New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-30
IALE-H HARVARD TO-DAY.
BLUE HACKERS SERENE.
Introduction of Cornell Stroke at
Cambridge To Be Tested.

Gales Ferry, June 29.-The collegiate world in
general, and the rowing world in particular. are
awaiting to-morrow's meeting between Har-
ward and Yale with rather than the usual
degree of expectancy. They are anxious to see
what measure of success will result from the
importation to Cambridge of a former Cornell
coxswain for the avowed purpose of upsetting
Harvards rowing traditions, tried and found
wanting, and installing in their place the meth
DDS devised and put in practice at Ithaca and
Poughkeepsie by Charles E. Courtney.
Frederick Colson has been hard at work with
the Harvard crew since January, and tomorrow
1t will be seen how far he has been successful.
The old Cornell coXswain may not be confident
of victory His remarks this afternoon did not,
however. commit him to any degree of prophecy.
He said
.. Of cqurse no crew can he ,, expected T. make
five months The Harvard eight are rowing,
have done well fully as well as l expected them
to do. Every man Of them is in tiptop physical
condition. There will he no excuses made for them
if they lose
The defeat of Cornell by Syracuse at Pough
keepse is not thought to have any bearing on
the experiment Of grating the Courtney stroke
on the Cambridge eight No attemp. Is made
to dsparage the victory of the Syracusans. but
most old rowing men here believe that Courtney
made blunder when he decided to make two
of his varsity in the four Dared boat
before the varsity They think it will be
a long time before any American coach does such
a thing again.
The goddess of chance favored Harvard this
evening, for the Cambridge captain won every
toss when Referee W. A. Meikelham spun the coin
at Redtop for the choice of courses. Harvard
chose the western course for both the varsity
and the four-oarec contests and the eastern
course for the freshman dispute. What slight ad-
vantage there is in courses lies therefore all with
the Crimson.
Certain researches that COlson has been max
ing into the character of the riverbed have
resulted in shifting the second mile of the
varsity course $50 feet further toward the
New-London shore than it used to be. The
change is believed 20 get around some mud
fats which handicapped the eastern course
with shoal water and all the attendant embar-
easements thereof.
THE TWO COACHES CAREFUL
Both Harvard and Yale were the river with
all their crews both morning and evening to-
day. but no chances were taken and no heavy
work was done, both coaches contenting them
selves with their trying few starts and short
spurts There is no mistaking the air of quiet
confidence that prevails at Yale's training quar-
ters Yale expects to win, and couldn't under
stand if she should lose.
No" said John Kennedy, "it isn't the best
eight we've ever sent to the races from New
Haven. by any manner, but it's a good one
plenty good enough to win. I firmly believe.
Every man of the eight is as fit a fiddle
1t will be an even thing so far shells go.
Both Harvard and Yale viii row in cedar shells.
made by Davy and constructed on the same
model. The regatta opens at 1870 a. m. with
the freshman struggle. which will be rowed up
h-;I
four will start where the freshmen finish. and
row two miles upstream. The principal contest
of the day comes off at 1870 Just after the
tide begins to sacken and the varsity eights
will row four miles downstream, finishing amid
the usual uproar. just above the bridge. Should
there be any postponement made necessary by
unfavorable wind weather, an effort will be
made to row the race at o'clock in the even
ing.