The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-26

Superba, Kanawha, virginia. QuicksteI
Courier LayrooR hasa n;ds
Wskaiva, Riviera, White Heather, Ell King
Halcyon, Cavalier and Narwhal.
Tho hrst race. the four,oared shell even e;en,
and promptly at that hour the referee
boat, Scout. sounded shrill note of warn
inx that aN oke the echoes OF the yerdan
hills round about Gales Ferry,
first and efure1y rowed over to the littl,
bank, the beginning Of the regular four
mile course, where the, Central Vernon,
observation train stood within stone
the New York. New Haven and HARTFORD
grand stand on wheels" well filled. The
Harvard four followed, the partisans cheer
ing both crews to the echo, and they PAD.
died to the line at llso Inc vino a nag 1S nseo
huge sheet of polished glass, with here and
there a blur of blue where little zephyr
was getting in it's work. just then the sun
cut his way through the dark gray canopy
concert pitch.
Yale had the east position and Harvard
the west next to the bank. 1t was IL 80
O'Clock when Referee Meikelham, after de-
livering long lecture TO the crews sent tnetn
away with a gunshot, They caught the
water simultaneously, Harvard rowing
"a strokes to the minute and Yale hitting
It UP to SO. Even at the first quarter mile
Yale had secured an advantage, which was
never lost. 1t was only a quarter OF a length,
to be sure, but that was something, and the
Harvard rooters found something sticking
in their throats as they continued to give
the long drawn out "rahs" and the very slow
"H-a-r-v-a-r-d!'
thoroughly scientific stroke. 1t was all
business, hacked up by pure nerve and real
muscle. At the half mile Yale was timed
In 2:A5 is and Harvard in 2:49 40, which
showed nearly length for the New haven
rowers. Yale was pounding, out 36 to 81
by Harvard, but as the Yale shell continued
to gain the stroke was soon lowered to 81.
Yale completed the mile in 6:3S 4-5, with
Harvard doing it in 5:45. The Blues led
them by length and half; Harvard
braced in the next half mile, but so did
Yale, and there was no material change
in the latter's advantage, the New Haven
crews time for the mile and half being
s.25, as against 1882 for the Crimsons After
that there were no sensational develop;
ments, Yale drawing gradually away and
winning by about two lengths in 1889 20,
Harvards time being ITO is.
This race was finished opposite the navy
yard, where several tugs, dangerous
looking torpedo boat destroyer and the
OF the victors. Then straightaway there
was a great hustle to get the freshman
Fights to the mark where the tours had
ended their struggle. The Harvard young
sters, in white sweaters with 1909 in big
crimson letters on their breasts came
shooting out from point near the shore
where they had climbed into their precious
boat from the launch John Harvard.
They cut lot of fancy capers in the way
Of showing the crowd in the rolling grand
but while the Harvard crowd cheered them
there was a grand craning of necks to catch
a glimpse OF the phenomenal freshmen
from New Haven, who, it was said. were
able to beat the varsity in a fair race OF
four miles. Naturally, the Harvard crowd
was incredulous and, like the man from
Missouri, wanted "to be shown. The necks
were not craned long, for the gallant freshtes
with the blue oars came clustering up to the
mark with snap and dash that made their
"That's the dandy crew." exclaimed the
wise watermen, who predicted an easy VIC
tory for the eight, but the Harvard fresh
men were not afraid, apparently, as they
peeled OF their sweaters and threw them
threw hi his sweater s overheard by mistake,
but No. 9 very kindly fished 1t out OF the
river with his oar, and the doryInan got 1t
the next moment. Then, just as the sterns
of the two cedar shells were caught by the
men In the dories Referee Meikelham issued
the usual instructions In declamatory style
while the crowd waited impatiently. Again
Yale had the east position and Harvard the
west.
1t was 1908 o'clock when the referee
fred his pistol. Both crews took the water
OF whistles and salvos of cheers from the
crowd. and the crews were dashing along
with clean blade work and quickening
strokes Yale was rowing 81 well-timed
Both coxswains were yelling like Comanches
through the little meg aphones that were
strapped to their mouths.
AT the half mile Yales bow began to forge
ahead. Up to that time it had been an even
flags that marked the half, Yale's time was
200 and Harvard's 2:lO 1-5 Then it was
terrific battle. The young giants stripped
TO the buff, with broad backs, muscular
arms and bulky legs. were swaying back
two shells proceeded as If tied together by
hidden wires They bore down upon the
mile mark practically on even terms. Yale
being timed in 42s and Harvard in 40.
From every point, the cnlookers Re realized aiIe
event of the day. for it was anybody's race.
and both sides were roofing like an army
of Wildcats First Yale, then Harvard
was ahead as they approached the mile
and quarter but Yale pulling an even ,S 49,
mile and a half in ITO is.
Harvard was so close up that the Crimson
time was TIL SIS, difference OF only
a quarter Of length.
The excitement was at the highest notch,
but suddenly the Blue Of Yale smothered
tho Crimson OF Harvard. for the New Haven
youngsters with beautiful burst Of speed
produced by superb stroke and the cleanest
Workmanship rushed of with more
pronounced lead than ever. Harvard's
young champions were game. They hit
up their stroke to 80, but still the Yale shell
few on. As the crews darted down between
the yachts and steamers toward the Judges
boat, Aquilo, anchored near the bridge.
there was a deafening din-cannon roared,
belching fire and smoke. Whistles and
sirens shrieked, men and women cheered
and sang. while the big Sound steamers,
black with humanity, careened over as
their passengers crowded to the starboard
rail. It was Yale all the way In the last
half mile, and at the finish the New Haven
freshmen, pulling like veterans with plenty
left, darte d over the line, winning by nearly
two lengths in 9A3 les. The record for
the New London course Ia 9:3S l-5, made
by Harvard's freshmen in 1909. The
Crimson crew finished in 9:52, a most COM
mendable performance, also.
There was a trip back up the river now
for the officials and the observation trains.
Itwas / 20 when the victorious Yale freshmen
stood on the boathouse float at Gales Ferry
and cheered the varsity as the big fellows
walked down to the waters edge aud
launched their long, Light shell.
Good luck to you'll cried the freshmen as