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

ward four by two lengths, ana tie -1di-
ward Freshman eight defeating the Yale
Freshmen by three lengths.
From q technical point of view Har-
wards victory was due to no accident.
Yaes defeat might be attributed to q
physical defect. But had not this phys
ical defect existed i'm the Yale boat there
is no telling how the race might nave
resulted. Consequently there is nothing
whatever to be explained in Yale's favor
which in any way detracts from the glo-
~ of The Crimson. The selection of men
who are physically fit to row foul-mile
race is a responsibility that rests solely
upon the coach in charge Of the crew. A
coach may make an honest mistake in
the selection of an oarsman and 1t was
thought John Kennedy made such mis-
take in selecting D. r. Greswold as Yaie's
stroke oar.
Yale has always had a leaning towards
Il stroke who has an ear for time and
the physical skill that can make har-
mony in an eisht-Oared shell and a sense
that always knows how many strokes
are being rowed each minute. Men of
light ply sique seem to possess these quail
tiles rather more than men of sturdy
build.
Yale was short of material for stroke
this year ard during the long trpout for
the Varsity eight Griswold's strength
stood up so we'll that everyone began to
think that he was qualified especially for
the position. He practically had no COM
petitors in point of skill as stroke. He
is % years of age. 6 feet, inch in height,
weighs 15S pounds. but is constitutionally
nervous and liable to worry about his
condition. With this type of a man at
the most responsible position OF stroke,
the mishap which Yale suffered in getting
bad start almost settled the race.
On the very first stroke Capt Ide. in
his effort to get in all of his power, broke
the lace in the shoe which held his right
foot in position in the shell. This meant
that on his recovery he would have to
get back into position with the strength
of one leg. Ide raised his hand as a
signal and so did CoXswain Cass. to Ref
cree Merk,eham, indicating that there
was something wrong in the Yale boat.
Merkleham saw what had happened and
tried to blow the whistle of the referees
boat. but the whistle broke and the two
Crews NtPt ioNihS~ Ipt 'tI' NiS''' Va 81
mile before he finally attracted Harvard's
attention and called both Fights back for
another start.
During all this time Yale was practi-
cally rowing with only seven men. as
Capt. Tde was constantly raising his hand
and trying to attract the attention OF
Referee Merkleham. After this incident
Yale men who thoroughly knew the crew
saw the Blues chances drop like flash.
The nervous strain of such an accident
was sure to affect a man like Griswold.
while to the Harvard crew it only gave
confidence.
The two crews lost little or no time in
getting back to their stake boats and at
612 O'Clock the referees pistol again
cracked out the signal for the start. The
eight got away on the urst
start in beautiful form and they repeat
I'd this on the second start The Yale
boat got away without any misiiap, but
for the first few strokes they did not
show the perfect form and .iythm WHICH
1ad characterized their rowing all season.
The Crimson. however. plainly had the
better of the start. Harvard got away
1t 40 strokes to the minute. Yale at IS.
rhe tide was running up stream with the
rews The conditions were fair, but not
asst for an upstream race.
Over the first half mile Harvard grad
lally increased the advantage which she
rot at the very start. and reached the
lalf mile flag Just one second ahead of
yale her time being 2.9S; Yale's 80 At
his point each crew was rowing at 81
trokes to the rinute. This was above
yale's normal gait and 1t was clear to