Not sure what the Ball Club implies but I believe this piece has something to do with the annual Harvard-Yale Regatta.
According to the obituary record of George Sheffield (the sender of the telegram) his father was a major benefactor at Yale and George was a very large booster and traveling manager of sorts for the Yale rowing team, attending their annual meeting vs. Harvard in New London, CT every year from 1878 until his death in 1924.
The 1886 meeting in New London was on July 2, meaning this telegram was most likely sent by Sheffield to indicate his "crew" (rowing term) will arrive at the Allyn House... maybe for lodging?
Either way, cool piece!
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