The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-26
LAST RACE TO HARVARD
Crimson's Crew Left Yale Far Behind
In Closing Event

New London. June 26.-Amid a deaf
ening din Of steam whistles and horns
and amid the shouts OF collegians, the
Harvard varsity eight shot their boat
over the finish iine last night. winning
from the crippled and dtstanced Yale
crew. that classic OF American college
aquatic. the Harvard ale boat race.
But instead of race Harvard finished
the last mile and half alone while
far behind Yale limped along with but
seven men at the oars. with Griswold.
the stroke-the man who had been re-
lied upon to set the winning pace-bene
forward limp and faint from the terrific
strain OF the opening two miles For
the f1rst time too. the president OF the
United States was taking keen and
active interest as a champion OF the
Crimson colors. and although compen-
ed by circumstances to absent himself
earlier in the day, the spirit OF his
enthusiasm was voiced by the Roose-
welt family who witnessed the contest
from the deck OF the yacht. Yale was
more fortunate IN having her distin-
guished champion. Secretary Taft, pres
enr. in reality the central figure of a
group OF cOlfegians aboard one OF the
observation trains who shouted en-
couragement to the Yale crew as they
sped over the early reaches OF the
course and then lapsed into glum dis
may as Griswoid was seen to fall over
helplessly in the Yale boat The race
was rowed under the most favorable
racing condition. Just as the sun was
setting over the picturesque Thames
with the water broken only by rip
pies. a cloudless sky and light north
west breeze. -
Through the maze of craft loaded
with sightseers. the racers threaded
their way with a clear. open course zoe
feet wide, marked every half mile with
red and blue. standards-blue for Yale
and crimson for Harvard. Every eye
rjU nm In oxyiv,
forms in the boats as they bent. to the
terrific strain OF 20, then 80 and then "a
strokes to the minute, driving their
frail crafts through the water as with
knives. Above the shouts from the
onlookers could be heard the shriIl
voices OF the coxwains, megaphones to
mouth. stimulating their men and
marking time With "one. two. three,
four" y.
Yale had splashed at the start and
the Harvard men had been, quick to
take this advantage, pushing their
boat slightly ahead. There they hung,
nip and tuck. Harvard stamina against
Yale pluck through the roaring ave-
nues of nerve racking, screechfng
thousands. Half a mile from the start
both crews We're almost side by side.
Harvard being g few feet to the fore:
one mile, Harvard still ahead with
Yale holding on .doggedly: two miles,
Yale squirting and lessening the gap;
two and half miles. Harvard still in
the lead with open water between the
boats and Yale fighting on like grim
death.
Yale sWeakens.
Now came the decisive moment,
with the final stretch. almost In sight
and the GREATNESS throngs straining
to see if Harvard could keep up. or
would weakensat the close. Steadily
on they came. when suddenly commo-
ton was observed in the Yale boat as
Griswold. the stroke, fell forward on
his oar and ceased to row. Cas-.
Yale'so coxswatn. had already been
dashings water on his pale face. For
nearly 9minute-tt seemed ten-the
Yale stroke satIpnottonless.. bent down
as If lifeless. Then he was seen to
sup and bend-to his oar
again. and a great shout went up from
the Yale cohorts, as their crew was
seen to pick up the stroke and rally |
TOR another effort. Another twenty |
strokes and Griswold was seen to COL |
lapse again and then the whole crew. |
disheartened at the fall of their lead |
er, quit their work and sat detected |
at their oars. Yale was beaten It
was no longer a race and Harvard |
swung ahead alone still keeping, up
the racing clip and crossing the finish
Ing line with a regular Swish swash"
to the very end
Griswold had been helped from the
Yale boat and tagging far behind the
team the seven remaining
Yale men at last made their appear
ance at the finish a half mile behind
receiving a generous ovation
for their pluck under such dishearfen-
ing conditions. Official time:
Half mile-Harvard. 2:3s. Yale.
2:39.
One mile-Harvard. 5:37; Yale.
500
Mile and a half-Harvard. e:12:
Yale. GIG.
Two miles-Harvard, 1888; Yale,
1877.
Two and a half miles-Harvard.
14:35; Yale, 14:45.
Three miles--Harvard, 1900; Yale
Three and a half miles-Harvard.
21:10; Yale
Four mfIes--Harvard, 24:1o: Yale