The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-28
YALE AND HARVARD.
Have Pretty Contests in Annual Boat
Races at New London.

New London, Conn, June 2S-With
two races handsomely won to her credit
and with the third. last and most i'm
portant of all in hand Harvards hopes
were suddenly dashed in the last half
mile of the varsity contest this after
noon by the collapse of Harding, the
stroke oar.
Altogether it was the most exciting
event in college boating Tor many years.
From the very start to the three and q
half mile flag it was q nair raising,
heart breaking contest, now one boat
was ahead, now the other. Now Har-
ward was wildly cheering, now Yale
was in the air. Never for a moment
was there clear water between the
boats, many boating experts saying
that not once in that distance was there
a half length difference between the
crimson and the blue. But, toward the
last Harvard began to creep up inch
by inch her sturdy, bronzed men pushed
flag they had a lead, and with the race
three quarters over the crimson shout
ers looked for victory number three.
But they reckoned without varsity
stroke oar Harding, who came in the
emergency and took the place of dis
abled Captain HigginSon. Just after
passing the three mile flag his oar was
seen to be doing less work than the
ether seven. Then he was abServed to
go through the motions, but the blade
did not touch the water. Coxswain
Wadleigh shouted encouragement to
him and threw water on his body, but
it was of no avail. Soon he was in a
state of collapse. His strength was
gone, his car dropped and he fell for
ward. The other seven pulled steadily
all, but the race was lost. Yale had
the known advantage of every second
Of Harding'S disability, and pulled
across the line four lengths ahead. Con-
sidering the heart breaking pace the
other seven men of the Harvard crew
were comparatively fresh. There were
no signs of collapse in the Yale crew.
At 1870 o'clock, the time of the start
of the four-oared race, the weather con-
ditions while not perfect for record
breaking, were much better than looked
for earlier in the morning. There was
a slight southwest breeze blowing dag
onaIly across the course and against
the tide, but it was not strong enough
to kick up rough water and at the APP
pointed time the two four-oar crews
were called out. Harvard'S boat was
| first in the water and the quartet row.
| ed quickly to the starting line. Yale
| after practicing starts fer few mo-
ments rowed down Ieisurely., Both
| crews took positions. Yale on the west
/ course and Harvard on the east. The
start was made at 11:45:55. unofficial
! Harvard took the water first and got
/ decidedly the better of the starting
rowing at "a to the minute while Yale
rowed 32 Hardly twenty strokes had
/ been taken when clear water showed
| between the two boats, Harvard in the
| lead. Both crews were rowing stead
lily a good clean stroke At the hall
mile Yale spurted and by magnificent
work put the New Haven boat on ever
! terms.
For a quarter of a mile it was a pref
| ty race. Harvard dropped her stroke
a bit and Yale increased slightly. Fol
| several minutes it was boat and boat
| and Yale stock rose as her men held OF
like bull dogs. But it was not to be
for at the mile, Harvard had pulled
ahead again. From there out the pluck!
Ellis made only a stern chase. Harvard
kept increasing her lead and at the mill
and a half had three lengths to TIL
good. Again, Yale made a squirt, ant
came up a bit, increasing her stroke
but it was only for a moment. Jus
before the finish Harvard hit up tn
pace and gut the crimson shell an
other length ahead, crossing the lin
four good lengths in the lead.
Two miles-Harvard, 1922; Yale
1895 2-5,