The series of winter meetings of the H. A. A. was well inaugurated by the meeting of Saturday last. For some weeks past all indications had pointed to a meeting of unusual interest, and the event fully justified the expectations. The ample seating accommodations of the gymnasium were taxed to the utmost by the large audience which is invariably present at the winter sports. Among the faces in the graduates' seats were many that are familiar to the college men of to-day, while the presence of an occasional grey head served to show that the graduates of longer standing still retain their interest in the sports of their college days. Not withstanding the crowded condition of the gymnasium, the meeting was conducted, in the main, in a satisfactory way, with the exception of a few minor details, which will doubtless be remedied before the meeting of Saturday next. The sparring was unusually interesting this year, while the wrestling surpassed anything that has been witnessed at a winter meeting for many years past. The greatest interest, of course, centered in the tug-of-war, which, as seems to have become an established custom of late years, was won by the freshmen. A glance at the prize-winners shows that '86 stands first, having won three events; '87 second, with two prizes; '85 and the Medical School third, with one prize each. The summary of the meeting follows:

The first event contested was the

MIDDLE WEIGHT SPARRING.First bout, F. C. Weld, '86, 153 1-2 lbs., and J. R. Thomas, '88, 157 lbs. Both men sparred cautiously during the first round and the honors were about even. Thomas got in two good blows on Weld, but most of his leads were well countered by the latter. In the second round Thomas led out well, and planted a rattling blow upon Weld's nose. He also used his right very effectively on Weld's body, but the round as a whole was rather tame. In the third round Thomas swung his right very effectively upon Weld's face and body. His sparring was much cleaner than Weld's, who, although he did some good countering, sprawled round too much and led rather poorly. The bout was awarded to Thomas.

Second bout. H. McAllister, '86, 145 lbs., and G. F. Woodman, V. S., 156 lbs. After some cautious sparring, Woodman found an opening, and planted a heavy blow upon McAllister's jaw who retaliated by getting several good leads on his opponent. Woodman pressed his man to the corner, but most of his blows were cleverly ducked or countered by his opponent.

The second round was much the same as the first. What McAllister lacked in weight he made up in agility and quickness. He got in more blows than his opponent, but they were not as effective. In the third round Woodman rushed in wildly, and soon drove McAllister on to the settees. The latter, however, dodged and ducked very cleverly, and at this same time planted his right and left repeatedly on Woodman's face. The round was so closely contested that the judges were unable to come to any decision, and another round of one minute's length was required, in which McAllister bested his opponent and was awarded the bout.

Final bout between McAllister and Thomas. Both men sparred scientifically. McAllister got in several good leads which Thomas returned by slinging his right for McAllister's head and body. The second round was marked by hard hitting, both men showing much science in leading and countering. The third round was also hotly contested, both men showing fine staying power. McAllister rallied in fine form towards the close of the round, and was awarded the cup.

Next came the

TRIALS, MIDDLE-WEIGHT WRESTLING.W. J. Bowen, '87, 156 lbs., and J. M. T. Finney, M, S., were the first two contestants. Bowen had stronger arms and a better body. Finney was more solid in the legs and weighed about as much as Bowen. Bowen won the first fall in less than a minute, getting a neck hold and hip lock. This was done so quickly that Finney was taken by surprise, and was on his back almost before he knew it. The men faced each other again, and this time their work showed them to be very evenly matched. Bowen, however, acted more on the offensive than Finney. For ten minutes they worked in vain. Then they rested. Five more minutes they worked away, and then they were each given a hold by the referee. Bowen threw Finney, but lost his hold in falling, and the fall was given to Finney. The third fall and the bout was won by Bowen, who secured a combination hold and threw his opponent in 4 minutes.

The second bout was between A. Z. Bowen, '85, 154 lbs., and C. Guild, '86, 155 1-4 lbs. They had not wrestled long before it was evident that Guild was both stronger and more scientific. He won the first fall by getting a hip lock at the end of 3 1-2 minutes. The second fall was taken by the same man at the end of 9 minutes. Both men were on the floor, with Guild on top. He turned his man over by a half Nelson hold. The final bout came later, but is given here so as to keep the connection.

FINAL MIDDLE-WEIGHT WRESTLING.Bowen, '87, and Guild, the winners of the two trial bouts, next came together in the final bout of the middle-weight wrestling. Both are about the same height and weight, and are among the strongest men in college. Guild obtained what looked like a fall, but it was not granted by the referee. The first fall was won by Bowen by a neck hold, in 7 minutes. On coming together for the second time, the men sprawled out of the ring continually, and could not throw squarely enough to get a fall. The referee gave them a hold finally and Guild won, because Bowen broke his hold again. In the trial to get a third fall, 10 minutes and then more were used up in throwing vain endeavors to turn, and sprawling over the settees, reporter's table, and the laps of the audience. Again the referee gave the men a hold. Bowen threw Guild and succeeded in making it a fall. He thus won the bout and the cup.

LIGHT-WEIGHT WRESTLING.This was the most interesting contest in the wrestling events. It was well contested, and not so very even as to be wearisome. F. S. Churchill, '86, 138 1-2 lbs., and W. Austin, '87, 139 1-2 lbs,, contested the first bout. Churchill is shorter and far more muscular, but he lacked science. Austin showed considerable science, but not enough strength to secure a single fall. Churchill soon threw Austin, who formed a beautiful bridge, and succeeded in turning on to his stomach before Churchill could make either of his hips touch the mattress. Another throw made by Churchill by a body grip was more successful, and the fall was secured. Time, 6m. 30s. In the second trial for a fall, Austin again won applause by eluding a very dangerous throw. But it was no use. Churchill tried his firsogrip again, and a fall was the result at the end of 5 minutes.

G. M. Carnochan, '85, 131 lbs., formerly champion feather-weight of the college, and C. N. B. Wheeler, '86, 139 1-2 lbs., were the other two entries in the light-weight. Again weight and brute force was superior to skill. Wheeler, who was the stronger and heavier, gaining two straight falls. Carnochan eluded one fall by making a bridge, but wheeler soon after got a neck hold and hip lock, by which he brought his man flat upon his back. Time, 3m. 30s. The second fall was obtained by Wheeler at the end of 30 seconds. He was very quick about it, and this quickness added to his superior strength, enabled him to make short work of his opponent.

FINAL LIGHT-WEIGHT WRESTLING.F. S. Churchill, '86, and C. N. B. Wheeler, '86, the two winners of the trial bouts, contested in this final bout for the cup. They were of the same weight and build, but Churchill was a little better developed. He secured the first fall at the end of one and a half minutes, by a neck hold. Churchill also took the second fall by a body hold at the end of three minutes. This gave him the cup.

PUTTING THE SHOT.Came after the trial light-weight wrestling. This event was contested by C. H. Pennypacker, '88, D. C. Clark, '86, and A. Keith, '85. Won by Clark, at 33 ft., 7in.; Keith second, 32 ft. 9 in.

FEATHER-WEIGHT WRESTLING.First bout, J. B. Fletcher, '87, and L. S. Thayer, '88. The first fall was won by Fletcher, who quickly put his man on the floor and turned him. Time, one minute. The second bout was also won by Fletcher, who got a neck grip on his opponent, and had him on his back at the end of thirty seconds, thus winning the bout.

Second bout. Fletcher and A. T. Dudley, '87, (bye). Both men showed much science and quickness. Dudley finely secured his opponent by the leg, lifted him off the floor, coolly brought him into the middle of the mattress, and planted him neatly on his back. Time, 5 minutes. The second fall was also won by Dudley, who, getting Fletcher by a body grip, put him down on his shoulders and then broke the bridge which the latter had made, with his legs.

HEAVY-WEIGHT SPARRING.The heavy-weight sparring was a walk-over for W. A. Morrison. M. S.

HEAVY WEIGHT WRESTLING.For this there were three men entered, Guild, '86, Bowen, '87, and A. Keith, '85. Neither of the first two, wearied, with their long continued exertions in the middle-weight wrestling, was willing to face a fresh man of heavier weight, so both of them withdrew, and the cup was awarded to Keith.

TUG-OF-WAR.As soon as the last wrestling event was over, there was the usual rush which occurs at "first days" of winter meetings to secure good positions near the rope. After room had been made for the contesting teams, a long delay ensued before they put in an appearance. They were: '88 team, E. A. Pease, J. R. Purdon, P. Chase and F. G. Balch (anchor); '87 team, W. S. Allen, J. S. Russell, F. Remington and T. Scott (anchor). Mr. Storrow, '85, manipulated the indicator ball ropes, and Mr. Morrison, '83, the referee started the pull at about half past six. The drop was almost exactly even. '87 was the first to get in any effective work, pulling the ribbon 1 1-2 inches away from the centre. This advantage they held until about the end of the third minute. Then, by the slipping back of the ribbon, it appeared that '87 had too much strain on, more than they could hold, in fact. At the end of 4 minutes the ribbon was again almost at the centre. Then '88's turn came. Their team made a few powerful heaves and the ribbon came over to their side. '87 worked desperately to hold on, and to get back their lost advantage. It was no use, the ribbon was on the freshman side to stay. At the end, '88 had the advantage by about 3 inches. Then the usual hurrahing and running about by the winning class took place. The over-excited freshmen shouted themselves hoarse and carried their team out of the hall on their shoulders.

The officers of the meeting were: Referee, G. B. Morrison, '83; judge of putting the shot, C. H. Kip, '83; referee of sparring, John Boyle O'Reilly; judges of sparring, C. Brigham, '79, John Bryant; referee of wrestling, W. A. Gaston, '80; judges of wrestling, E. T. Cabot '83, C. P. Curtis, '83.