The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-06-30
BY LENGTH
OF AN OAR
Yale Wins From Harvard in
hair.raisins Finish
THAMES GREATEST RACE
Contest Mas The Closest Rowed
by Rival Universities in
Twenty Seven Years.

NEW LONDON. Conn. June 30
The Yale varsity crew wrcstcd away
a victory from Harvard Ia the annual
four mile race on the Thames hy the
length ~ an oar. After rowing for
four miles with the shells tapping and
the graceful prows almost llgzngging
between the strokes the Yale boat
crossed the finish line three. quarters
OF length ahead ~ the crimson. Yale
won by two aud one hall seconds. The
blues time wis - minutes 33is sec
cnds. while Hnryard's time was -
minutes 30 seconds.
Such q race has never before been
rowed IN the twenty.scven years OF
racing between these old rivals.
The Els went 10 the starting fags
absolutely confident of an easy victory.
Coach Wray OF the Hurvard crew had
almost conceded that his eight had
practically no chance 10 win. But
Nray sprung q surprise on Yale. and
his name l. on the lips ~ every lover
81 rowing a. the coming rival II John
Kennedy. tho professional coach at
New Haven. Wray came 10 the Thames
three weeks ago an unknown coach.
lie viii 20 back 10 Boston as the first
professional who has inspired absolute
confidence In Harvard. The reason for
this Is that Yale sent into the race an
eight which she claimed was az good
as she had ever produced. Such an
eight In Nale's estimate has In the
past always been able 10 win from
Harvard. But wray with only one
year OF experience at Cambridge aud
with many universities almost rOwed
this crack Yale crew 10 standstill.
The lesson Of this race is briefly that
Harvard has found great coach. who
undoubtedly Will equal Kennedy of
Yale and thus begin n new era IN
Yale Harvard boating HaTvard's cry
is that We will lick them next year.
To this Yale replies with a serious
wagging Of the head.
Yale got the best Of the start and
in the first half dozen strokes shot the
nose Of her she'll ahead
THAT settles IT," said Yale man
on the regatta committee boat 1T will
be a procession"
A Harvard man at his elbow made no
reply Just before the first half mile
was finished Harvard ran her stroke
up and began To cut down Yale's lead
Yale started into the race rowing
thirty four. while Harvard started al
a thirty-two stroke to the minute. BY
the end of the first half mile the New
Haven crew had dropped their stroke
to thirty-two. and ut this gait they held
il almost to the finish At the end of
the first half mile Harvard was row.
ing at thirty-five strokes, but even al |
this gait she was unable to get the
lead. Yale finished the half in 2 min
utes % seconds; Harvard in minutes
% seconds.
The last mile of the race was fight |
which will never be forgotten by those |
who were fortunate enough to wit |
ness It. Just beyond the three mile |
Gag Meier, Harvard's No. Z, who had |
been rowing terrific race, seemed to |
have pumped himself out. On every |
stroke the Harvard shell crept up near
or and nearer to the Yale boat Sud |
denly the shells were once more lap |
ped. The Yale cockswain called for
spurt and his crew raised their stroke |
10 thirty-four, the highest that they had
been taught to row. Still Harvard was
game Up went the Harvard stroke to
and over the last quarter
IF mile the prov of the Cambridge
shell began to gain inch by inch on the
stern of the blues boat The crews
we're only a hundred yards from the
finish. and still it was others race.
No one could tell which crew was GO
ng to win. and the crowds became wild
n their excitement. Harvard could
hardly believe the spectacle which she
Jaw before her; Yale was dumfounded.
rhe hearts of the New Haven men
we're literally humping. Was the
rev the pride of Yale the best that
John Kennedy could produce to be
whipped by Harvard crew coached
" the unknown Wray?
The Harvard shell was still creeping
Up on the Yale boat. and every man in
he two long and graceful pieces of
'acing craft was literally pulling out
he last ounce of his power