The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-07-04
harvard VICTORIOUS
She Wins all Three OF
the Boat Races.
THE UNIVERSITY RACE
Was q Crushing Defeat for Hale-lns
reference BY n Steamer Causes Vale
to Lose the Freshmen Race-An Con.
ditions Combined To Make the Races
Satisfactory, Except the had Policing
OF the Coure-The Fre.hnen Race .
Record Breaker.

OF the Coure-The Freshmen Race
Record Breaker.
New London. Conn. June Char
ward won all OF the boat races today
three victories over Yale in three hours
the western sky glowed crimson
this evening when the Harvard var
slty crew pulled over the finish line
six and a half lengths ahead OF Yale
After eight years OF defeat. the stu
dents OF Cambridge are tasting the
sweets OF success.
Harvard's university eight won from
Yale over a four mile course by six
and a half lengths in 20 minutes. 81
seconds. Harvard's freshmen eight won
from Yale over q two mile course by
two and a half lengths in 2 minutes
and 33k seconds. Harvard's substu-
tute four won from Yale over a two
mile course by six lengths in 10 min
utes and 81 seconds.
The Harvard crews rowed a modifi-
cation of the English stroke, coupled
with some features OF the stroke pull
ed by Wisconsin. and Coach McCon-
vile. OF Wisconsin. who saw the race,
said: IF Harvard's crew in today's
form had been at ~Poughkeepsie. / am
afraid she would have given us all a
hustle for first place"
Yale has greatly modified the Cook
stroke, and the boat did not go today
as it did when the famous coach was
there.
The races were rowed in almost ideal
water and wind. and under clear skies.
The course was badly policed, boats
getting into the lanes and steamers
kicking up swells after the race had
started. Harvard in the varsity race
very nearly collided with a number OF
small boats at the finish. and a heavy
swell impeded Yale.
The varsity race was prettily rowed.
but the defeat was crushing. Yale.
however, rowed gamely to the finish
and neither crew showed signs OF dis
treSs.
The contest between the substitutes
constituting the varsity tours was. like
the varsity eight race, a procession.
with Harvard six full lengths ahead at
the finish. The freshmen's effort was q
mighty and splendid one up to the
asst eighth OF a mile, when Harvard's
superior staying powers. coupled with
an unfortunate obstruction OF the
tOuSe q the Idfe ny u
large steamer worked for W
advantages and sent the 1902 men OF
Harvard across the line two lengths
ahead Of Yale. Both OF these races
were postponed from the forenoon and
were rowed about ar hour after they
had been scheduled for the afternoon.
There was little or no betting
The races preliminary TO the varsity
simply served to whet the spectators
appetite.
The forenoon plans called for The
rowing of both races up stream, but
the rowing OF these races in the after
noon made 1t necessary to pull down
stream in all three races.
Harvard had by the fates been allot-
ted the eastern course n Yale he'd
the western line.
The freshmen race was a beautiful
one. Yale had the lead throughout I'M
til the last few hundred yards, when
the Yale boat shipped barrels of water
and was almost swamped by the
swash from a big steamer. 1t was at
this point that Harvard snatched VIC
tory from defeat. The time was a rec
ord-breaker on the Thames, Harvard
winning in 9 minutes and 1914 seconds.
Yale 9 mute and 40 seconds.
About a quarter past 6 o'clock the
Yale varsity crew left the float at
Broad View, closely followed by the
oarsmen of Harvard from Red Top.
Ten minutes later the men had receiv-
ed their positions at the start and were
waiting for the wore
With extreme caution, Referee Mick
leham assured himself that both crews
were ready, and with a last warning
query: Are you ready?" fired the
pistol shot which sent the two crews
of in the big race of the day .
The water was as calm and placid
as an inland lake. The crews rowed
as usual, in tagged lanes. the blue oc-
cupying the eastern course. the GRIM
son the western. Yale caught the wa
ter first, but Harvard as a close sec
ond and the W Fights started out on
their long journey practically on wen
terms. With perfect rhythm the two
crews fell into strokes at unison.
Reaching down for the mile flag the
Yale coxswaim swerved slightly from
! his true purse and directly after the
mile flags had been passed Harvard
took the lead, which she was. not 10
surrender throughout the race.
! In the next half mile this lead was
increased to a full length. Yale adopt
ed a speedier stroke but she could not
oversome Harvard's lead.
Reaching for the finish flags, the tide
caught the Harvard shell and swerved
it woefully. The little coxswain had
his ead about him, however. n with
great skill worked his way back into
line and shot down toward h judges
boat.
Harvard crossed the hnish line in a
whirlwind, rowing beautifully six and
a half lengths to the good. Yale finish.
ed in fairly good shape. but her
men were somewhat depressed. In
f. terms OF minutes Harvard had wor
her grand race in 20 minutes ard 52h
seconds, while Yale crossed the line IN
q minute and IL seconds