The daily independent., 1937-06-26
Harvard Defeats
Yale On Thames
In SCARED Race
Harvard Sets New Record
for tho ack-brealSing
Four.Mile Pull
By GEORGE KIRKSEY

New London, Conn, June 25.-
Harvard rowcd to its great
est victory in the history of
Americas oldest intercollegiate
sporting event today, setting a
new record for the back breaking
four mile pull up the river
Thames in defeating the blue
boat Of Yale.
The Crimson galleys pulled
their e;ght-oared shell over the
placid, blue waters in 20 minutes,
two seconds before perhaps the
largest crowd-estimated 60,000-
for their 36th win in the historic
competition that began back in
1852 on Lake Winnepesaukee.
Yale, which has won 80 times,
finished a length and two yards
of open water behind the Grim
son in 20 minutes, 6 2-5 seconds.
Two observation trains totalling
81 cars followed the race. Both
banks of the river were lined
with spectators, and the course
was lined from start to finish with
every kind of river craft from a
million dollar yacht to a skiff.
Afte scor rng their second con-
secutive triumph over Yale, the
Johnny Harvards rested on their
oars near the finish line and re-
ceivcd the shirts of the Eli oars
men, gesture to the winning
crew. Then the Harvard boys
roWed back to their boathouse at
Red Top, where little Eddie Ben
nett was matched out of the coxs-
wain's seat and thrown into the
water. He also coXed the Harvard
crew which triumphed here last
year.
THIS years Harvard crew,
stroked by a 190-pound giant,
James (Spike) Chace of New York
City, used the U. of Washington
stroke, taught them by Tom Boil
les, who came to the Crimson this
year after coaching the Husky
freshmen for three years. 1t was
this mighty sweeping motion
which gave Washington a clean
sweep at Poughkeepsie Tuesday.
Chace, 6 feet, 4 inches tall, who
is the biggest stroke oar any
crew in the country has had nee
Tom Lombari Stroked the Syra-
cuSe crew in 1882, set a dazzling
pace and the boys at his back
followed it. But at the end the
No. 2, 3 and 4-R. w. Cutler, Jr.,
Rudley Talbot and r. D. Ker-
nan-Were nearly exhausted and
Slumped over on their oars. 1t
was several minStes before they
regained their wind. Chace looked
fresh enough to row another race.
The water was flat, with a fol-
lowing wind when the two crews
pulled up to their stake boats for
the start of the varsity race. Yale
rowing Al beat, stroked out in
front N the first so yards. At 100
yards the Ellis led by a boat deck.
Harvard, settling down to a 80
beat, gradually crept up on the
Yale moat. At three-quarters of a
mile they were even. Then Har-
ward pulled away inch by inch,
and passing the mile mark held
lead of a few feet. At this point
Harvard was timed in 4:56.1 and
Yale in 1882.
The Crimson padded out to a
one length lead at the mile and
half mark. Then at two miles
Harvard had a few feet of open
Water-this was the longest lead
of the race. Yale closed in during
the third mile, and Harvard bare
ly had length lead passing the
Smile flags. Yale narrowed the
Harvard lead to three-quarters of
length, but that was the Ellis
last bid. They didn't have any,
thing left for the last half mile
and Harvard rowing at SO and
then 40, increased its lead to a
length and a few yards Of open
water.