YALE WON WONDERFUL CONTEST

The Yale University crew won from Harvard on the Thames on June 19, in what has been termed the most remarkable rowing contest ever seen on American waters. The margin of victory was so small that stop-watches could not measure it. The judges at the finish were in doubt as to the actual amount of Yale's lead, placing it between three feet and a few inches, but were agreed that Yale had won. The crowds in the observation trains and on the water were divided in opinion until the final announcement of the referee.

Yale Led at Start.

At the start, the Yale crew jumped slightly into the lead, heading the University for the first time in six years. After the first sprint, Yale managed to increase her lead slowly until at the end of the first mile it measured a half-length. Then Harvard gained a quarter of a length, and about in this same position the two boats traveled for two miles, Yale's edge varying from 15 to 35 feet according as one crew rested or spurted.

During the major part of the contest, Harvard was pulling the slower stroke. Although the men had been coached to row the entire four miles at 33, Stroke Chanler found that the men were not quite together at that pace. To get rythm and life into the boat, it became necessary to drop the stroke until it finally stood at 28. Appleton, on the other hand, worked his men evenly at 32 for practically the entire distance.

Harvard Forged to Front.

At the three mile mark, Yale led by just a length. For only a few seconds, however, was this advantage maintained. Harvard started a wonderful spurt, each sweep bringing the two prows a little closer together, until at last they were even. An instant later, Harvard showed slightly ahead, until at the three and a half-mile flag the boat was some ten feet to the good.

With perhaps an eighth of a mile left, Harvard still had a few feet on her opponents. Then Appleton instituted his final spurt, bringing the two crews even again. One crew would spring ahead slightly when it was pulling and the other recovering for a new catch. In this fashion, they raced to the finish. As it happened, Yale was pulling and Harvard recovering when the line was crossed. By so fine a margin was the victory determined. This race, captured by a single stroke, is likely to remain the most remarkable in the history of the two universities. It was the fastest ever rowed up-stream at New London, the time being 21 minutes, 16 seconds.

1917 and Seconds Victorious.

In the morning, the second eight had an easy time, winning by seven lengths. The Freshmen sprung a surprise by defeating an eight generally considered its superior by four lengths. Neither of these crews was headed or at any time severely pushed.

The orders of the boats were as follows:

Harvard University eight. -- Stroke, Chanler; 7, Murray; 6, Parson; 5, Schall; 4, Harwood; 3, Soucy; 2, Gardiner; bow, Reynolds (captain); cox. Sargent.

Yale University eight.--Stroke, Appleton; 7, McHenry; 6, Rogers; 5, Sturtevant; 4, Sheldon; 3, Titus; 2, Meyer; bow, Low; cox., McLane.

Harvard second crew.--Stroke, Lund; 7, Curtis; 6, Morgan; 5, J. W. Middendorf; 4, H. S. Middendorf; 3, Meyer; 2, Talcott; bow, Saltonstall (captain); cox., Kreger.

Harvard Freshman eight. -- Stroke, Brown (captain); 7, Cabot; 6, Stebbins; 5, Ely; 4, Young; 3, Richardson; 2, Culbert; bow, Higginson; cox., Cameron.