A Close and Interesting Race - Time. 11.41, 12.04, 12.23 1/2.The fifth annual spring class race was rowed over the Charles river course yesterday afternoon. The tug boat William Sprague left the draw at 3.20 P. M. with a large number of collegians aboard, and after touching at the Union boat house for the referee, Mr. Eaton, steamed up to the railroad bridge. The referee met the crews at the draw of the Brookline bridge, and gave them their instructions. When all the crews had made their appearance the draw was opened, and the crews came through in the order of the classes, each crew being cheered by its classmates as it passed the referee's boat. All the preliminary arrangements had been made with care and skill, so that very little delay ensued in getting the boats into their proper positions. In attempting to throw the jerseys aboard the tug boat, '84's coxswain fell out of the shell, but he pluckily held on, and pulled himself aboard, suffering no injury save a thorough wetting.
The crews got into position upon their first attempt and were sent off by the referee at 4.23. The seniors caught the water first followed by the juniors, freshmen and sophomores in the order named. For the first minute, '83 rowed 36 strokes, '84 and '85, 35 and '86, 33. At the end of ten strokes '83 had drawn away from '85 until there was clear water between the boats. '84 was very close on to '83 with '86 right behind, '85 now holding fourth position. About one hundred yards from the start '83, followed by '85, began to steer out of the straight course for smooth water near the wall, while '84 and '86 struggled close together in the straight course. '84 was here rowing a fast and wearing stroke, while '83 contented herself with holding her opponents just beyond the scow. Three-quarters of a mile from the start '83 slackened the stroke to about 34 to the minute and seemed to be rowing well within themselves, '85 was rowing 33, '84, 32 and '86, 30. At this point '83 was about a length ahead of the '84 shell, which led the freshmen about half a length, while the sophomores were struggling along in the rear.
At the pump, about half way down the course, '83 and '85 still kept up their moderate rate of speed, while '84 at this point made a spurt, and seemed to draw up rapidly on the seniors, but the latter had evidently been waiting for this, and now having reached the smooth water for which they had been steering, they quickened their stroke, and threw their whole weight on to their oars. The result was immediately apparent, for they seemed to glide away from their opponents at a rapid rate. The sophomores and freshmen were still struggling for last place, with the chances in favor of the latter. All the crews quickened their stroke at this point somewhat.
From this point to the finish came the most interesting part of the race, enlivened by the cheers of the numerous spectators on the wall. The seniors seemed to gain at every stroke, and were rowing in excellent form, while the sophomores were rapidly drawing up on the freshmen. At Clarendon street, two blocks from the finish, the crews all spurted; in the meantime the sophomores had taken third place from the freshmen. At this point the form of the seniors and sophomores was noticeably good, while the juniors seemed to be slightly broken up. The seniors crossed the finish line rowing in superb style and seemingly with ease in 11.41. The time of the juniors was 12.04; sophomores, 12.10; freshmen, 12.23 1/2. The poorness of the time was due to the rough water in the first mile of the course.
The arrangements for the race were all well made, and to this is due the promptness in starting. Less than the usual amount of enthusiasm was manifested at the finish, although the race was one of the finest and most closely contested of any of the recent class races. The sophomores are to be congratulated on their excellent showing, and the recovery of third place from the freshmen when it seemed to be lost to them.
The officers of the course were: Referee. Capt. W. S. Eaton of the Union Boat Club; judges at finish, Messrs. H. G. Chapman and F. M. Stone; judges on the boat - for '83, Mr. C. P. Curtis, Jr.; for '84, Mr. W. S. Bryant; for '85, Mr. R. L. McCook; for '86, Mr. F. W. Smith; timekeepers, Messrs. T. J. Coolidge and W. A. Bancroft.
