The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-30
BIG RACE YALES! After Losing FOur-Oar and Freshmen Events the
 Blue Captures
 Varsity.
CLOSEST RACE EVER ROWED
HARYARD MAKES REMARKABLE
 SPURT IN LAST MILE.

OyerhauIing Yale When Finish Line Is
 Reached-Vfctors Cross but Three
 Quarters of q Boat Length or Two
 and One-HaIf Seconds in the Lead
 Time Considering the Conditions
 Very Fast-aIier CoIIapses in Har-
 yard Boat After the Race but Quickly
 Recoyers-Harvard Considers Result
 of Regatta Victory for Her and n
 Great Triumph for Coach Wray Who
 sprung Surprise on Yale.
 New London, June 29.-The Yale var sity crew this afternoon wrested vic- tory from Harvard in the annual four mile race on the Thames by the length of an oar. After rowing for four miles with the shells Tapping and the prows almost zigzagging between the strokes, the Yale boat crossed the finish line three-quaTterse of a length ahead of the Crimson. Yale won by two and one-half seconds. The Blues time was 22;33 1-2; Harvard's was 22:S6.
 Such a race has never before been rowed in the twenty-seven years ot racing between these old rivals.
 The Ellis went to the starting lag ab- solutely confident of an easy victory. Coach Wray of the Harvard crew had almost conceded that his eight had practically no chance to win. But Wray sprung a surprise on Yale to- night and his name is on the lips or every lover of rowing as the coming rival of John Kennedy, the professional coach at New Haven. Wray came to the Thames three weeks ago an un- known coach. He will go back to Bos- ton as tRa-frst professional who has inspired absolute confidence in liar yard. z
 The crowd was smaller than usual.
 The experience which Harvard had this afternoon will bring to the Thames next year a crowd that will probably break all records. There was the cus- tomary long line of yachts both above the draMbridge and at the end of the course four miles up the river. This aft ernoon the sailing craft practically formed an avenue for four long miles.
 The race was scheduled to be rowed at half-Dast four o'clock, and it was started almost on the minute. Five minutes before 4 Referee Vim. Meikle- ham. the old Columbia oarsman, or dersd out both crews and half an hour later Charles H. Schweppe, the chair man of the regatta committee had the course cleared and ready for, the race The wind which threatened to kick up the river early in the afternoon had calmed down and was blowing almost across the course, and just quartering on the bows of the shells. It was a hard wind to row against, and as the coaches sized up the situation they saw there was no chance for fast time.
 As the two eights rowed to their stakeboats the spirit of Harvard awoke with the customary long 'rahs to which the Ellis flung back the cheer of old Yale. The observation trains pulled into position, and about the starting flags, just above the long drawbridge, there was painted a gorgeous picture of color.
 At 4:4o o'clock Harvard was at her starting flag and three minutes later the Yale shell was in position. Within five minutes Referee Meikleham had given his instructions to the crews and then raising his arm, shouted, Are you ready, Harvard? Are you ready, Yale?"
 From both of the captains the an- swer came back, ''yes.''
 There was @ flash of a pistol and the strong arms and broad backs swung back in the shells. The race had been begun.
 Yale got the best of the start, and in the first half dozan strokes shot the nose of her shell ahead.
 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 a 34 while Harvard started at S2 stroke to the minute. By the end of the first half mile the New Haven crew had drop ped their stroke to 32, and at this gait they held it almost to the finish. At the end of the first half mile Harvard was rowing at 35 strokes, but even at this gait she was unable to get the lead. Yale finished the half in 2;22; Harvard in 2:23.
 Yale was now leading by almost a boat length. Harvard keptup her killing pace almost to the mile flag, where she dropped her stroke to 32, the same gait that Yale was rowing, Yale's time at the mile was 5:10; Harvard's 5:12.
 When Harvard dropped her stroke down to S2 Yale gained a second, and the New Haven boat passed the mile and a half flag in s:01; Harvard's time was 8:04.
 The crews now began to strike the whips channel, just below the navy yard, and Yale got the benefit of the faster water. Yale gained on this half mile just three seconds, or almost boats length, and at the two mile flag
 lContinued on Sixth Page.)