New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-30
HOW THE FRESHMEN RACED.
WASH FROM A STEAMER NEARLY sWAMPED
YALE-BOTH CREWS BROKE THE
THAMES RECORD.

1ALE-BOIH CREWS BttOAE InE
THAMES RECORD.
New-London, June % (SpeciaD-The Har-
ward Yale freshman crews Of 1899 will go down
in college history as the fastest freshman eights
that ever rowed over the New-London course.
Both crews broke the twomile record, Harvard
doing the distance to-day in minutes 3312 sec
onds, which is several seconds faster than the
best previous time and Yale covered 1t in . min
utes 40 seconds. also surprising the old figures
The greatest regret is expressed over the hard
luck that the Yale freshes had not more than
quarter Of a mile from the finish line. They
got into the wash of the steamer Glen Island,
which was careering in swash-bucker fashion
around the river. and which completely spoiled
whatever remaining chance the Yale boat had
OF winning the race. 1t can, OF course never be
known as to whether the swell from the steamer
made the difference between victory and defeat
for the Yale '02 crew. Many men naturally be-
lieve that be the case, but 1t certainly looked
before the mishap as though the Yale boys
were pretty nearly spent. and victory in Har-
wards grasp anyway.
At any rate, the struggle was the best that
had been seen here for years. and created In
its modest way, great deal Of excitement. Tine
contest which had been postponed from the
morning was started about o'clock. from the
Navy Yard, just after the finish Of the foar-
cared race. The Harvard freshmen padded to
the stake, smiling under the benisons of the
victorious four. They had the east course and
Yale the west
Both Fights showed up a fine-looking set or
men and reports from the crew quarters this
morning had said that both Fights were conf
dent of victory. The tide was flowing strongly
| and II took long time TO get the crews aligned
| right Then there was one false start. NO.
| in the Harvard boat slipping his slide and rails
| ing his hand before the ten strokes had peen
| rowed. Yale had got considerable distance
| ahead before she understood and padded back
J Harvard shot TO the front at the pistol crack,
| but Yale's start was almost as good. Both crews
! rowed a thirty-two stroke in excellent form.
GREAT STRUGGLE FOR WHILE.
The train rumbling along on the river bank
| was overfiowing with the Yale and Harvard
| freshmen who shrieked and tore their blue and
! red neckties in their excitement The race was
| even, and the crews were beautifully matched.
| AS the half-mile flag fiuttered into ken Yale
| was doing a trfe powerful work, and
| began to creep ahead. Ecstacy on the instant
possessed the Yale blue colors but Harvard
Z cheered just hard. Yale. however. slowly
| but steadily increased her lead. and at the half
way point led the way by length. There was
| a little splashing now and then. but ii would
| have taken a keen observer at a little distance
to be able TO detect the freshmen from varsity
| oarsmen
| Harvard was rowing thirty to the minute. and
| was creeping up a little. The crimson young
| sters had lots of reserve power that they had
| not yet called upon. on the Yale boat the hot
| pace which the men had set for themselves in
| passing their rivals had begun TO tell. and there
| not quite much smash in the stroke.
Bit by bit Harvard cut off the Yale lead. and
| at the half-mile flag the crimson were
| sweeping Just half a length behind. Another
| 40 yards and Harvard was on even terms, and
| squirting for the lead 1t just here that
the swells began 10 bother Yale and sent her
| little shell webbing from side TO side. Harvard
| continued TO squirt and the tired Yale oarsmen
| dropped TO the rear. There was less than an
eighth OF mile to row. and Yae's chance was
gone. She had shot her bolt and IT had fallen
short. The observation train lay on the bridge
now, right athwart the river and the Harvard
men could hear the shouted blessings that were
beginning, with the guns and whistles. to Shrek
about their A stroke two more and
Bedlam had broken loose. The line crossed
| Harvard 1902 was victor. and Yale was still twC
and half lengths in front OF the finish line