The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-10 00:00:00

This great aquatic contest, which now regularly
marks the opening of the London rowing season,
was on Saturday won by the Oxford crew, after one
of the best, and for a time one of the most doubt-
ful, struggles that have ever been seen on the
Thames. Almost to the time of starting, and cer-
tainly for some two miles or so after they had
started, Cambridge was the favourite, and at one
period of the race it would have been difficult to find
backers for Oxford at any odds at all. Yet in the
end Oxford won with almost ease by about five
boats' lengths. The Oxford crew came up with a
reputation which at the outset made them the fa-
vourites, and it was not till they began to try their
pace over the course that the self-styled " cogni-
scenti " of the river began their whispered doubts
about success. There was apparently some show of
reason for this change of faith, if we may so call it.
In starting quickly and in maintaining the highest
rate of speed for a short time the Cambridge crew
was, beyond all doubt, superior to that of Oxford
—just as it proved the Oxonians were superior to
their antagonists in keeping up a high rate of speed
for the longest.time. In short, for such a race as
that of Saturday the Oxford crew were the better
men ; and, though amateurs professed to think the
chances equal, there was only one opinion among
the professional watermen against whom the Oxo-
nians had rowed, which was that, barring accidents,
Oxford was sure to win. To a certain extent there-
fore the event may be said to have justified both
opinions—those who believed in the speed at which
Cambridge was capable of going, and those who
believed in the pace which Oxford was capable of
maintaining,.
The eagerness to witness this great race was in-
tense, and the day is not far distant when it will
take its place among the greatest of London's
spectacles—a race inferior only in importance to
that of the Derby. It is 36 years since the first
race was rowed, yet only 22 matches have been
made, for at first so little interest attached to
these trials of strength that there have been in-
tervals of two and three years during which no
race was rowed at all, and indeed it is only since
1856 that they have regularly recurred. Now one
4. would as soon expect to hear of the Ascot Meeting
being discontinued, or the Derby postponed, as the
spring coming without the Oxford and Cambridge
boat race. What as recently as ten years ago
drew only a thin line of spectators to a few
points on the river now commands an attendance
which is certainly second only to that which flocks
to Epsom. On Saturday the concourse was enor-
mous. From Putney to Mortlake, a distance of
more than five miles, the river banks were thronged;
the bridges, even to the railway bridge at Barnes,
were covered with crowds ; the very trees, even the
walls round distant villas, had their occupants. Not
a spot from which the race could be seen was left
unoccupied, while very many from which, as it
turned out, nothing could be seen at all were almost
equally crowded. The three great points of attrac-
tion were, of course, Putney, Hammersmith, and
Mortlake ; at least it was at these places that the
greatest mass of carriages and horsemen were to be
found, and where the fair supporters of bright blue
and dark blue mustered strongest. Nothing is more
peculiar to this race than the interest which ladies
evince in it, and the uncompromising devotion with
which they adhere to their colours, winning or los-
ing. On Saturday only a few were to be seen who
were not dressed more or less in light or dark blue.
With some weak spirits the concession to popular
feeling only went as far as ribands, but the majo-
rity, whether the shade was light or dark, were more
or less blue from head to foot, with blue streamers on
their homes, and blue rosettes upon their gloves.
The start was fixed to take place at about 12, but
long before that time it was evident that unless some
order was taken with the crowd of steamers a race

Year. Date. ' Winner. Won by.
1829 June 10 ... Oxford ... ... Easily.
1836 June 17 ... Cambridge... 1 minute.
1839 April 3 ... ... Cambridge... 1 min. 45 secs,
1840 April 15 ... Cambridge... of a length.
1841 April 14 ... ... Cambridge... 1 min. 4 secs.
1842 June 11 ... Oxford ... 13 secs.
1845 March 15 ... ... Cambridge... 30 secs.
1846 April 3 ... Cambridge... 2 lengths.
1849 March 29 ... ... Cambridge... Easily.
1849 Dec. 15 ... Oxford ... Foul.
1852 April 3 ... Oxford ... 27 secs.
1854 April 8 ... ... Oxford ... 11 strokes.
1856 March 15 ... ... Cambridge ... -of a length.
1857 April 4 ... ... Oxford ... 35 secs.
1858 March 27 Cambridge ... 22 secs.
1859 April 15 ... Oxford Camb. sank.
1860 March 31 ... ... Oxford ... 1 length.
1861 March 23 ... Oxford ... 43 secs.
1862 April 14 ... Oxford ... 30 sees.
1863 March 28 ... Oxford ... Easily.
1864 March 19 ... ... Oxford ... Easily.
1865 April 8 Oxford Easily.

would be impossible. The whole river at Putney was

covered with boats of every kind, from screw steam-

tugs, swaying and reeling heavily from side to side

with their overload of pssengcrs, down to cutters,

wherries, and outriggers. Some of the lighter boats
were beautifully manned, and flew in all directions

over the water like summer flies, while others

of the larger kind were so dangerously crowdedand

ill-handled that it was painful to witness the peril
to which their passengers were momentarily exposed.
As on a Derby day one can see the best and worst

-- - horses in the world, so on the occasion of the Uni-

vcrsity boat race can be seen the best and worst
boats and the best and worst specimens of rowing
ever to be witnessed on the Thames. Soon after 12
the Cambridge boat came out, and the Oxford
almost immediately followed, both crews being
greeted with loud cheers as they moved easily to the
centre of the stream. They were well matched ap-
parently in weight and size. The crews were much
above the average height, and seemed alike in per-
fect condition, as fine a set of young fellows as could
well be brought together. Their names and weights
are as follows : -

OXFORD
1. Mr. R. T. Raikes, Merton ...
2. Mr. P. Senhouse, Christ Church
3. Mr. E. F. Henley, Oriel ...
4. Mr. G. G. Coventry, Pembroke...
5. Mr. A. Morrison, 8a11i01...
6. Mr. T. Wood, Pembroke ...
7. Mr. H. Schneider, Trinity ...
8. Mr. M. Brown, Trinity
C. E. W. Tottenham, Ch. Ch (cox.) 7 13
CAMBRIDGE. st lb
1. Mr. H. Watney, St. John's 11 1
2. Mr. M. H. Beebee, St. John's... 11 0
3. Mr. E. V. Pigott, Corpus: ... 11 13
4. Mr. R. A. Kinglake, Trinity ... ... 12 8
5. Mr. D. F. Steavenson, Trinity Hall ... 12 5
6. Mr. G. H. Borthwick, Trinity 12 0
7. Mr. W. R. Griffiths, Trinity 11 8
8. Mr. C. B. Lawes, Trinity 11 7
Mr. .H. Archer, Corpus Christi (cox.) ... 7 3
Both crews took a short turn down the river before
coming to the starting-point, but nothing could be
judged from this preliminary effort, save that the
Oxford stroke was long and beautifully regular. Of
course, on the first tokens of the start being near
at hand the crowds of steamers closed in before
the boats on either side, so as to make it impossible
the race could be begun, unless each crew were
content to face the almost certainty of drowning.
It was in vain that the Thames police interfered,
and the spectators on the shore were driven into the
most exasperated form of wordy remonstrance. The
captains of the steamers were inexorable, and it was
not till after a short consultation, during which both
crews agreed not to start at all unless their course
Was cleared, that the managers of the steamers
would consent to let the boats have a fair chance.
The misconduct of these steamers has long been
complained of, and unless some better order is
taken with them, their presence on these occasions
must sooner or later result in some terrific accident.
It is the knowledge of this, and the danger with
which they always menace the competing crews,
which is, we believe, now leading the University
oarsmen to look about for some other water than
the Thames on which they may compete fairly and
in safety.

st lb
... 11 1
... 11 2
... 12 13
... 11 12
... 12 6

... 12 2
... 11 11
... 11 4

Not till near one o'clock was the last and most
obstructive of the steamers, the Prince, got rid of
and kept astern. Oxford, in the meantime, had won
the toss for choice of places, and of course
Middlesex side. At one o'clock, when thee took
the
given at last, both boats got off well togethrd was
bridge began with a rapid spurt that dre.wCtahir
Cam_
boat ahead amid tremendous cheers from their sup_e
porters. Oxford for the moment seemed takenb
surprise, and their long, powerful stroke, which
eventually saved their race, but which of all others
is the hardest to keep to in the sudden excitement
of a start, was for the time almost forgotten. The
spurt of Cambridge, on the contrary, was even
heightened by its success, and stroke after stroke,
and foot by foot, they drew their boat ahead, till in
a quarter of a mile they had its length almost clear
of their opponents. To add to Oxford's difficulties
they now got into the broken water of two steamers
which had remained ahead, but which the immense
pace of the racing boats had soon overtaken, and
this misfortune threw them still more behind, till at
the Crab Tree nearly two lengths separated the rival
crews, and Cambridge even then seemed gaining every
minute. Cheers for Cambridge came from every
point, the ladies in light blue waved parasols and
handkerchiefs, while, on the other hand, direction

The Great Oxford and Cambridge Eight- entreaties, and expostulations were hoarsely poured
oared Match, on Oxford from a thousand voices. They pulled
manfully, bending to their work like machinery and
;s great aquatic contest, which now regularly sending their boat on with a visible spring at every-
`he opening of the London rowing season, stroke, but at this time all in vain. Their oppo-
turday won by the Oxford crew, after one nests were not only well ahead but right ahead,
,nd for a time one of the most doubt- giving to Oxford all the trouble and disadvantage
that have ever been seen on the of broken water.
tto the time of starting, and cer- Hammersmith-bridge on Saturday was festooned
TO miles or so after they had with human beings, and the great roar of cheers
vas the favourite, and at one which greeted Cambridge at this point was wonder-
uld have been difficult to find ful to hear. The race was then considered over,
v odds at all. Yet in the for the lead of light blue was nearly three lengths
',lost ease by about five and seemed increasing. It was here that Cambridge
' crew came up with a again put on a quicker spurt and pulled a stroke
made them the fa- that was distressingly rapid, considering how far
began to try their they had still to-go. A thousand to one on Oxford
styled " cogni- would then have found no takers, though in a few
nered doubts minutes after Oxford began slowly but surely to win.
me show of Without any quickening of stroke they were seen
9 call it. to be visibly diminishing their distance from their
;ghest antagonists. With every effort they came nearer
-ew and nearer, and Cambridge made a desperate at-
I tempt to keep the lead, rowing at least 40 strokes a
minute. Still, in spite of all, the dark blue gained,
till both boats were almost abreast, and the excite-
ment of the partisans of each became intense. It
was a wonderful struggle as each for a short space
held their own, neck and neck, and light blue and
dark blue along the banks on either side or in the
boats around-called out to each, " Pull, Cambridge,
pull," " Pull, Oxford, pull." Every call or name
that could be supposed on this occasion to stimulate
men to do their utmost was used now. Gentlemen
and ladies were equally earnest, and the sounds of
" Pembroke" and " Trinity," " Henley," " Brown,"
Lawes," and " Pigott" could be heard even above
the constant cry of " Pull, Pull !" It only lasted
for a minute, for, amid all the uproar, whirl, and
rush of the race, Oxford drew ahead at Chiswick
Church. It was useless calling on Cambridge to
" pull" then. Their pace had been too fast to last,
and though they struggled nobly, dark blue still
gained with every long deep regular stroke, and it
was seen that the race was over. The crew which
could regain the tremendous lead that Cambridge
had possessed could do anything on_ the water, and
amid the most enthusiastic cheers from the dark
blues, ladies and gentlemen, Oxford passed under
Barnes-bridge leading by two lengths. From this
point, confident of their victory, they could afford
to attend a little more to style, and the stroke with
which they brought theirboat up to the winning-post
was the admiration of all who saw it. They won by
at least four or five lengths. The time occupied in
the entire race was just a little over 21 minutes,—
one of the fastest that has ever been rowed. The
fifth victory in succession which was thus gained by
Oxford was due mainly to their perseverance in the
long stroke, which has been the tradition of the
University, and to the admirable steering of Mr.
Tottenham, who has now so often guided the Ox-
ford boat to victory. Many accidents occurred
from the swell raised by the mass of steamers fol-
lowing the boats. As far as we could learn, how-
ever, no life was lost, though at one time two boats,
each containing fivepersons, were swamped in deep
water.
Half an hour after the race Oxford rowed back to
Putney in splendid style. The Cambridge crew
were prevented accompanying them, as after the
contest one of the steamers struck their boat and
nearly cut it in two. The following is the state of
the score as regards the success of the two Universi
ties in these contests up to the present time :