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The Yale - Harvard Race.

The day after Commencement all the undergraduates who were able and manyalumni of both Harvard and Yale, together with sympathizers and lady friends, hastened to New London to see the annual contest for the college boating championship. but a short description of it cannot be amiss on the return to Cambridge of the undergraduates. Most of the Harvard men and their friends had obtained seats on the observation train and a little before two o'clock the cars of this train drew out of the New London depot and steamed up along the river bank to the start. The weather, which had been very threatening in the morning, became more propitious, and after two gave promise of a perfect afternoon for racing. The wind was mild and blowing down the course and the tide was beginning to run out, both the conditions necessary for fast time, and as the crews were known to be in excellent physical condition people expected to see as fine a race as over was rowed on the American Thames. And they were not disappointed. At hald-past two the Yale men were already in their shell and at the starting flag, near the west bank and close to the observation train. Their appearance was greeted with cheers as was also that of our crew a few minutes later, when they came across from their quarters on the opposite bank.

Harvard had the east course and Yale the west. At 2.46 all was ready and Mr. Bradford, the referee, gave the word "go" from the launch Carrie Goodwin. The start was simply perfect, both crews taking the water at the same time and both rowing 38 strokes to the minute. For a quarter of a mile the crews remained even and the excitement among the spectators was intense. Then slowly by but surely Yale began to draw ahead so that when the first mile flag was passed they had a lead of somewhat less then a length. But already Harvard was pushing forward and Perkins and his gallant crew steadily forced the bow of their shell forward so fast that at a mile and a half from the start they were ahead and still gaining. It was then the turn of the Harvard supporters to give vent to their enthusiasm, which they did in a series for frantic "rash" and cries of "Harvard ! Harvard !!" until they were hoarse. But this happy state of affairs was not to last and at the end of a few minutes Yale was again in front and this time for good. From the two and a half mile flag the Yale crew continued to row a little faster all the time than our crew and at the finish they crossed the line three lengths ahead amid the salutes of cannons on the yachts and the cheers of the people on the grand stand Their time was 20 minutes, 31 seconds, the best ever made. Fifteen seconds later Harvard swent across the line having covered the distance in time only slower by a second than the previous best record. Our crew rowed a remarkably fine race, especially when the necessary changes in personnel made so few days before the race are taken into consideration, but the Yale crew was too much for them as they were, and noe we can only wait until next June to try for victory once more.

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