yale increased her Lead
TO length. She passed the mile apd-a-half
nag in 7:15. pulling thirty-two, and Harvard
In 1:19, pulling thirty strokes Yale then
increased hers to thirty-twe. The effects
of the hard race for the mile and half
were plainly visible in the Harvard boat
Finally. 1ilton, No. 6, began losing form,
and was slow IN getting his oar ont of the
water after each stroke. Yale, however,
was pulling in perfect form, every man in
the boat sliding as one man and lifting
their oars in perfect time. a
ct two miles Yale showed a boats length
of clear water, and the race was finished so
far as Hsrvard's chances were concerned.
AT that point Yale was pulling thirty-three
and Harvard thirty-two. After passing
the two-mile flag Nos. 5 and Z, in the Har-
ward boat. splashed badly and their body
movement was bad. Yale's long. sweeping
stroke sent her further and further ahead,
and at the two and one-half mile flag they
had lead of fully four lengths. From the
two and one-half mile flag to the three and
one-half flag the positions remained the
same, both crews pulling thirty-two strokes
per minute. After passing the three and
one-haf mile flag Yale gradually increased
the lead. pulling well within themselves,
ward boat things were different; Finley and
Tilton were slow with their blades and
each with a different body movement from
the six others. This looked very bad,
showing plainly that they were losing their
power. -
At three and three-fourths miles Yale
struck smooth water close under the bank
and two additional lengths were ouickiv
added to her lead. Harvard made a final
effort to lessen the distance, but to no pur-
pose. as Yale crossed the line an easy win
ner by six lengths. The official time by
half miles was as follows:
YaIe-2:2s, 4:47. 7:15. lO:os, 1901. 1887.
Harvard~2:2s. 4:4s, 7:1s, 1920 1890. 1857,
1887. 2l:55. ai
The strokes at each half were:
1ae-30, 80, 80. SO, 81, 80, 33, 80.
Harvard-32, 81, 80, 81, 80. 80, 80, 81
To summarize the event. Harvard made
an excellent showing for half mile, and
did fairly we'll to the mile flag, but from
the one-mile to the four-mile line their ex-
hibit compared very unfav orably with
and was not nearly so effective as, the ma
chine-like work in the Yale boat Harvard
lost because they were not well taught
as Yale, and because their stroke, even at a
rate OF thirty-four, was not so effective as
Yale,s at thirty. At a rate of thirty strokes
the Harvard men pulled we'll together, but
when Ii was run up to thirty-four several
of the men were unable to hold their own,
and pulled the stroke through with dimin-
ished power.
After the race the Yale crowd boarded
the train and boats for New Haven. and to-
night the town is very quiet
The Cornells. elated over their victory
Yesterday, decided TO challenge the winner
of to-day's race. The Yale men promptly
announced that they would under
no circumstances row Cornell Har-
ward feels the same way, and there is no
prospect of row between Cornell and
Yale or Cornell and Harvard. The Colum-
bia men are now all right, except WeikIe-
ham. Late last night he was brought To
the Croker House. and has been under a
physicians care all day. This noon his
condition was slightly improved.
The Coming National Regatta.
CHICAGO. June 2s.-The arrangements for