The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-29


son - Hardina's Game Effort.
NEW LONDON, June 2S.-Yale won the
annual eight-cared varsity shell race at
New London today, beating Harvard by
about five lengths. The winning crew cross
ed the line amid the widest enthusiasm
from the spectators. The booming of can
non, the blowing OF whistles. and the shout
ing and cheering OF the graduates and I'M
dergraduates alike gave a fitting welcome
to the victorious eight. The blue Of Yale
was waving on all sides: the crimson of
Harvard had suddenly disappeared, and
was only eeen here and there spasmodical-
ly waved by the disappointed ones who
wished TO hide their feelings.
With two previous victories 20 their
credit the enthusiasm of the Harvard fell
lowing knew no bounds when the time
came for the race. They cheered, sang,
and waved their flags and colors. as the OBJ
serration train run back TO the station 20
get the crowd which had come in on the
late specials to see the varsity race. Fresh
seats had to be found but at last every
thing was settled and the train, loaded TO
its full capacity, pulled out and ran up to
the starting line. The success of the four
and freshmen crews gave Harvard fresh
confidence, end to 4 was freely Of
fered that the varsity would make it three
straight. Yale followers were not discour-
aged however. and expected to get due re-
venge by winning the chief race OF the
day. The crimson of Harvard was the
prominent color, but the blue etill waved
proudly. By the time the starting point
= al IL Ah1 IND
had died out, and the indications were al
most perfect for fair and thorough test
of the relative merits OF the two crews.
It had clouded up again, however. and a
distant rumble of thunder made everybody
fearful that there would have to be post
ponement.
The Start of the Crcws.
At 1:32 the Harvard oarsmen took their
places in the shell and padded over to the
boats. II was ten minutes, however,
before Yale put in an appearance around
the point. This time Yale had the west
shore course They quickly took their
places and the hardy athletes. with every
thought bent on getting good start. sat
as II carved In stone, reaching out ana
waiting for the word. The referees voice
could be plainly heard as he asked: Are
You ready Harvard" Are you ready,
Yale?" And then the crack of the pistol
sent them off for that long four-mile
struggle.
Harvard caught the water first and. as
In the previous races. took a lead OF almost
half a length in a dozen strokes. Each be-
gan with a thirty-four stroke, but when
once away Harvard settled down to
thirty-two, while Yale held hers at thirty
three. In spite of the advantage OF the
start the Yale crew held its form and
slowly but surely crept up until 1t was on
even terms, that at the mile mark IL
was impossible TO separate them. Ihey
were both rowing a thirty-three stroke
and in perfect form. There was no splash
ing and the men in the two boats seemed TO
be working as if propelled by one machine.
There was the widest enthusiasm among
the spectators and the cheering was deaf
eping Yale seemed to be going the easier
and In the next half mile, foot by foot,
they forged to the front until they had
lead Of a scant half length at the mile and
one-half pole To do this they had raised
their stroke to thirty three. but shortly
settled back to thirty-two again. They
could not increase the advantage by so
much as a foot in the next mile. Harvard
was hanging on doggedly and as they
reached the halfway flag, or two miles,
they were in relatively the same positions.
U
Il was the same thing at the two and one
half mile mark and It was still anybody's
race. The crowd was in a frenzy. Never
had such a race been seen In the history
Of Yale and Harvard aquatics.
Harvard's Great Squirt.
They were now nearing the three-mile
mark, and little Wadleigh, the Harvard
coxswain, called on his men for a squirt.
Up went the stroke to thirty-four. and
now In turn Harvard began to cut down
the slight lead OF their rivals. Now they
are again on even terms, and nov Har-
ward slowly but surely has forced the
shell to the front.
The Harvard followers went wild with
enthusiasm and, foreseeing victory,
shouted themselves hoarse. Yale began
to despair, and the cry went up, "Yale's
beaten, Yale's beaten!" At the three
mile post Harvard was half a length in
frant and then the last hard mile began.
Both crews were still rowing in good
form, but TO all appearances Yale was
going the easiest, and the crew was still
far from beaten. 1t was now Chittenden's
turn TO call on his men. 'Pick it up,
boys." he shouted, and every man in that
Yale boat redoubled his efforts. Up went
the stroke 10 thirty-four, end Harvard's
lead was gradually cut to q half and then
Q quarter OF a length. Yale men took fresh
courage. and began to call on the men
frantically to go on. There was brief
struggle at the three-and-a-half mark,
and for dozen strokes they were again
on even terms. Suddenly Yale began to
forge to the front: first 1t was foot,
then half a length, and the race was won.
Harvard was beaten.
Conditions began to tell, and first one
and then another in the Harvard boat went
to pieces. All through the last quarter
Yale drew away, and at the end won easily
by five lengths. Just before the line was
reached Harding, stroke in the Harvard
shell, who had been forced to take Higgin-
sons place at a moments notice three days
ego, collapsed, and the crew struggled over
the line with his oar dragging TO ;he water.
The Yale men showed no i'll effects, and
quickly boarded their launch and started
back for their quarters ~ K
Harding went into theJace as stroke with
little or no preparation. When Captain Hig-