The Express.
London, England, 1868-04-04 00:00:00

'FXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, APRIL 4, 1868:

THE START.

Cambridge took the water first, rowing very
quick but " snatchy" strokes, and at once took
the lead, being half their own length
ahead half way up the willows.. Off the point,
the crews being wide, the light blues appeared to
lead by their own length, when Oxford put on a
spurt, and drew up level, making the shoot from
the Surrey shore too soon. The Oxford had to
steer out ; still on the boats becoming straight they
were about level again. Cambridge now put on a
spurt, and for a short time appeared again in
front ; Oxford, however, equal to the
emergency, quickened their stroke, and at
the Crabtree (reached in 5 min. 8 sec.) they were
leading by their own length, which was increased
to a clear length at Hammersmith-bridge. Time, 7
min. 39 sec. Afterwards, Oxford wont clean away,
though half way up Chiswick-eyot Cambridge made
a desperate effort, and drew up within half a cleat•
length. They died away again, however,
when Barnes-bridge was reached, Oxford
being sixteen seconds in front hero, and
eventually the
Dark Bluas went in six leng:l43 front,

Cambridge leaving off rowing the moment the
gun was fired. The time, twenty-one minutes,
as nearly as possible, was almost unpre.
cedented, and gives a flat contradiction to
the presumed inferiority of the two crews, though
it must ho taken into consideration that tho river
was well kept for about the first time on record,
only the Prince of Wales's, tho umpire's, and the
Beira Life boats being near enough at any time to
cause the slightest disturbance of the waters. The
crews started, too, some few seconds above the
usual spot.

(FROM OUR OWN COREESPOROZNT AT MORTLAKE.)

Cambridge has lost again—gallantly, steadily.
and with unfaltering courage, but still lost. Th
thousands who cried " Well pulled, Cambridge !" at
Mortlake saw the light blue conic in what we pre-
fer calling "a good second" to last." Th:
race was virtually over at Barnes-bridge.
The winning post and its approaches had beer
carefully cleared by the smart steamer of the
Thames Conservancy of a perfect flotilla of
paddle-boats. who, headed by the famous Ito!,
Roy, acted as aquatic special constables,
and brought bargemen and wherrymen to order
during tho half-hour before the finish. The dense
fog of London was tempered down into a
mellow haze, and the crowds on Barnes-
bridge and the embankment near were first
seen iu excited motion a few minute.
past 12. At this moment, in spite of the indefati-
gable efforts of the river-keepers, a huge and
clumsy craft, with two others of leas size, deli-
berately moored themselves at the central bend in
the river between Barnes and Mortlake, and stucl.
there,to the deepandoutspoken indignationof all. To
move them was impossible. The Conservancy
steamer had drawn in on the Mortlake side,
and any attempt to cross would have so ruffled the
waters as to have created a worse impediment to
the rowers than the one it was wished
to remove. Both boats had to make a detour in
consequence ; but this told most heavily on Cam-
bridge, who, notwithstanding, seemed to make
ground, or, at all events, not to lose it to
the very last. But the difference between the
two boats was too great to make up,
and Oxford came in an easy winner by some four
lengths. A narrow and searching inspection of
both crews at the finish convinced us that
neither were distressed, in the accepted 'etre
of the word. Beth pulled with magnificent
regularity and force ; Oxford rich a fine sweeping,
range, and Cambridge with a pertinacity which
was unflagging to the last. From the drunken buf
foon who made day hideous with his roars through
a speaking-trumpet to the old University chani
pions who clustered on the barges near there wa
but one opinion as to the pluck and endurance
of the struggle. On all aides were met famow
in past contest& The north country hero
who " put the stone" triumphantly for two years
running cheered his losing comrades on from a
barge. Fast " strokes" and "bows" and
coxswains waved their congratulations and
sympathy from various crafts. Thousands who
had come in carriages saw nothing. The block was
so enormous that the by-lanes of Mortlake and
Sheen were crammed with disappointed sight-
seers ; and other vehicles stood up to the axle-
Mem in water. The steamers, though kept back,
were so near at the finish as to embarrass the last
boat—one, the London Pride, being within two or
three yardsof Cambridge, and its fore-wave doing
some harm to her propel's.