The Class Races yesterday were a great surprise to the general public, '87 winning, '89 coming in second, while the freshmen defeated the champion '88 crew.

About four o'clock four tugs left the drawbridge, and steamed up to the Longwood bridge. The referee's tug, the "Sprague," was filled with '87 men; the "Mattie Sargent" carried for the third year the '88 delegation, while the "Curlew" and the "Emily" performed the same service for '89 and '90. The "Curlew" was gay in blue and white streamers, while the "Sargent" flew a green and white flag, and carried a large apple-branch with white blossoms at her mast-head. The Union boat-house and the adjacent roofs were all covered with people as early as four o'clock, while the wall was lined with spectators and the road behind filled with carriages; quite a flotilla of row boats clustered about the stake-boat at the finish, and two small launches, chartered by '90 men, followed the race over the course. The tugs steamed up to the start at four, the "Sargent," with a band of music on board, hugging the shore and taking her time. It was very cold, a stiff breeze blowing straight up the course, and making the water lumpy, and for a little while it seemed to grow worse instead of mending. At the starting place the mill-dam was thronged with buggies loaded with spectators, which set off Bostonward the moment the race started. The wait at the bridge was exceedingly tedious, the cold wind dampening the ardor of the most excited.

At ten minutes of five, '90 appeared, soon followed by '87 and then after an interval, by '88 and '89. At five minutes past, '90 flashed through the draw with a clipping stroke, and took her place amid wild cheers on the inside. '87, '88 and '89 followed in order and got into line. There was not much wind by this time and the course was smooth. After the few preliminaries of stripping, etc., the referee's whistle sounded, followed quickly by the report of the gun at about 5.18. All four crews got a good start, the freshmen getting the water first, and '87, next, and as they shot forth, the unwieldy tugs, quivering with their burdens, pursued them with whistles shrieking and flags waving, and a vast concourse of wheeled vehicles dashed off at break neck speed for Boston.

'87 took the lead at once, with a strong, quick stroke of of 39; the freshmen were rowing 39, the sophomores 38, and the juniors, 37. The superiority of the seniors at once become evident. The force and vigor of their oarsmen telling at every stroke. The '88 crew was rowing well together, and for half a mile kept a good second, while the freshmen and '89 a half length behind were steering not so good a course. At the mile the freshmen were abreast with '87, both rowing 39, '89 was a half length behind and rowing in better form than the others, while '88 had dropped to 36 and seemed to be laboring. At Exeter street all the crews spurted, except '87 who seemed to have the race well in hand at the pace she was going, and who spurted a little further on. There seemed to be trouble on the freshman boat, seven caught a crab, and four stopped rowing a moment while the boat wandered about aimlessly, - his seat had unfortunately come off the slides; it was put quickly in place, however, and the race finished with '90 ahead of '88 by a good two lengths; '89 half a length ahead of the freshmen and a length behind the seniors, who went over the line with a rush, apparently in capital condition.

There were the usual wild scenes at the finish, the freshmen being especially proud of the good showing made by their crew, and the '88 men joining in cheers for the victors. The race was a capital one, and won strictly on its merits. '87 rowed well together, and seemed to have a great amount of reserve strength in the boat. '89 rowed in the best form, their body-work being noticeably good, while the freshmen gave signs of great promise. The race was won in the fast time of 10 56, last year's time being 12 30. The course was, however, more favorable for fast rowing this year, and the race more interesting as the crews kept together instead of separating. The '87 men had a rejoicing in the yard during the evening in which their crew figured prominently, carrying their oars. In her freshman year, '87 came in third, ahead of '86; in her sophomore year she won the race over '85, '88 and '86; in her junior year she again beat '86; and in her senior year she again holds first place-a very fine record. The race:

1. - Senior Crew-Orange and Black-Stroke (and captain), W. Alexander; 7, T. P. Burgess; 6, G. S. Mumford; 5, R. F. Fiske; 4, F. S. Coolidge; 3, J. W. Knowles; 2, F. Remington; bow, J. H. Knapp; cox., Forchhemier.

2. - Sophomore Crew-Blue and White-Stroke, E. C. Pfeiffer; 7, F. E. Parker; 6, J. H. Sears; 5, J. T. Davis; 4, J. H. Markoe; 3, C. A. Hight; 2, A. P. Hebard; bow, G. Perry; cox., Whitney.

3.- Freshmen Crew-Crimson and White-Stroke, R. F. Herrick; 7, T. W. Slocum; 6, B. T. Tilton; 5, S. Sahford; 4, C. S. Matthews; 3, W. F. Tilton; 2, B. B. Crowinshield; bow, C. L. Crehore; cox., Fales.

4. - Junior Crew-Green and White-Stroke, C. F. Adams; 7, H. D. Hale; 6, T. S. Smith; 5, A. Churchill; 4, F. C. Woodman; 3, J. W. Appleton; 2, C. A. Porter; bow, G. A. Carpenter; cox., Mitchell.

Referee, W. S. Eaton, Jr.; starter, J. J. Storrow, Jr.; judges at finish, H. B. Cabot and J. Lee; time-keepers, J. G. Lathrop and W. R. Trask.