ITHACA, N. Y., May 31.--Cornell defeated the University crew by a few feet of open water in an extremely close and hard-fought race this evening over the two-mile course on Lake Cayuga. The Cornell crew covered the course in 10 minutes and 41 seconds.

Although the race was scheduled to start at 5 o'clock, because of rough water, the crews did not reach the line until 6.15 o'clock. Cornell had the course on the east side of the lake with Harvard on the outside. The crews got off at 6.35 o'clock, but as Sargent jumped his slide in the first few strokes, both eights stopped rowing when Blagden raised his hand as a signal of an accident. After this false start, further delay was caused by the drifting of the Cornell stake-boat. When the crews finally got away, Cornell gained a lead of half a length, both crews rowing 40 strokes to the minute. Soon after the start the stroke of both eights was lowered to 36, with Cornell leading and at the half-mile mark Cornell was still half a length ahead. In the next half-mile Cornell kept gaining slightly, and as the crews passed by the mile mark, Cornell was one length ahead. For the next three-quarters of a mile the race was very exciting and close, neither crew being able to gain more than a few feet. Entering upon the last quarter-mile of the race Cornell raised the stroke slightly, but Harvard's work seemed rather heavy and sluggish. At the finish Cornell led by about five feet of open water.

The blade work of both the crews was clean, and both rowed about the same number of strokes to the minute throughout the race, but the work of the University crew, was, if anything, smoother than that of Cornell, but it seemed to lack life and drive, and the rowing of the crew seemed to be more fitted to a four-mile race. Cornell rowed a higher stroke throughout the race than the crew has been accustomed to use this year, but the slow recovery and smooth and even slide work was still maintained.

The orders:

Harvard--Stroke, Sargent; 7, Waid; 5, R. Cutler; 5, L. Withington; 4, Bacon; 3, Faulkner; 2, Lunt; bow, E. Cutler; cox., Blagden.

Cornell--Stroke, Weed; 7, Names; 6, Day; 5, Sutton; 4, Aitchison; 3, Kelley; 2, Simson; bow, Seagraves; cox., Kimball