The morning journal-courier., 1908-06-22
CREWS VISITED
 OLD OARSMEN Walbridge Taft and Blair at Yale's Quarters, While Sec retary Bacon Calls at
 Red Top.
QUIET SUNDAY FOR MEN
Race Expected to Be One of the Best in Ycars--Yachts Already Assem- bling in New London
 Harbor.
Especial to the JournaI-courler.)

Special to the JournnI- Couricro Gales Ferry, Conn, June 21,-New London harbor and Thames river Is fast assuming It's wonted regatta week aspect. Today a number of fine yachts reached port and are at anchor in the lower harbor, while two or three are mp the river. The yaw Wndward own ed by. J. M. Geotchins, of the New York Yacht club, came in today and is fly ing an immense Yale flag almost big enough for q mainsail.
 This has been an Idle day SO far as rowing was concerned, the Yale oars men being the guests of Walter Fergu son aboard his steam yacht Christabel. The yacht made trip around Fishers Island. The day was an idel summer day and the trip was greatly enjoyed, The balance of the day was spent around quarters quietly. Rowing mat ters and "reminiscences of former strug- gles on the river forming the topic of talk on the piazza and In quarters.
 At Yale camp today are Walbridge S. Taft, nephew of William II. Taft, the republican choice for president, and William Mccormick Blair, former oarsman and Yale coach. Mir. Taft got q great reception from his old friends, being welcomed with cheers and hearty handshakes. MT, Taft thinks we'll of the crew 30 far as he has had oppor- tunity to see them, but has not had an opportunity 10 see them on the river.
 The Harvard oarsmen were the guests of Secretary of State R. L. Bacon on his chartered steam yacht Margaret II. The Margaret made a short cruise In Long Island Sound dur ing the day. Later Secretary Bacon and his son, R. l.. Bacon, jr, went out for a short row in pair oar. It was remarked that the secretary, who Is an old Harvard oarsman was still well able to take care of himself in a shell and was no whit inferior to his son.
 Saturday evening. contrary to ex- pectation, there was no attempt made ,by Yale to send the varsity eight over the course again. It is generally understood that there will be no more time rowing don by Harvard and while ,iYale may send the crew over thetfou miles again, still nothing is known. John Kennedy may decide to take ' matters easy as to time trials and give fthe men only light exercise from now Mntil the big race. There Is feeling of confidence among the Yale men and few anxious looks are seen on Johns cpuntenance, so that 1t would seem they are satisfied that Yale is in good shape to stand the strain and will be there or whereabouts on Thursday.
 Chairman of the regatta committee Charles H. Schweppe arrived on Sat i.urday and In the evening was at Yale quarters. and had conversation with Advisory Coach Julian w. Curtiss and IF. V. Chappell of the regatta com mittee They had nothing official to communicate, however, until the early part of this week The blue and crim- son flags which mark out the lanes for the shells were put in place Sat 'urday and are reminders of the ap- proach of the day of the race.
 The men at both Yale and liar. yard quarters appeared in good form Saturday evening and showed up wei in the short stretches under dfficul. ties Ever since the commencement of the work on the Thames strong winds have prevailed during the day and have held on until late in tho evening making practice in anything approaching to smooth water an i'm possibility During the past few days too, the tide has been running strongly on the ebb at the time wher 1t was desired to send the crews ovel the course As the big race will b, rowed up stream, naturally 1t wa! best to do the time trials In the sam' directions and as nearly as possible under the same conditions which vii exist regatta day Still, the practice has been consistently persisted in ant the oarsmen have been given, If any thing, a harder drilling than last year Many nights the varsity eight ha been sent over a distance of mor than double the full course and hav stood the strain easily and withou distress.
 Outside opinion is pretty much al yided as to the outcome.
 Both crews are excellent, and tn idea Is that the pace cut out will b hot one from the start. Unde anything like good conditions on tn river, the course should be oovere' in record time this year. Enduranc will be the factor which will brin victory and this each eight seems t have.
 The second Yale varsity four-oare crew was broken up on Saturday an Robbing anl Congdon of that boa broke training and went back to Ne, Havenin the evening. The other tw members of the crew will be held a substitutes until the day of the re gatta.
 Graduate Advisory Coach Julian W Curtiss left quarters for New Tor Saturday evening and will probabl not return until Wednesday
 (By Associated press.)
 New London, June 2l-The har work of the Yale and Harvard roWin