The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-24
YALE FRESHMEN IN FRONT.
THEY SIGNALLY DEFEAT HARFARD
AND CORNELL ON THE HUDSON.

Crimson Crew Makes = Gallant Start, hut Bob
Cooks Youngsters Finally Mako Their
Good Training Tell-An Three Crews Heat
the Hest Previous Records-Cornen brings
UP tho Rear In Disappointing Fashion.
P~oUeHKEEPsIE. June 23.-with steam whistles
blowing. cannon roaring, and thousands cheer
ing in widest enthusiasm, the Yale freshman
crew shot across the finish line on the Hudson
this evening three lengths ahead of Harvard.
who was about a length in front of Cornell.
All three crews established new figures for
the distance. Tho race, which was a mag
nihcont one at all stages, was the forerunner Of
the moro important varsity contest, which will
be rowed here on Friday, and was in o measure
q good test Of the different methods employed
by Coaches Bob Cook. II. G.. Lehman, and
Charles Courtney. Tonight Cook has o decided
advantage in the opinion of those who saw the
race, but the palm cannot be conceded wholly to
until the big eights have rowod over the
four.mile course.
A moro superb body of oarsmen than tho
winners never sat in q freshman boat before.
They were big and muscular. and Drowned
by the sun until they looked like Cubans.
Their stroke was Of such power and regu-
larity that whom they finally got into
their swing the other crews seemed to be drag
ging some heavy weights. And, as in the case
Of many, many Yale crews in the past, this par
ticular eight increased its slowly acquired adj
vantage until at tho end IL rowed down TO the
finish in q wonderful burst of speed in spite
of a greatly reduced stroke. The waterman
ship of tho crew was well nigh perfect. consider
ing the rather ruflod surface OF the Hudson, and
ardent admirers of form " went into ~ecstasies
as they saw the men slipping those blue-tipped
oars into and out Of the water with machinelike
regularity. Truly, in this case, Cook had worked
wonders with the youngsters, and there was
praise on all sides for him, the Yale contingent
being vastly moro confident as to the result of
Fridays race than they were before to-dsy's
contest.
But what about Harvardq Although the
crimson followers had not expected much from
their youngsters, the Cambridge crew surprised
everybody. The coaching of Lehmann was evil
dent in the early stages of the race, for tho eight
certainly rowed in beautiful form for half tho
distance, and died game toward the finish. But
It was lack Of physical strength and not of skill
that caused their boat to drop behind the New
Haven oarsmen as the struggle progressed. The
men rowed with a great burst of speed during tho
first quarter Of a mile, and their action was
90 finished in every detail that the crowd on tho
rapidly NOV ing observation train believed for
the time being that Lehmann's teachings would
carry the day. But when it was seen that sew
eral Of the Harvard men were bordering on q
state of collapse after they had crossed the limo,
1t was readily explained why they had been
vanquishcd. They had been simply outrowed.
and had rowed themselves to a standstill to beat
Cornell.
The showing of the Ithacans was a sore disap-
pointment to the great crowd of Cornell men.
who had backed their chances with almost un-
limited money. If they had consulted Courtney
before the race and had received a straight tip
from him. perhaps they would not have been 30
reckless, for il Is a fact that Courtney had little
or no faith in his crew, and believed secretly
that Yale would win. The fact that Yales
freshmen had repeatedly shown great speed
against the varsity at New London was appar-
emily lost sight Of by Cornell men. who were
blind to everything except their past prestige on
the water and the fact that an Ithacan fresh.
man eight had never before suffered o defeat.
Consequently when the red and white wearers
saw the surprisingly poor showing of their
freshmen they were almost dumfounded.
There was plenty of "form" at times, and then.
again, there was an abundance Of ragged work
including splashing, lack Of uniformity in the.
stroke, and n general breakup toward the end.
But the men were not nearly SO exhausted at
the finish as were the Harvard rowers, who
were completely played out.
Tho race was rowed up stream, but owing to
rough water there was q long delay before tho
crews got started. There were fortunately no
| hukcs, the victory was honestly and Rloriously
| won, and there was the best OF feeling between
victors and vanquished after the line had been
crossed.
THE oRowDM UsTERs EARLY.
The college shouters began to arrive on early
trains this morning. Young men with turned
up trousers. carrying big valises and yellow
dress-suit cases, kept filing out of the depot and
marched up Main street until the hotels, par
t~icularly the Nelson House, were filed to over
flowing. The sidewalks were populated by them,
and the saloons were thronged. Cornell ad-
herents predominated. and SO did the col
ora of the Ithacans. 1t seemed to be the
sentiment among the natives that Cornell
was the proper thing. In the vicinity
Of tho red and white quarters the houses were
decked, without exception, In the most dazzling
manner, and in the majority of the shop win
dows were Cornell flags and stroamers. Tho
bicycle girls showed their sympathies by tying
blue, crimson. or red and white strealmers on
their handle bars. and the Nassar enthusiasts
wore tho colors of the throe universities In
every possible manner.
coin to wager on this or any Of the races to
come. They surrounded the Nelson House. and
ISsr, b offersd even sna money MyG on Their In Shan rSSsoa'i
I'VE can command $4,000" said ono Cor
nell bettor who had a roll, land we will bet it
1 any "oy W. Nohs
Several Yale men were about asking for odds
of 7 to 10. but, strange TO. say. no Harvard ad-
herents came to time with money. There wero
plenty of Cambridge followers ON hand, though,
and they discussed matters quietly.
The Harvard freshmen took n spin on the
river at II o'clock. and the news quickly reached
tho town. They p~ractised starts of their boat
house, and Coach Lehman talked TO them
through his megaphone. The men seemed to he
in extraordinarily good form, and the crimson
enthusiasts began to feel confident. yet still re-
Trained from betting.
A Boston man. who Systematically backs Yale
In every branch OF sport, created q small.sized
riot in the Nelson House corridors. He offered 10
bet even money on the Blue, and was i'm,
who had money to burn, and had boon looking
for a fireplace all day.
"How much do you want to bet T. asked one
persistent Comedian.
well. I'll start the ball at q hundred, - said
the Boston man.
You're on" was the ready response, and In a
minute the money was up,
GLOW much more have you got I" chorused q
dozen Cornell boys.
"Well. soc here. nowi" exclaimed the Boston