WELD RACE.

The Weld race yesterday afternoon was one of the most disastrous events that has ever occurred on the river, and it was extremely fortunate that there were no fatal results. Three crews sank just after passing the Harvard Bridge, and the other two at the finish line, the Freshman crew being the only one to cross.

The race was started at 10 minutes past six with a rough sea, a steadily increasing northeast wind blowing, and a fine rain falling. '99 caught the water first, but 1900 immediately took the lead, and rowing in splendid form, began to draw away from the other crews. Half way to the bridge they were nearly a length ahead of '98, the second crew, and rowing easily at thirty-two strokes to the minute. '99 was last and 1901 and the Law School eight were just behind the Seniors. This order was maintained through the bridge, though '98 was gaining, and '99 had dropped still farther behind.

About one hundred yards after passing the bridge all the crews struck very much rougher water; the Sophomore boat which had lost its weather washboard, first felt the effect of the waves and began filling almost immediately. Mr. Lehmann, seeing that there was likely to be trouble, called to the crews that the race was off. Almost as soon as he had done so the Sophomore boat went down. Ninety-eight rowed a few strokes more, when they too sank. A few minutes later '99 also filled.

The launch rescued the men from the the sinking boats as fast as it could. It soon got the 1900 crew on board, but as it could not hold so many they had to transfer them to the referee's tug. This took so long that by the time the men were all got on board the tug the Freshman and Law School crews were both out of sight in the dusk.

The Freshmen sank just after crossing the line, and the Law School just before reaching it, and by the time the launch reached them, the men had been in the water so long that they were nearly exhausted. McKay, stroke of the Freshmen, in endeavoring to get out got caught under the coal wharf, and Brittin of the same crew was nearly done up by the cold water.

All five shells were considerably damaged, one especially so, and for this reason it would be impossible to keep the men training through the recess. The race has been given up for this year.