The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-25

New Haven, Nov. 25-Clear skies,
crisp atmosphere which made furs and
sheepslkin coats acceptable, and q
westerly wind with energy enough In
it to influence the punting side OF the
game. were the weather conditions to-
day for the Yale-Harvard football
classic In the great Yale bowl It was
such a day that promised to fulnll
every requirement in the weather
line.
The crowds began to pour into the
city almost before daylight Many
thousand persons considered them
selves lucky to be among the 100000
who had applied for reservations with
in the Bowl In all the story OF con-
tests between the blue and the Cfin1-
son there has never been time when
the audience promised to be so great
O. feature off the field Of play. It grew
from hotels where men Of social
standing and wealth spent the night
in uncertain rest on lounges, chairs
pool tables and mattresses laid upon
the floors from sleeping cars on rail-
ROAD sidines, from automobiles which
stretched along the city streets and
from trolley cars and railroad trains
which brought tens Of thousands
Until the actual start of play the
crowd, in its proportions and Its conf
pletion, was q subject OF interest that
almost Wed with the impending game.
Yale supporters, and they outfumber-
ed those Of Harvard by some $4,000 to
so 900 for the first time IN years look
ed to the meeting with belief Of vic
tory. They sought odds In, their
wagering, generally at 9 to TO-, but
many instances OF equal betting were
reported
Harvard's enthusiasts as In gridiron
contests with the Blue since the adj
vent Of Percy Haughton as coach,
placed absolute reliance in their team.
The Crimson combination prepared.
to take the field with little doubt OF
its complexion. AS compared with
the lineup against Princeton, Robinson
had displaced Murray at quarterback
and Gamer, took Sweetser's position at
tackle.
Yale, on the other hand, even to
the coaches was in doubt almost up
to game time Uncertainty Conferred
about the quarterback assignment.
Smith. a fast rusher and proven gem
eral, was recovering from the illness
which forced him out Of the Prince
ton game. La Roche, WHO acquitted
himself we'll In directing Yale's
strategy and play in that contest, was
ready to do SO again, and was held In
only Slightly less confidence by Coach
Jones. Captain Black, unable to prac-
tice actively for several days, led his
players from the inf1rmary where they
spent the night, ready to take his
place in the line. The Harvard squad
came up from New London late in the
forenoon.
New York, Nov. a5-One Of the
largest crowds that ever attended an
athletic event in this city sought the
Polo Grounds today to see Annapolis
and West Point stage their annual
football contest. Anticipating crush,
more than 450 patrolmen were de-
tailed at the grounds.
President Wilson was unable to be
present but members of his cabinet
and other high government officials IL,
addition to many prominent represen-
tatives Of both branches of the SER
vice added brilliancy to the assem-
blage.
Both teams spent last night in local
hotels, but the rootars from the two
institutions did not strrive until today.
Two abattalions Of cadets from West
Point 760 men, and the officers Of the
post expected to reach the grounds
shortly before the game and give an
exhibition military drill on their way
to their seats, which this year con-
Yxf RI fa1 on 40
north side of the field.
The navy rooters will be augmented
by about 400 officers from seven bat