Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-26

One and one-half miles-Harvard
912, Yale GIG.
Two miles-Harvard 1913, Yale 1877
Two and one-half miles-Harvard
14.35, Yale 14.45.
Three miles Harvard 1900, Yale -.
Three and one-half miIes-Harvard
PHO, Yale -.
Four mles-Harvard 24.10, Yale =
For the first time, too, the President
of the United States was taking keen
and active interest as a champion of
the Crimson cOlOrs and although COM
pelleG by circumstances to be absent
himself today. the spirit of his cnthu-
siasm was voiced by the Roosevelt
family, who witnessed the contest from
the deck of the Presidential yacht. Old
Eli had her distinguished supporter
Sec. Taft. the central figure of the col
legians aboard one of the observation
trains, who shouted encouragement to
the Yale crew as they sped over the
early reaches of the course and then
lapSCd into gllm diSmay as CriSwold
was seen to fall over helpless in the
Yale boat.
The race was rowed under the most ia
vorable race conditions, just as the sun
was setting over the Thames with the
water broken only by ripples. The pic
ture of the straining racers as they start
ed on their course was one of intense in
terest and striking brlliancy.
The great steel drawbridge spanning the
Thames marked the start, with the finish
at Red Top, four miles up stream. Just
above the bridge We're massed the main
1lotilla of pleasure craft. The Sylph, the
Roosevelts' boat had a point of vantage
near the finish.
Through the maze of craft the racers
threaded their way. with a clear course
200 feet wide, marked every half mile with
red and blue standards.
Yale had splashed at the start and Har
ward had been quick to push their boat
slightly ahead. They hung nip and tuck,
Harvard stamina against Yale pluck,
through the roaring avenues of nerve
racked, screechng thousands. Half a
mile from the start both crews were al
most side by side, with Harvard only
few feet to the fore; one mile. Harvard
still ahead with Yale holding on logged
ly; two miles, Yale squirting and lessen
ing the gap; two and a half miles, Har
ward still in the lead with open water
between the boats and Yale fighting on
like grim death.
Now came the decisive moment, with
the final stretch almost in sight and the
breathless throngs straining to see if
Harvard would keep up the clip or would
weaken at the close. Steadily on they
came. when suddenly a commoton was
observed in the Yale boat as Griswold
the stroke. hung forward over his oar and
ceased to row.
For nearly minute-it seemed 1O-the
Yale stroke sat motionless leaning for
ward as if lifeless. Then he was seen to
straighten up and bend to his oar again
and a great shout went up from the Val
supporters as their crew was seen to pick
up the stroke and rally for another effort. |
But they were now six boat lengths be-
hind. hopelessly beaten Another 20l
strokes and Griswold was seen to col
lapse again, and then the whole crew,
at the fall of their leader, |
quit their work and sat detected at their
oars. Yale was out; it was no longer a |
race. and Harvard swung ahead alone. |
still keeping up their racing clip, and |
crossed the line with a regular Swish |
sWash."
II, the forewater stood out the big |
Presidential yacht with the Roosevelt |
children on the bridge waving Justify |
Far away could be seen Sec. Taft's car.
the big secretary standing bareheaded |
gazing back toward the crippled Yale
boat. Griswold had been helped from
the Yale boat and, tagging far behind the
Harvard men. the seven remaining oars
men of the Yale crew at last made their
appearance at the finish-a half mile be-
hind Harvard, receiving a generous ova-
lion for their pluck under such disheart-
anng conditions.
Now came the welcome to the victors
and the wild scene of tumultuous demon
stration when men of Harvard celebrated
heir triumph. The days honors were d.
vided, the Yale four defeating the HAIR
CONTINUED on Page TWo)