WELD DEFEATS ANNAPOLIS.

The Weld crew defeated the Annapolis eight Saturday afternoon by ten feet in one of the most closely contested and, considering the unfavorable conditions, one of the fastest races ever seen over the two mile course on the Severn.

The crews were sent from the line at 3.41, the Weld having the southerly course. Both crews took a short spurt at the very start, the navy rowing about 37 to the minute and the Weld crew about 35. Although rowing two points lower, the Weld eight at once jumped a few feet in the lead, and for a mile and a half the relative position of the two boats remained almost unchanged. The Weld crew gradually lowered their stroke to a long, hard 32, while Annapolis held to a short, killing 38 without being able to make any material gain.

In this way for a mile and a half the two eights side by side fought up the Severn against tide and wind. Occasionally, the Annapolis crew would creep up on the Weld, and then a short spurt by the latter would again leave them them eight or ten feet behind. Throughout, the Naval Academy crew rowed several points higher than the Weld, but at no time did they lead.

With a half mile left to go and the crews almost even, the Weld eight began to raise the stroke gradually for the final spurt, rowing 35 to the minute. The navy was rowing only about one point higher and slowly fell a few feet behind again, where they remained until the last quarter of a mile was reached. Here they set in with a final determined effort to win, raising the stroke to 38 for a long, hard spurt. The Weld crew at once responded, however, by raising the stroke to 37, which proved to be much more effective than the navy's 38. With greater reserve force and endurance, the Weld crew slowly drew ahead, finishing one second or ten feet in the lead. The time was 10 minutes and 1-5 second, which is perhaps the best ever made on the river, allowing for the disadvantages of wine and tide.

Wolcott stroked an extremely difficult race, with careful judgment and plenty of nerve. As usual, he distinguished himself at the finish by a magnificent spurt.

The orders of the crews were as follows:

Weld--Stroke, Wolcott; 7, Hartwell; 6, Brooks; 5, Bent; 4, Greenough; 3, George; 2, Roberts; bow, Dillingham; cox., Kelley.

Annapolis--Stroke, Smyth; 7, Laird; 6, Freyer; 5, Schlabach; 4, Nichols; 3, Rodgers; 2, Cooper; bow, Stark; cox., Bingham.