The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-25

and endeavored to win out on the squirt.
Harvard quickened the stroke and the
crimson boat drew away from its blue
rival and crossed the finish line a
length and halt. ahead. Official time:
Harvard 9:3S1a; Yale 9:471z.
After the race Yale men appeared
much stronger than the members of
the victorious crew.
Eaton, No. 6 in Harvard's boat COL
lapsed at the finish. The Yale men fin
ished in excellent form.
Official time freshmen eight: Harvard
9:SS1s; Yale 9:471a.
The best previous time was in 1903.
when Yale won in 9:43 with Harvard
nine seconds lower. In the four cared
race the time in 1904 was better by
about Is seconds than in this event to-
day.
Leading Up to the Events.
New London, June 25.-Beneath an
overcast sky, a cool north wind blow
ing, a large fleet of pleasurecraft lay
at anchor today waiting for the an
nual boat races between Yale and
Harvard crews. In the streets were
crowds of enthusiasts carrying the
colors of the universities. Interest in
the days events was heightened by the
expectation that Secretary Taft and his
classmates of Yale rs would be
among the spectators. The party is
due here at $3.50 p. m. The family
of President Roosevelt viewed the
contest from the yacht Sylph.
At the quarters of the crews a stiff
northwest breeze blew the difference
in direction there from lower stretches
of the river being one of the peculiari-
ties of the course.
The two morning races were over the
same water from the navy yard to the
drawbridge, instead of as in past years
from Red Top, for the fours and from
the navy yard to the bridge for the
freshman eights.
The Mayfiower which brought Mrs.
Roosevelt and her family over from
Oyster Bay. anchored off the FIT. Girls
void house late last evening and this
morning soon after "colors" had been
signalled to the fleet of pleasure craft
the family were transferred 20 the
Sylph. which, in line with other crafts
moved up through the drawbridge the
point at which the morning races were
finished.
In the four Dared event the Yale
fours had the west side of the course
which also was the lane for the Har-
ward freshmen in the second race. but
in the prevailing wind no advantage
came with the position.
just Before the Race.
At 10 o'clock the Harvard four
cared crew had just come down to the
boat house from Varsity quarters.
The Yale four cared and freshman
crews were in readiness to embark on
navy yard. The Harvard freshmen
and four cared crews boarded the
launch John Harvard for the trip to
the navy yard. The launched towed
the shells. Northerly squalls blew
down the river at that hour.
The referee and boats returning
from Yale's quarters whistled for the
Harvard crews. Close behind her
came the Yale launch Elihu Yale with
crews aboard, towing their shell.
The launch John Harvard started
for the navy yard at 1926 with both
crews aboard and towing their shells
The crews arrived at 1920 and i'm
mediately started to get into their
shells.
The Crowd and Conditions.
The river conditions at the navy
yard were fairly good for the opening
of the Yale-Harvard regatta here to-
day. The breeze had subsided some
what and the water was just ruff1ed.
The freshman four-oared crews from
the two camps race for two miles on
the Thames and then a graduates
eight from both quarters takes place
half a mile. This was scheduled to be
followed by a banquet of the graduates
at the Harvard dining hall, in which
the Yale men are Harvard's guests
Peter Higginson, captain, stroke and