Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-28
The Triangular Freshman Race
Rowed at New London.
PREPARING FOR THE GREAT EVENT
The Yale. Harvard Varsity Contest
This Afternoon,
SCENES ON THE TIL AMES

Of the great Harvard-Yale varsity boat
race. and as 1t happens Of the freshman
race. dawned hot and cloudy, the sun being
hidden behind the canopy Of feecy clouds
that overspread nearly the entire sky. 1t
was o'clock when the first signs of life
began to manifest themselves. but 1t was
not until that the people came upon the
streets and the town began to take On an
appearance OF existence The first stir was
at the hotels. where breakfast had been
prepared for a few favored mortals at 6
o'clock. Admission to the dining room was
strictly by written pass however, and the
unlucky wight who had forgotten to give
notice the night before was not admitted
under any circumstances.
Most Of those at the early tables were
newspaper men. who are here In great
enough numbers to form quite an element
Of the population. The New Londoner does
not rise at any such hour. Toward o'clock
the guests who came down to see the race
and who are visiting relatives and friends
began to wake up and realize that the
great day Of the year was upon them.
The sweet girls who were to cheer the
crews on to victory and defeat rubbed
their sleepy eyes and began to think with
thrills of pleasurable excitement Of what
jolly times they were going to have and Of
how dreadfully tired they would be before
the day was over. The college boys in the
town, who were almost as much excited
over the coming contests. also awoke and
began to try to arouse their hosts. But their
efforts were not very successful.
The average New Londoner is not easily
excited. He has seen these boat races for
sixteen years now, and ne considers them
rather bore don't you know
He never dreams Of such q thing as get
In gala attire. All the elements that go
to make up race day here, whether they are
badges, colors. yachts, girls or enthusiasm,
are mostly imported.
Little Betting Done.
If there were any betting enthusiasts In
this city this morning they were hiding
their lights under large and conspicuous
bushels. The lobby of the Croker House.
the usual headquarters for those who wish
to risk their money either for patriotic or
mercenary considerations. was almost de-
serted as early Es nine o'clock last night
and SO far as could be learned not a single
bet was made there during the afternoon or
evening, and the same holds true this morn
ing. yesterday forenoon one bet of SlOo to
$40 In favor OF Yale was made but this was
the only public straw to show which way
the wind blew, or whether there was any
wind at all.
For several days 1t has been rumored that
some enthusiastic Yale men wished to bet
500 to $50 in favor Of his college. but when
thing of the Harvard crew put money In
their purse and announced that they were
quite willing to take any quantity Of the
bets at the rate Of to l the Yale men dis
appeared, and so far can be learned no
more wagers at this rate have been offered.
Very little betting has been done in con-
nection with the freshmen race. IN which
Harvard, Yale and Columbia are to COM
pete. That little seemed to favor even be-
tween Yale and Columbia and light odds as
against Harvard.
The Morning Scenes Up the River.
When the colored boys who wake the
crews went on their rounds at 5:45 o'clock
this morning they announced to the sleepy
boys that the water was smooth and the
racing chances good. At this early hour
scarf-lke clouds lay low on the laurel
hecked hills of the Thames and along the
river the mists idled In the shadows waiting
for the dispelling sunshine. 1t was one Of
those mornings when chickens come late
from the roosting places and make no
early E'oise. The river itself. after its
white caps of yesterday, was ready to be
still, and 1t was pulseless. save when some
diminishing breeze rounded ahead or crept
out from some gully and made arrow like
runs over the oily water. At o'clock the
lazy clouds had lifted. and. like half infiat ted
balloons. hung over the river and hills.
Then where there was a shadow Of hill, or
rock. or tree. the water had the black still
through the mists. first with CHASTITY yell
low hue and by and by brighter and bright
er until the line flags luttered silver white
In the hot morning stiffness. When 8
o'clock had come the sky had well nigh
cleared but the water was awaking under
the tanning Of thin current Of air that
came up out Of the southwest whence the
white cap breeze came yesterday. This
breeze. at S o'clock. was clearly no skirm-
Usher. 1t came straight up the river and
left wrinkled trail. 1t seemed to have
come on purpose and possibly to Increase
So 1t looked at o'clock. The next hour
however, brought slight change. The
breeze from the southwark, while still in
sistent, was more modest. and out from be-
hind the head lands long reaches Of black
still water cut into the running surface
The fears Of another stif breeze were al
iayed at $40. The referees boat, Hell
vetia, steamed up and took away the fresh
men, timers and judges. The water was
then perfect and the conditions promising
for q clear racing day.