New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-22
Crimson Varsity Sweeps Across
Finish Line Six Full
Lengths in Front.
GORGEOUS SETTING FOR RACE
Thousands Look On from Yachts,
Trains and Shore as the
Fights Battle Through
Long Four Miles.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune

TFsv Telegraph 10 The Tribune
New London. Conn. June Pillar
wards Gun Of ioy was filed to overflow
ing here to-day in the annual boat races
on the Thames River The Crimson
swept all before it in three races, fol-
lowing up two brilliant victories in the
morning by decisive defeat Of the
Yale varsity eight in the afternoon 1t
was Harvard's day. and seldom has the
Crimson had so much to celebrate.
After months and months of trying
the Yale coaches managed to produce an
eight that could give and did give haF-
ward a struggle but although Yale failed
10 redeem its lost rowing prestige by
coming back with victory the very
first wear after the worst beating that
any college crew ever received at the
hands Of another Yale did turn out
crew that was worthy, and for that rea-
son awards victory was All the more
wholesome and worth while
, Jim 1Vrays crew covered the -four miles
IN y minutes 49, seconds, and won 10y
good six lengths Yales time was -
minutes ( seconds. Harvard captured
the freshman race after a bitter struggle
by a length. and fairly ran away in the
four Dared struggle f." win by ten
lengths of open water
The varsity race was battle royal All
the way. Every foot that Harvard
gained Harvard had to fight for, aud
while the Crimson crew forged ahead
steadny from the start IT could not jump
into a commanding lead and then take it
easily the rest Of the journey. because
Yale. although behind met sprint with
sprint and hung on to the finish in
gsmest fashion.
The contest between the Harvard and
Yale freshman Fights was stubbornly
fought-in fact much more SO than any
one on the Crimson side of the fence eX-
pected it to be-but after leading all the
way the youngsters from Cambridge had
enough left to hold off the Yale cubs,
who made a powerful bid for victory In
the last quarter mile.
In the four-oared race it was a differ
ent story. Harvard simply walked away
from the Blue and won as it pleased, in
actual time by more than half min
ute, in distance by ten or dozen
lengths.
Perfect Day for Rowing.
Never has more perfect day dawned
. than the one which greeted New London
IT ,;r
was clear and crisp and the sun was
bright But. best Of all. there was not
more than breath of air stirring. and
the river was a picture, hardly more
than a ripple disturbing its calm blue
surface. The crowds began TO pour out
o. the hotels early, because at New Lon
don they begin things on schedule time
and the first race is rowed long before
one usually thinks of making a start for
q similar sporting event any place else.
And never in a dozen years have there
been so many visitors in New London on
the morning Of the races.
Last night when the town went 70
he'd there We're no more than the ordi-
nary crowd Of regatta visitors, but not
long after the sun came up from behind
the Groton Hills the influx began
Thousands came by automobile and
thousands more by special trains from
Boston and New Haven. Then there
was the river, which was well trav-
elled avenue for hundreds of guests
.most Of whom. however. came ashore
.only for a moment or two and then has
tened back.
Where there were crowds at the morn
ing races there were armies Of specta-
tors at the big race in the afternoon
Never before IN the history Of New
London were there so many yachts AMI
pleasure boats of all sorts anchored in
1.-The river, marking out in heavy lines the
narrow lane through which the crews
rowed. From the navy yard, two miles
from the finish at the railroad bridge
the crafts stretched in an unbroken
double line. Flags were everywhere, and
enormous banners Of Crimson or Blue
according to the sympathies Of the
owner. huttered in the freshening breeze
Thousands Watch the Struggle.
Against all this color were the white hulls
OF the boats and the deep blue Of sky and
swater, forming a vivid picture for those on
land The two long observation trains that
crawed along the opposite sides Of the
river as the crews battled for the mastery
were TANNED and crowded as they have
not been in a decade. In fact, there were
so many persons on hand that both rail-
roads were forced to add TO the number OF
! cars and even then hundreds had to be left
I behind because of lack Of room. Most of
these as soon as they saw that they would
be unable TO follow the crews FASTENED TO
the rivers edge and for two miles along
both sides there was fringe of onlookers
three and four thick.
While not more than faint suspicion Of
breeze stirred the water I'm the morning,
there was a fairly strong wind from the
southwest when IT came time 20 start the
varsity race. Rumor had 1t that the Yale
crew was unwilling TO risk going out be-
cause Il did not want 10 run the chance OF
having 10 row I'm rough water. Down
around the navy yard Il did get a little
ehoppy. and Mr.. Meikleham, the referee,