The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-21
THE VARSITY RACES
SPECULATION ON THE YALE, HAIR
WARD AND CORNELL CREWS.
Uncertainty Regarding FavOrites in
the Suburban Handicap Tuesday
Other Sporting News.

POUGHKEEPSIE. N. Y, June 20.-Yale is
here. The blue floats over the boathouse
and the training quarters and the boating
colony have a score more added to their
numbers. The arrival of the New Haven
giants will now make it possible for the
collegiate experts, who have picked winners
and condemned methods, to change their
opinions That the men who landed tonight
will be in the race is apparent. The eight
as picked to row on varsity day weigh
122 pounds more than the Cornell men and
about forty pounds more than the Harvard
crew. When they row over the course for
the first time tomorrow they will be
watched by hundreds of anxious eyes. So
far as can be seen they form as formidable
a crew as Yale has ever had.
1t was Ills when the steam yacht Peer
less, with Yales crew and trainer on board.
sighted the Poughkeepsie bridge. Most of
the newspaper boats We're locked and the
boathouse of the several crews already To-
Gated here were deserted. Perhaps two
hundred people were strung along on the
docks, expecting to see the craft, but there
was no demonstration of any kind The
Associated Press launch met the Peerless,
passed the city with her and escorted the
little flyer up to her anchorage, just Off
Yale's quarters. AS the boats passed Penn
sylvania's quarters the Qua&ers dipped
their flag three times, and the Peerless rer
sponded with her whistle. This was the
only exchange of courtesy along the whole
river front. Mr. Cook said that Yale's
crew would probably not get out on the
water before tomorrow afternoon, as the
boats would have to be rerigged, and that
would consume the greater part of the day
The boating colony made this loating day
and everybody seemed to be pretty success
full in keeping it faithfully. A launch made
a morning tour of the boat houses and
found that outside of trainers assistants
and bulldog mascots, everybody had de-
serted the place. Early this morning the
Harvard men took a boat for West Point,
where they enjoyed the entire day IN sight
seeing. AT Cornell some of the men went
to church and others lounged, While the
assistants of Mr.. Courntey looked over the
boatA Frederick Vanderbilts yacht Con-
queror came up the river and lies near CO.
lumbia's boathouse. For the benefit and
information of those desiring to know the
points of the three crews to row in the
big varsity race Friday, June rs, these sta
tistics are given:
Weight-There is a difference of fourteen
and a half pounds in the average weights
of the crews Yale is the heaviest. If
weight counts for endurance then Yale has
the advantage, but on the contrary cornell,
with the lighteSt crew on the river, won
last years race easily. Cornell is 1gnteI
than ever this year, the lately aoqed
youngsters succeeding some heavy men, be
ing very light. The average weights or the
crews, exclusive of the coXsWaln, are as
follows: Cornell, 1883; Harvard, 10y; Yale,
Observation-Disclosures suffered last year
from lack of endurance, While the light Cor
G,1t- bod in H.
though judged by the college experts,
some of whom are doing similar newspaper
work this year, as being TOO ign ngnt 70 pos
is generally conceded that Yale crews al
ways finish strong, and that endurance is
their best point Harvard has trained THIS
wear to overcome last years defeat and 1t
is not only possible, but probable, that the
hard racing will be done in the last mile
Starts-Both Harvard and Cornell have
studied much on the starts and both in
cline to a quick start, but an equally SLOW
down to normal stroke; Yale catcnes
gait at once If Harvard and Cornell get
fighting in the first mile or two and keep
up q fast stroke, Yale, with her easy swing,
will win the race. Or, if Harvard and
Yale put up terrific contest in the first
mile, Cornell will repeat her performance
of last year.
Length of Stroke. - Harvard pulls the
longest stroke and has the quickest recov-
cry. Yale comes next and uses more pody
on the oar, but ships it more quickly Tor
recovery. Cornell is about the same as
last year. with not quite so long the
present Harvard stroke, but so appears.
Boats and Rigging.-Cornell will use a
new water paper boat, but both Harvard
and Yale will use cedar boats, built in this
country. The Cornell and Yale crews use
the American swivel oar-lock, but the Har-
ward crews use the English thole pin and
claim that they get much more power:
These few facts are things that will I'M
doubtedly be factors in the race, tide and
water not considered and people of specu-
latiVe minds can determine for themselves
the winner with as much accuracy as the
experts who are writing opinion from here.
The programme for the entire series of
races is:
Wednesday, June 23-Two-mile race for
freshmen Of Yale, Harvard and Cornell to
be rowed up stream, between and o'clock
p. m.
sity crews of Yale, Harvard and Cornell,
to be rowed down stream at $3.50 p. m.
sharp.
Wednesday, June 30-Two-mile race for
Cornell Columbia and Pennsylvania, to be
roWed down stream between and p. m.
Friday. July 2-Four-mile varsity race
for Cornell, Columbia and Pennsylvania, to
be rowed down stream between 4 and 5
p. m.
There is much discussion here to-day
about the tide changes and it is feared
that unless the race is pulled off sharply
on June % there may be trouble for the
crew that gets the beginning OF the mood
Some indignant protests are being made at
the unWarranted stories ABOUT trainers spy
ing on other crews. Mr.. Courtney said to-
fits all bosh Any of the trainers are
welcome in our bOathouse. l never saw
better feeling displayed Mr.. Lehman, for
Harvard, has invited me to go out in his
launch and watch his crews row, and has
extended similar invitation to Captain
Spllman, of the Cornell crew..