Evening star., 1898-06-22
Raining at Time Set for the Varsity
Boat Race.
CREWS Are ALL In READINESS
Betting Favors Cornell, But Yale
Stock Goes Up.
BULLETINS FROM THE COURSE

NEW LONDON. Conn. June 22.-The
young carsmen who are to battle for col
lege supremacy on the Thames today, the
students and graduates who came to cheer
them on the fight, and the hundreds of
camp followers of Harvard Yale and Cor
nell could find but little fault with the
weather conditions they looked over the
river out into the sound early this
morning
You viii see the wind. which blows now
about five knots fall almost to nothing by
noon.'' said one old salt. and half a dozen
college men who had just arrived at the
wharf and heard the remark scurried off to
spread the news and get the best possible
odds their favorite crew.
Founders Were Scarce.
The arrivals this morning did not, how
ever. find such large ai-night crowds in
the city as in former years. Whether the
war mad claimed the services of college
men and particularly the rowing set,
there was a lack of interest, could not be
Very well aScertained, but nevertheless the
New LOndoners, who had worked so hard
for two years to get the crews on the
Thames, were considerably disappointed
at the meager influx of yesterdays trains.
and some of them were so dSgusted that
they did not open their stores last night, as
the prospect for trade was far from in
yiting.
There was no street parade, no band, and
what was more important to the majority
of last nights arrivals. but little betting.
Last year at Poughkeepsie every bettor
rould find d place for his money without
trouble, and long odds were the exception
Ind not the rule.
But today the prestige of a winning crew
made Cornell two-to-one shot in the eyes
Of the sporting fra ,ernity, while bets on the
fthacans against the field also commanded
better than even money.
There was, however, considerable Harvard
end Yale money about last night and more
This morning. when the latest gossip from
the crews came down the river.
Surprises in the Past.
A good many recollected that there had
Always been surprises in bygone days. and
with this in mind rot a few came to the
conclusion that sure thing is very like
iy tC be uncertain. Cornell had been looked
upon for the past week as certain winner,
but this morning the sporting set We're no
surer of the result. as odds began to
slump until just before noon there was
something like even money on the Ithacans.
The principal event of the morning with
the Harvard crew was the presentation TO
Mr.. Lehman by the crew of a pair of fine
Held glasses. ss token of the esteem in
which the Oarsmen hold him Mr. Lehman
was greatly surprised and gratified. and
Bpoke warmly and feelingly in reply to
Capt. Perkins little speech
Yale Holds the Record.
The fastest time over the Thames course
was made by the Yale crew of 1888 in 20.1O,
while Harvards best time made by
the 1878 crew in D44A. In 1896 Yale went
to Henley, while Harvard rowed for the
first time at POughkeepsie. in a four-cor-
nered contest with Cornell, Columbia and
the University of Pennsylvania This race
was rowed on June 26, 1886. and 10000 per-
sons saw Cornell win by four lengths. with
Harvard second. Pennsylvania third and
Columbia fourth.
The time in this race was a record break
sr. Cornell rowing the four miles in IL min
utes and - seconds, while Harvard was
only four seconds slower.
Last year, at Poughkeepsie. Cornell rowed
in 2D.3i with Yale 10 seconds slower, and e
Harvard in II minutes.
Charles +. Courtney coached Cornell last
year il what is known American
stroke. while Robert a. Cook taught the
Yale oarsrneu a combination English-Amer-
lean stroke. Mr.. r. C. Lehman of oxford
University came over especially and show
ed Harvard how to a fine English
stroke. All three of these gentlemen have
charge of the same crews this year.
The stroke rowed last year at Pough-
keepsie by the crews was as follows: