Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-06-25

yesterday and last night, in anttcipa- ton of the annual contest on the Thames between the oarsmen of fair Harvard and old Yale, scheduled for to-day, awakened this morning to ind the conditions weatherwise anything but encouraging. It was the same old story which has been told so consistent ly throughout the last sixteen days, and everyone prepared for day or disagreeable experiences and possible delay in the pulling off of the events scheduled.
 Now and then during the night the drizzling rain that has already soaked Connecticut to saturatton fell. The early morning, however, brought With it a let-up in the matter of rain, but bleak wind blew out of the northeast, and with not a vestige of the sun to be seen through the clouds, the atmos- phere was raw and penetrating.
 The average enthusiast made 1t point to catch glimpse of the waters of the Thames as early as possible. He found the conditions to be those which have prevailed practically ever since the rival crews reached New London for their final preparation. Blowing diagonally across and down the river, the wind bucked the tide and kicked up choppy sea. Everyone agreed that unless the late forenoon brought 9 change the regatta would not material ize according to schedule and the thou sands of prospective spectators would have to dawdle away the day until evening with possibility of a post ponement even then.
 Away up the river at the quarters of the oarsmen the disappointmentW was just as keen, but the rival crews went about things in final preparation for the events of the twenty-ffth annual regatta over this course. Of the twen-i ty-four races which have been rowed on the Thames between the varsity efghts of the Cambridge and New Ha- ven universities, Yale has a record Of sixteen victories Harvard has won eight The New Haven eollegians con fidentIy expected to make it seventeen today. while the young men from Cambridge were not without encour11 agement that this was to be Haryards day.
 Before o'clock this morning the chairman of the regatta committee, with the referee, w H.. Meikleham or Columbia, went out on the river and over the course for final Inspection. y readiness for the contests except the weather, and everyone waited to see what the forenoon would bring forth. Meanwhile the harbor presented an animated scene. During the night many yachts had arrived and early in the day they left their anchorages off the Peduot in the lower harbOr and steamed or were lowed up through the drawbridge to the waters about the Varsity finish line. Among these slick craft was the presidential Sylph, hav- ing on board Miss Alice Roosevelt, the daughter of the president. There ap- peared also in this fiotilla the two big cup yachts, Constitution and Colum- bia.
 Early in the day excursion trains began to roll into the union station. The first holiday train to arrive came from Norwich way and brought sev- eral hundred of those residents of east ern Conn necticut towns who faithfully HoIlow this annual boat race. Later the big specials from New Haven came and they were followed with similar long trains from Boston. However, in spite of the arrival of these hundreds, there was not to. be witnessed on the streets and about the hotels the scenes of excitement and enthusiasm which have generally marked boat race day. Contrary to the usual conditions there were opportunities and to spare to pur- chase tickets for the observation trains on either side of the river, and it looked as if the weather was sure to keep down the crowd of spectators
 At s:3O it was announced that every effort would be made to start the re- gatta at ii o'clock, the schedule hour. The days program called for the race between varsity fours from the start opposite Gales Ferry down stream to the navy yard, a distance of two miles. This was to be followed promptly by the freshman race from the navy yard to the railroad bridge 1t was planned to finish these two minor events before noon and to start the big eights down the river promptly at 12:30 p. m. The crews are made up as follows:
 Yale crews:
 Varsity eight-Stroke. Bogue; No z, Cross; No 6, Miller; No 5. Whittier; No 4. Coffin, No 3, Stubbs; No 2, Judson; bow, Waterman (captain); coxswain, Minor.
 Varsity four Stroke, Adams, No g., Fish: No ?. Auchincloss; bow, John son; coxswain, Le Blanc.
 ET6SHIU6n w hlLhOSS No T, Weeks: No 6. McMahon; No 5, Chase; No 4. Scott; No 3. Morse; No 2, swinson; bow, Heckscher; coxswain, Muzzy.
 Harvard crews:
 Varsity eight-Stroke, D. D. L. Nc Grew; No T. c. Lawson; No 6. o. D. FiIley: No 5, J. P. B Duffy; No 4, F. ". c. Foster; No 8. E. George; No 2. s. F. WaIcott; bow. l.. T. Swain; cox sawin. B. S. Litchfeld.
 Varsity four-Stroke. H. C. Dilling- ham; No 3. J. B. Aver IT; No 2, H. Webster: bow, C. A. Hartwell, cox sawin NJ. IT Ivy.
 Freshman eight Stroke. F. R. Pleas anton; No ', L. Burchard; No 6. R. F. Guild; No 5, F. S. Kellogg: No {, J. l.. White; No 3, c. switzer; No 2. A. c. x