The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-23

POaghkeepse, n. Y, June 23.-The Hen
ley OF America begins here today AT the
crack OF revolver, some time between
5:30 and O'Clock this evening, the shells
OF the freshmen crews OF Yale, Harvard
and Cornell start away in the opening
rare OF the two weeks intercollegiate re-
gatta. The race is a short one. The
course In only two miles in length, and less
than ten minutes will be consumed In COW
erihg It,
But during those ten minutes the three
Fights Will pull for their lives, with all the
spirit and strength they have ia them, each
endeavOring TO win for its college the
intercollegiate freshmen championship.
The race will be Towed before a multi
tude of spectators, and its results viii
be impatienuy awaited throughout this
country.
Today race is more than a mere aquatic
contest between the three colleges. 1t is
the first time that Yale and Cornell have
met on the water for twenty-five years,
and it also marks the resumption OF boat
races between the crimson and the blue.
For many years Cornell has endeayOred To
persuade Yale to arrange race with her.
Yale, however has always refused Tie
sons OF old Eli have invariably declared
IN response to the challenges that the
IJhacans were not worthy to engage in a
race with them.
The efforts OF Cornell to bring about such
a contest would probably have proved
futile for many years u come, had bot
Yale been forced by Harvard 10 enter the
races at PoUghkeepsie this year. Harvard
agreed to resume aquatic contests with
Yale only on condition that the blue would
also meet the red and white, and thus out
OF YaIe's misunderstanding with Harvard
a contest has been brought about A grand
boating carnival, in which Yale, Harvard
and Cornell. the three leading colleges Of
the country, as far as Their navy is con
cerned, viii take place.
The day dawnrd fUll Of promise. The
sun lislted UP a CIoudless sky and shOne
upon body OF water, wmChw astn a n ideal
condition for a battle between oarsInen.
With an enthusiasm worthy OF a uni
ver>ity town, Poughkeepsie woke To the
proceedings. Every incoming train from
the East and West poured cut hundreds
OF men and women, and long before >
O'Clock the city leading from the depot 70
the center Of the town had become an
unchanging panorama or new arrivals
Hundreds more had come TO town late last
night and when they all went out 20
breathe the cool morning air, before
breakfasting, the town assumed the as
pect OF a city en- fete.
10 was essentially a holiday, merry-mak-
ing crowd. Ribbons and badges fluttered
fIom the dresses of the pretty women,
while college men aud their friends made
known their preferences for the aft Tn0Ons
race by the color of their hat bands and
the steady cheers which they continually
set up for Yale, Harvard and Cornell
Flags and bunting hung from public build
Ings and private houses, while the streets
we've arcEed with banners emhIeIdatic OF
the three cOntestinE colleges
Naturally the interest Of everybody cen
tered in the freshmen crew Of Yale. for
what had promised to be the greatest fresh
man boat race in the history If interstate
collegiate sTort was temporarily clou,Ied
yesterday by the Illness of every member
Of the crew. Many were the inquiries made
about the youngsters condition this morn
ing. and many Were the pilgrims TO look
up the blue, two miles north Of the cry.
To the evident satisfaction of every one
concerned, a good nights rest had done
the lads a great deal OF good. and when
they arose this morning they told Fob
Cook that they felt fit to row the race of
their lives.
In the toss for positions last night, Yale
was the lucky college. she promptly chose
the outside COuTSe-the one further from the
west bankOf the Hudson. Harvard selected
the middle course, while the inside course,
to Cornell. The course is a very fair one,
but as one gets nearer the middle Of the
river, the tide increases slightly in strength.
consequently Yale has a little advantage
in the race, while Cornell is the least
favored. William Meekein was chosen
referee.
After the shells had been duly inspected
they were put into the water. preparatory
to a little final practice. Yale was the
first 10 get out on the river, and as her
finely built O5 TSmen sped away from the
float, no one for a minute could have inn
agned that for time yesterday it locked
doubtful whether they would he able 20
take any more than start in tOda VS. race
Neither crew did much work. They simply
went out to timber up their muscles. and
10 get few final words Of advice from
their coach. and they Were all back ut
their respective quarters within an hour
after they went out.