The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-24
WON BY YALE FRESHMEN
ONE OF THE BEST BOAT RACES
EVER ROWED BY COLLEGIANs.
Harvard Finished Second and Cornell
Third, All in Record-Breaking
Time for Their Class.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y, June 23.-Three
crews of freshmen on the Hudson this even
ing smashed to smithereens all previous
records for freshmen on a two-mile course
and put up one of the hottest intercollegiate
races ever witnessed in this country. A
crew of sturdy Yale freshmen rowed the
tWo-mile course in minutes and 1912 sec
onds; trifle lighter crew of Harvard fresh
men fought them every inch of the way
and finished a trifle over two lengths be-
hind them, in 9:261a and the Cornell fresh
men, whose college record is that none of
its freshmen crews have ever been beaten
before, finished length behind Harvard,
in 9:29l9. The best previous record for two
miles was 9:41, made by the Columbia fresh
men crew of '94 at New London, in 1891.
While the conditions here are better for
fast time than they are upon the Thames
and while, therefore, some allowance should
be made for the much better exhibition to-
day, the days race was very remarkable
one, all three of the crews having lowered
the record, the last crew in the race-Cor-
nell-doing SO by 1112 seconds. All three of
the crews used every pound of power in
their boats at every stage Of the two miles,
and each crew at some period of the race
was in the lead
The victory of to-day is looked upon by
the crowds here tonight as being in some
measure indicative of the result of Fridays
big varsity race. 1t is not contended that
the order of finish will be the same for
Mr.. Lehman, of Harvard, has all along
said that his fresmen had been badly neg
lected and could not be looked on as a rep
resentative freshmen crew. On the con-
trary, the Yale crew of youngsters has
been said to be more sure of winning than
their varsity, while Mr. Courtney's Cor
nell crews have had equal attention paid
to them. The chances, therefore, as picked
out tonight are that the order of Fridays
finish is likely to be Harvard Yale. Cornell.
The start, which was originally scheduled
for $3.50, was postponed, because of water
conditions, until o'clock. The crews were
got in line, and al 7:10 the pistol sound
ed. Harvard got the best clip on the water,
and in a few strokes drew to the front,
closely followed by Cornell. with Yale al
most a quarter length to the rear. Harvard
and Cornell started at thirty-fve strokes to
of thirty-four AT the eighth mile Yale,
finding that she was trailing behind, in
creased her stroke to thirty-siX, and began
to draw up, while Harvard and Cornell
dropped down to thrty-four each. At the
quarter Yale was still behind. but seemed to
be rowing easily while Harvard and Cor
nell were working hard. Cornell drawing
up upon the Harvard lead. Yale was cas-
ing up her stroke, and within the next half
thirty-four but even then she seemed to
gain, and there was preceptible dash to
the boat that seemed lacking in the others.
At the three-quarter mark it became APP
parent that the heavier weight in the Yale
boat was going to prove troublesome to
the lighter youngsters in the Harvard boat
@0dra and still sba lighter ones eSoss,Ig the the
mile line Yale pulled her boat
and was showing it's nose forward a. few
inches with each stroke. Cornell was labor.
ing a length behind Harvard, rowing a
raOid thirty-sx stroke to Harvard's thir-
ty~five and Yale's steady thirty-three. From
that point on to the finish Yale rowed
steadily at thirty-three and thirty-four
ouickening to thirty-six several lengths
from the finish in an endeavor to make the
breach between her old enemy, Harvard
and herself a trihe wide. And. although
Harvard picked her stroke up to thirty-six
after passing the mile and held it there un-
til the finish it lacked power and the boat
dropped gradually behind, crossing the line
a tri1e over two lengths behind the Yale
boat.
Cornell crews Just beyond the mile mark
Cornell. who had pulled their boat on to
even terms and perhaps. as seen from the
observation train, slightly in advance of
Harvard made a desperate effort to keep
Yale from gaining. but ii was of less avail
even than Harvards s effort, and at the mile
and a half there was clear water between
Cornell and Harvard. From there on to
the finish Cornell whooped 1t up TO thirty
six per minute and closed the gap slightly,
finishing just about an even length in Har-
wards rear. None of the crews seemed dis
tressed when they finished, but Yale was
decidedly the freshest of the three.