Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-06-25
Yale-Haryard
Boat RaceToday.

eve OF the HARVARD ale IoWIlS 81 uS-
gle finds the city awaiting the event
with keen expectancy, with the Var
Slty Fights more evenly matched than
in many years before and with the
van guard of the great throngS eX-
pected tomorrow. 1t. was to be q record
event in many respects and principally
through the presence of President
Roosevelt and Secretary Taft and
there is much disappointment tonight
that this feature of the program is to
some extent changed. President Roose-
velt's determination not to attend be-
cause Of the death of eX-PreSldent
Cleveland has been followed by doubts
as to the presence of Mr.. Taft, but 1t
is hoped that the spirit of enthusiasm
among the university men will finally
prevail upon the secretary to lend his
presence to the event.
Today initiated the preliminary fea-
ture of the Harvard-Yal regatta, two
good races being rOwed-thc Freshmen
four and the graduates eight, both re-
sulting in victory for Harvard. The
results were received with tumultuOuS
cheering from the Harvard, men who
packed the decks of the tlotilla of
pleasure craft at the finish amt who
received it as a favorable omen of the
coming events.
The water was little rough on ac-
count of the southwest breeze but the
tide was coming in so it did not make
much difference At SIS 0o'clock the
Freshmen tours got away from the
mark. The Harvard youngsters got
little the better of the start but for the
70 ,.tr in
ing the lead because they were row.
ing short Yale, however, did not seem
to be getting any better results, and
the desperate efforts of Yale to make
up Harvard's advantage of a quarter
of length were fruitless. AS the half
mile flag was approached the Yale
stroke was seen to be pulling himself
out. He was trying to row the whole
boat from the appearance.
The Harvard boys had gotten to-
gether by this time and when Everett
called for the squirt Richardson re-
sponded with 4 vim and the Crimson
began to pull away. From here to the
finish the race was never in doubt.
Harvard kept gaining and crossed the
lire q winner by good two and
half lengths The Yale crew stopped
rowing a couple of lengths short of the
line No official time was taken
After the Freshman race was fin
ished the John Harvard with w. A.
Meikleham, the referee, went down to
the 3-mile flag. Starting from the 3
mile flag the Yale men got the better
of the start but after the first of the
half of the race was over the Harvard
crew shot up their stroke and began
to gain rapidly. The Ellis hung on
gamely, but Harvard won by three
quarters of a length in 2.32, fairly good
time.
After the races Captains Ide and
| Richardson tossed for the choice of
covers and Harvard won two out of
| the three losses In the first, the one
| for the Varsity of choice of position.
Harvard wen and took the westerly
cove and thereby escaping the eel
grass In the second toss Yale won and
| chose the easterly course for the four
cared race. the first of the morning
| Richardson again won the third and
| chose the east course for his Freshman
eight
| Both Coaches Kennedy of Yale and
| Wray of Harvard expressed the opinion
| the Varsity Fights would be record
affair provided wind and water were fla
| vorahle. If the weather is unfavorable
| at $50 tomorrow. Referee Mekelham may
| postpone the event until later in the day
| but not until after Z o'clock.
| The course tonight. especially Just
above the drawbridse. is dotted With
yachts of many descriptions. many with
| electric iliuminatiOn. which contra sted
| sharply but brilliantly against the SOM
Der skies. In the roadstead out towards
the sound the yachts were arriving from
| the eastward and westward during the
evening and somewhere out beyond Race
| Rock was the naval squadron from
| Hampton Roads while coming down the
| sound the Mayfower was bearing Mrs
| Roosevelt and the family who will he
| among those to witness the great race
| Assistant Sec. of the Navy Newberry on
the Sylph dropped anchor during the af-
| ternOon. The Dolphin was an earlier ar
rival and there were several torpedo
boats at anchor dispatched here in antic-
| ipation Of the visit of the President
| The revenue cutter fleet was already
| distributed upon its station rs a patrol