The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-06-28
BLUE FOR CRIMSON
A Green Man Takes Hol-
listers Place for the
Varsity Race.
YALE IN GREAT FEATHER
Final Preparations for the Great
Event at New London
This Afternoon.
YALE In GREAT FEATHEF

Harvard crews and the boating enthu-
siasts in this city this morning, and nope
for a race under auspfcious circumstah-
ces was banished. Fog rested IN culnu-
latiye banks over the river, harbor ana
Sound. and at nine O'Clock drizzling rain
began which robbed the streets OF their
gala appearance, removed the decorations
of bunting and drapery which the city
had donned with more or less partisaii,
intercollegiate patriotism and cleared
the streets of visitors to the race. AT
ten O'Clock a tremendous doWnpour OF
rain set in and drenched everything IN
sight. 1t was the heaviest rain fall OF
the year for an hour. but the native sea
dogs unanimously hazarded their repu-
tation on the prediction that it was the
clearing up shower.
At eleven o'clock the storm had passed
away. the fog began to lift, and omens
were growing propitious for prompt ana
pleasant but sunless race. Doubtless
few hundred spectators from surrounding
towns were disappointed by the threat
ening skies at day break and will miss
the race, but the indications at noon were
that the storm had passed There IS
0>le wind and the river will probably
be comparatively smooth.
WITH THE CREWS.
At the quarters of both crews quiet
reigned The coachers subdued any
tendencies toward excitement on the part
of the oarsmen or visitors. 1t was
decreed long ago that the usual routine
would be preserved this morning. Ac-
cordingly both crews were dressed at
6:45 and breakfasted at o'clock sharp.
The Yale men took their customary
shower bath and enjoyed short walk
for an appetizer. There was little dlf-
ference in the breakfast served to the
oarsmen of the different boats; both
were given steak, and the Yale men
enioyed a variety in the line of chops
Harvard's crew clung mysteriously to
their quarters and suspicious appearing
visitors and unwelcome pryIng reporters
were halted by sentinels in the heights Of
Red Top and their advance effectively
discouraged. The coaches carefully ex-
auined the outrigging. slides and blades
of the shells and oars and put in place
every bit of apparatus for the event of
the year. At Gales Ferry the Yale boys
were cheered up by the presence of
half a dozen coaches and captains of
champion crews Of historic days. Hart
" Ives, Bob Cook, George Adee.
COMES and several others looked after
the routine work of preparations. Bob
Cook received reporters in his usual
happy mood and admitted that Yale
was hopeful
YALE'S LAST SPIN.
About $50 o'clock he ordered the oars
men out for their last practice spin of
the year, followed by the Yale launch
and the coterie of graduate coaches.
The Yale boat lodged out of sight into
the little cove just above the crew quar-
ters. The oarsmen were drilled in start
ing a few minutes. and then sent UP
stream for a vigorous straight away
spin. They had covered Il mile and a
half when the heavy storm broke, and
Mr.. Cook shouted from his microphone
to return. The crew were drenched as
effectively as by their previous shower
bath of the morni1g. but their bronze
backs were given brisk attention by the
rllbbers brought from New Haven, and
no i'll effects were experienced. Their
clothes were hastily dried.
The final council of the coaches and
kathletic advisers of the eights was
ealled for eleven o'clock. 1t took place
bn the yacht Dora, which arrived yes
terday afternoon and VIII be the official
All the leading advisers of both col
ges were on hand and the details of
e event were discussed and decided.
bw to avoid a repitition of the dis
graceful episode of yesterday in which
the clumsy boat Block Island was chief
culprit was vital question. 1t was
settled that the race must be impera-
t.vely rowed at five o'clock.
TDEAT, CONDITIONS.
The conditions for the oarsmen, if
not for the spectators, will then ap-
parentlN be IDEAL The waves have
been smoothed out by the terrific rain
The tide will be strong down stream
and the wind will be from the north
Every circumstance is thus likely to
favor the crews. If the fight is hot
one and neither crew has reason to fear
otherwise, the record of 20 minutes II
seconds made by Captain Stevenson S
crew in June, 1888, may be fractured.
Every man in the Yale shell is in the
pink of condition. The average weight
of the boat has dropped from 179 to l7s
pounds Within fortnight but only
Gross, the giant of the boat. whose
avorodupois has shrunk from EOS to 1874
and Captain Armstrong, whose heaviness
has been lessened from 16s to 155 pounds
since hard work began two months ago
are in the least stale. The crews dined
this noon at 1890. Every man disposed
of formidable slab of roast beef. Geo
j.. Riyes, the referee, is an old Colum
db,an oarsman who was, after his Ameri
can rowing ended. a member of the Cam
bridge crew of England. He has re
fereed three of the last Yale-Haryare
VARSITY races.
HARVARD MYSTERY.
There is still slight uncertainty reia'
tive to the Harvard officials. Mr.. Wat
son. will, in all probability, be Judge
and it is thought that W. A. Brooks
will ofliciate as tinse-keeper. Mr.. Brooks
has. however. not yet arrived.
Yaless officials will be Robert J. Cook
JGdge, and Geo. Adee. Sr.. timckeeper
IF. A. Coonley, one of the Yale, substi
tutes, and probably Mr.. Kidder of Har
ward. will act as Judges at the finish.
Betting is slow. Harvard ciamors fo
too great odds, demanding straight odd
of to l in various combinations Ther'
is considerable Harvard money in towr
but it is not conspicuously Ia evidence
Yale fears the prowess of the Harvard
crew and cannot often be coaxed int
greater wagers than 8 to 2.
good sized bet was placed this
morning at II to with Yale of cours'
at the long end. Holnster, of the Har
vard boat, is quite III. He was removed