Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-30
Yale Harvard Boat Races at
New London Today.
CONDITIONS NOT GOOD
VARSITY EVENT POSTPONED
UNTIL THIS AFTERNOON.
Big Crews Meet at 4:15-Bad Rowin &
Conditions Compel a Change
Of Program.

Oh
NEW LONDON. Conn. June so.-Yale
captured the freshman event In tho annual
boat races today under most unfavorable
rowing conditions The varsity and four
cared races were postponed until late this
afternoon on account of the weather. The
freshman race was one of the prettiest
seen here in years and was rowed in good
time.
For the twenty sixth time since 1876 the
oarsmen Of Harvard and Yale universities
are coniestng today on the Thames river
course ii the annual regatta. During all
these years the crews of the two institu-
lions have met regularly on this course ex-
cept In 1898 and the year following. In
1896 the famous athletic imbroglio kept
the two colleges apart in all branches Of
sport.
In 1897 tie two crews met at Poughkeep-
sic in d triangular race with Cornell. and
both went DOWN to defeat In 1898 the old
rivals again met on the Thames With the
Ithacans again a contestant. and again the
two New England colleges went down to
defeat before Courtney's men. In the twen-
ty-fve races rowed between Harvard and
Yale on this course. victory has gone to Yale
in seventeen contests. and the Yale crew
of 1888 holds the course record of 20.10
Today's battle found Harvard mon de-
termined to break down Yale's long line
OF successes and the New Haven collie
CLANS stubborn In purpose to prevent
this The night was one of some wildness
In the way OF undergraduate enthusiasm,
but all told. it proved to be somewhat
more quiet than in certain former years
Great crowds arrived in New London yes
terday and last night and will be IN
creased when excursion trains from Bos-
ton and New Haven and other points ar
rive.
Weather Conditions Bad.
Daybreak brought with 1t weather condi-
ttons OF a character disheartening to those
unfamiliar with the antics of New London
weather All night long there hung over
the harbor and river dense fog, and at
o'clock 1t had lifted appreciably. To rem
der the enthusiasts more apprehensive. 7
o'clock brought with 1t a generous down.
pour of rain. Half an hour later. however,
the fog lifted. the rain ceased and the sun
began to give signs of life. At that hour
It looked as If the day would prove clear
and hot. At the mouth of the harbor the
wind was out OF the southeast. Eight miles
up the river, off the quarters of the crews,
things looked suspicious. The water was
beautifully smooth and there seemed to be
every prospect Of fine racing conditions.
Long before o'clock there began a pro-
cession OF yachts up the harbor to the fin
fish line.
The hotels were thronged with early
risers who made their way down town
and up the river to be ready for the first
race-that between the freshmen, sched
uled for 1880 a. m. There was almost no
betting. The odds on the big race re-
manned at to ]. with Yale the favorite.
William Meikleham of New York Is the
referee.
The contesting oarsmen were astir
carly. and. although the Harvard Yale
varsity. and although the Harvard Y ale
four years have ended In victory for Yale
the two old-time athletic rivals prepare
for todayS three events with the same
confidence and determination to win that
has characterized their attitude ever since
college racing was fnaugurated. Neither
o. the varsity crews was overconfident this
morning. but the sentiment at the Yale
quarters certainly had more Of expectancy
OF success than that at Harvard's. At 10
o'clock the fog banks had settled back of
the hills. but the weather over the upper
end OF the course was still thick. making 1t
difficult to see the half-mile flags at any
distance. The wind was very light and was
blowing straight up the course. The tide
was running strong and full up stream. 50
that there was a prospect that the fresh
man and four-oared crews would be able to
make fast time.
The Freshman Race.
In the freshman race the first event
scheduled. which was to be rowed from the
New London drawbridge to the navy yard
Harvard selected sthe east course, having
won the toss. In the four-oared race. from
the navy yard to Gales Ferry, Harvard
picked the west course. and the west also
In the varsity race. The observation trains
on both sides OF the river were abreast of
the starting line at 1913. Almost a calm
prevailed on the river. the tide causing the
only ripple. There was a sprinkle of rain
downpour of rain struck Gales Ferry in
the vicinity Of the Harvard-Yale quarters
aoout 1870, driving everybody under shell
ter Although the breeze had freshened
somewhat, the river did not grow aupre-
Gladly rougher
At II :os both freshman Fights were under
the drdwbrdge, below the starting line
ready for their two-mile race.
he start was superb both crews catch
ing the water simultaneously. For the first
tui.3ns Harvard more than held her own.
AT the halr they were on even terms With
one mile travelled Yale's stroke, slower
than Harvards. began to tell and soon
tne Yale shell was full length ahead A
Harvard squirt gut this down one-half but
naie met her rivad's squirt and held the lead
until the finish The official time was.
Yale. 1920; Harvard, 10.20h
The New Haven freshman eight crossed
the line half a length ahead or the Har-
ward youngsters.
The race was rowed in good water up
stream. two miles from the railroad bridea
10 the navy yard 1t was a pretty contest
aud was In doubt until the last stroke was
pulled. was
varsity Race Postponed.
AT Ii. 80 both the four-oared crews were
al the starting point for their race Of two
miios The wind was blowing eight or ten
miles an hour straight upstream and rain
was falling heavily. At 1:19 one of the
eihcials megaphoned to the spectators in
the observation train that the varsity race
hau been postponed until 4:15. He also
announced that the four-oared race would
Dc held Immediately after tho varsity
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