The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-04 00:00:00

The University Boat-Race.

PUTNEY, Monday.
The Oxford crew turned out this morning between 11
and 12 o'clock, and made their way against tide to Barnes.
They were accompanied on the bank by Mr. G. Morrison
and a select party in the saddle, and they were followed on
the water by Mr. W. B. Woodgate, the amateur champion,
and Harry Kelley, professional ex-champion of the Thames.
At the White Hart, Barnes, the crow disembarked, their
able and stentorian Mentor halving with another gentle-
man the work of rowing the eight-oar farther up the river,
while the crew refreshed themselves by gently doing the
distance on foot. Getting into the boat again on Mortlake
they made Barker's rails their starting-point for their spin
down with the tide, and, beginning easily, reached what
seems to bo their minimum speed of 36 strokes to the
minute opposite Mr. Wilcox's marine villa. Mr. Brown,
however, " put it on" as he neared Barnes railway
bridge, and in Corney Reach the number of strokes
received an addition of at least two or three per minute,
making 38 or 39 in the 60 seconds. In this way, rowing
with great regularity and precision, the Oxford crew
reached Putney, the time occupied in doing the entire dis-
tance being reported as 21 minutes and 25 seconds. Dis-
crepancies, however, will arise in these calculations, and
just as there was a doubt whether the crew did the distance
on Thursday in 21 minutes 5 seconds, so to-day there are
slightly varying accounts of the time occupied. Thus
much may be said, however : the recent performances of
the Oxford men have not depressed their position in the
betting, 5 to 4 on the dark blue being heard of in several
quarters. Indeed, there seems a confidence on both aides
highly gratifying in every respect.
The Cambridge eight also made their appearance on the
river this morning; but not for long. In a short paddle from
head-quarters to the point and back, they killed a brief
space of the heavily-hanging time, and then laid by till the
afternoon's flood. Between five and six post meridian they
stepped into their craft, and rowing in good form went
merrily over the course on a young and somewhat sluggish
tide, backed up a little by an evil east wind. A more level
and even-rowing crew cannot well be imagined; and when
in their full swing ((which is a swing this year), the men
sway backwards and forwards with machine-like regula-
larity. At what looked more like a good steady pace than
a supreme effort, they did the distance in 21 minutes
seconds, according to some calculations ; while other ac-
counts will have it that a 0 must be added to the 4. Their
average number of strokes per minute seems to be a trifle
under of the Oxford crow. At certain points of the course
they were not doing more than 84 or 35 ; but between
Hammersmith and Barnes they well reached 36 or 37.
Returning they practised starts and spurts ; in one instance,
at Corney Reach, starting with such regularity and decision
that boat and men seemed rather to glide than be compelled
onward. On the whole, this Cambridge crew appears to
give very general satisfaction to those who pin their faith
on a light-blue victory, and to raise the hopes of Cambridge
from the cold latitudes of late years. It is expected that
from to-day both crews will do their principal work in the
forenoon rowing their real trials down while the tide is
unfavourable for an opposite movement. The impression
that they would do so this morning found its representa-

tives at Putney, and some little disappointment was there-
fore experienced by the few visitors, who, when the Cam-
bridge men were at lunch, hoped to see the light-blue
blades (of the oars) churning the murky stream. To-mor-
row, possibly the early visitors will be gratified with a
sight of both crews on the water before the suns get high
in the heavens.

It may be mentioned that a good sprinkling of Cantabs
went the distance on horseback, and that the gentleman
who "looks after" the dark blue interest did much of the
course on foot, narrowly
scanning the performances of the
" other side." Kelley also was again in attendance in his
outrigger, and it would appear that he and seven other of
the fraternity are likely to put the Oxford crow on their
mettle on Wednesday.