The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-06-15
THE RAGE ON THE HUDSON
COLLEGE CREWS NEARLY READY
 FOR THE GREAT STRUGGLE.


 Yale Varsity Easily Defeated the Fresh
 men Last Evening, Showing Marked Im-
 provement-Harvard Tries Its New Shell
 Referee Not Selected-A Vast Throng
 Will Witness the Event.
 Gales Ferry, Conn.,, June 14.-Cap- tain Bailey and Coach Cook are deter mined to give the crew all the rowing over the four mile course that opportu- nifty will offer A cold drizzling rain prevailed during the greater pant Of the day, but as the men were all busy with their examinations the weather conditions made but little difference. The rain and wind subsided by early evening and the river had settled down as calm as mill pond.
 The crews were on the water shortly after 6 o'clock, but the incoming tide made 1t necessary to row over the tour mile course from upstream. As the crews padded down the river the freshmen stopped at the two mile stake and waited for the veterans to return. As they came up the river a heavy shower passed over but did not inter- fere with the oarsmen at work.
 The freshmen, over anxious to start, got lead of two lengths as the Var sity crew came by but his was soon cut down and the freshmen for the first time this year found the pace too hot. They were outclassed easily, and the Varsity had no trouble in leading by four lengths at the finish. The time was good. The freshmen did not do as well as was expected from the fine showing made in practice this morning when they were given three hours work under the personal supervision of Mr. Cook.
 It was found impracticable to use the new shells tonight as some expected material for the final rigging failed to arrive but word was received at head quarters that 1t would come by to-mor- row and it is hoped that the shells can soon be tried without further disap- pointments.
 Poughkeepsie, N. Y, June 14.-There is only case of sickness in the entire rowing colony here. The exception is young Kellogg, stroke of the Columbia freshman crew, who was taken down with a fever to-day. He will undoubt- edly be in the boat again in day or two. Two showers during the day cooled the atmosphere, and the most delightful conditions prevailed during the evening practice The water was very smooth especially north of Crum Elbow, where the Harvard and Colum- bia aggregations find their favorite field for practice.
 The Columbia varsity eight went out in their Webb shell this evening. The crew rowed down the river, pulling 34-stroke, Coach Cowles following closely on the Herreshoff yacht. The eight showed a form and speed that surprised a number of expert oarsmen who had heard reports that they were in poor condition. When they were op- posite the Harvard boat house the
 crimson freshmen gave three cheers" in honor of Columbia. Daisy answered with three whistles. Then the white and blue boat returned to the boat llplDCs loCLOlG StttlIs5 lllO LuG DOdL Captain Pressprich took his men on a four-mile walk over the country roads. The Harvard varsity crew tried their new Davy shell to-day. They padded about for a few minutes and then re- turned to the float to have few slight alterations made, when they made a continuous row of three miles. They pulled a long, slow stroke of from 30 to 32 a minute The new boat was found to be satisfactory, and it will undoubt- | edly be used in the race MT. Lehman brought back from Boston with him | Francis Peabody, who, more than any other man, was instrumental in getting | the famous English coach to come to 1 this country.
 | MT Peabody was on the launch this evening and will be MT. Lehmanns s
 guest at Red Top for several days. To-
 morrow, MT. Lehman, MT. Peabody 1 and several of the Harvard crew will take lunch with William Anson Beard 1 the veteran Yale oarsman, at his home
 in this city.
 In spite of their i'll luck in losing the propeller off their launch, this morning. | the Pennsylvania's crews came out in | good spirits this evening for practice | Coach Ward was on board of the lit- | tie steamer Queen City. The coach | continued his experiments to develop l the relative speed of the cedar and paper shells. As some of his ideas are | embodied in the cedar boat built by Heyle of Philadelphia, he is loath to 1 give it up, although all of his tests show l that the Waters boat is the faster of 1 the two. The Varsity and freshmen
 crews rowed up the river almost to l Crum Elbow the Varsity in the paper | and the freshmen in the cedar boat 1 Ward gave the latter crew a handicap of three lengths. They rowed beauti-
 fully, but the Varsity picked them up
 in about five-eighths of a mile. The
 freshmen then spurted and the Varsity ! did not gain an inch on them for fully mile. Then the youngsters wind
 failed them and the Varsity drew gradually away from them until the 1 boathouse was reached, when the coach sent both crews in. The final
 selection of a referee has not been an- nOunced here. Heman Oelrichs is out of the question, as he is not expected
 east until after the races take place. The choice is now between Guy