The Washington times., 1903-06-25
ining round. hnt Harvard III nhout

At one and three-quarter miles Hsr-
ward was about quarter boat length
in the lead. with Yale gaining.
At the two-mile mark Yale pulled up
slightly. with Harvard about three
quarters of boat length in the lead
At PA Yale seemed to be gaining
more, and on even terms. Both pulling
strongly.
At the ga point Yale increased her
stroke. and edged out south to the front
of Harvard. 1t was a close race though
Harvard was pressing her hard
Then gradually the boys in blue put
more power in their stroke and opened
up lead of half a length. at the 81
mile. Yale continued to squirt. ana by
mighty and magnificent effort forged TO
the front and won out by three lengths.
There were three races. the varsity
four. the freshmen eight. and the var.
rity eight.
The Twentieth Struggle.
For over twenty years each June, John
Harvard and Elihu Yale-have fought it
out on the four-mile course from Red
Top 20 the drawbridge, and today the
contests on the Thames have obtained
the same cIassicaI- standing as the OK
ford-Cambridge race in England. The
result of weeks OF hard training. days
of self-denial. and hours of constant
practice was shown today when these
crews got away with the crack OF the
starters pistol
Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt and Miss
Alice Roosevelt viewed the race from
the steam yacht sylph, which came into
the harbor yesterday afternoon from
Oyster Bay.
Weather Conditions Poor.
Weather and water conditions this
morning did not augur well for fast time
in the races. The same chilly north
east wind which has been blowing over
the east coast for days past was in evil
dence today, shunting over the sky dull.
gray clouds, filed with moisture. There
was a fair ripple on the surface of the
Thames River, and there was constant
fear that the wind would soon heck the
water with whitecaps. Now and then a
fall OF mist would send the spectators
hurrying for umbrellas and mackin-
toshes.
Thousands Of people poured into New
London all yesterday and this morning
trains from New York and Boston
brought thousands more. The harbor
was filled with yachts from the Pequot
House to the old drawbridge. and myri-
ads of launches and small boats scam
pered in and about the larger boats
carrying pleasure parties eager to see
the race.
Defenders Hard By.
The cup yachts Reliance. Constitution,
and Columbia are lying in the lower har-
Dor. and their crews we're given a day
of 20 see the race.
Early this morning hundreds of spec
Sators piled on the long -canopied
observation trains, which followed he
races on both shores of the river Down
near the drawbridge, at the finish line
scores OF people picked their-way along
the high bank eager to seize the best
vantage point for viewing the race.
Pushing and jostling up and down State
Street, the main thoroughfare of old
New London, were bands of, college boys
carrying flags of Yale blue. and the
crimson. OF Harvard. while not so
demonstrative. but equally. prominent
were swarms OF pretty girls who iaunte1
the colors of their favorite college.
Did Driving Business.
The bookmaker at the Crocker House,
who lays the wagers each year. did a
Tacetrack business this morning. Young
college blocds. with rolls Of greenbacks
almost as large as stovepipes, put down
a bet for Old Eli or John Harvard.
Then. there were fatherly old gentle
men. who had sons at college. but who
evidently did not know a racing she'll
from a Cape Ann cory. who quietly laid
a little wager. just TO be one Of the boys
again.
1t was a merry throng that edged IN
and out OF the corridors o. the Croker
House. discussing the possible outcome
and sizing up the respective crews. The
bookmaker's slate showed Yale a slight
favorite in the varsity eight race, at
10 20 s, and a strong favorite at to
/ in the freshman eight contest The
varsity four was an even money propo-
sitiou. Thousands OF dollars were wag-
cred.
Waiting and Resting.
Red Top and Gales Ferry, the train
ing quarters OF the Yale and Harvard
crews, were as quiet as a summer yaca-
tion camp this morning. The long
weeks Of training were over. and the
oarsmen awaited the word 20 leave with
their shells for the starting line.
The Yale men. easy and confident.
trained TO the pink Of condition. lounged
about in hammocks and easy chairs
Compared 10 Harvard. Yale's men rowed
q longer quicker. and lrmer stroke On
the catch the crew bent their bodies
farther forward and swung farther
through the water 10 the finish than
Harvard. There was a snappy frmness
In getting their oars into the water and
no disposition was shown TO rush down
for the next stroke and thus check the
shells Roadway.
Coach Kennedy. for Yale. said this
morning that the race would be close.
and though hopeful that the Yale blue
would finish In front admitted thai che