The New York herald., 1868-04-20
THE ENGLISH UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or the HERALD.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF the HERALD.
PUTNEY, April 4, 1868.
1t is really doubtful whether the Derby Day or the
University Boat Race is the more popular in Eng
land; but with the scenes OF this morning still fresh
In my mind am almost inclined to decide In favor
Of the boat race which has just been again won by
Oxford this being the eighth consecutive victory for
the dark blues. Both the Derby and the University
races are held near crowded London; both are at
tended by all class Of persons, from the aristo-
cracy to the roughs, and upon both an i'm
mense amount of money is wagered. But
many people even in England will go to a
boat race when they will not attend horse
race, and thus it happens that sometimes, like to-
day, the University race numbers its tens Of thou
sands Of spectators, and the Derby only Its thou
sands
PRELIMINARIES AND THE BETTING.
For nearly q month past the University race has
been the chief topic of conversation in all circles and
has occupied its corner In every newspaper. As the
crews were finally decided upon and began to train
for the contest the interest gradually heightened.
The delay about the challenge from Cambridge,
on account Of the sudden death OF
Mr.. Gordon-one OF the best rowers in
that University-and the prospect, which
is not yet wholly abandoned, Of an international
struggle between the Oxford crew and the club OF
Harvard College increased the excitement Besides,
Cambridge had been beaten often that all outsiders
hoped the light blue would win this year. and public
feeling was almost unanimous In the desire. Still,
when the two crews came together for practice on
the Thames the betting changed to to 4 and even 2
styles Of rowing were compared the frmer
became these heavy Odds. But day or two
ago Cambridge made slight rally, and many
knowing gentlemen openly declared that the
whoever won the toss for places would win the
race. The sale of dark blue and light blue ribbons,
rosettes scars necktes and bonnes during the past
week was immense. Every store sold something
blue and everybody bought something blue in order
ties.
GOING TO PUTNEY.
When the great debate and divisions in the House
of Communicating the fate OF the established
Church, not only In Ireland, but all over the kingdom
bright, but the invisible to cockneys, and Lon
don found itself in fog on the day OF Its favorite
race Fortunately III, the @ Fog Iva was - light, and ,IN No,
is a suburb of London. as Harlem is Of New York.
The railways above and under the ground ran
special trains to the scene of the race. Omnibuses
overloaded with people, and labelled ITO the Boat
Race" toiled through the streets. All the Hanson
by the hundreds had been chartered for the excur-
sion. Private carriages jammed the road. Thou
Ing cities and villages contributed their quotas.
Ever, where you saw the race ribbons. All the peo-
pie wore them; ali the horses were decorated with
dogs were trimmed with them. They were as
universal as fire crackers used to be In
now n osns
people poured into Putney, huddled In immense
groups at Hammersmith banked themselves into hui
man terraces at Barnes swarmed like fies upon the
suspension bridge, rOwed about In little boats, COM
petely covered the steamers and towboats and lined
The low banks Of the Thames for the whole four miles
THE PARTIES OF SPECTATORS.
The arrangements on the river had been admirably
made. All steamboats, were required TO keep behind
the buoys laid down or Putney until the racers had
started and then to follow at certain distance in
the others, and these were the umpire's boat, the
boat chartered by Belts LIE, and the boat which
their distinguished M s,.e. The Prince Of Wales who
has grown exceedingly stout wore morning suit
and brown surtout. smoked his inevitable cigar,
which Ia beginning to be famous as Grants, and
seemed In the yeliest Of spirits. He not cheered
but much laughter was occasioned when band near
He pal OF %ne as ths Prince has been ssS Se
severely censured IN the press lately for his patron
age Of concert saloon singers. In carriages, on
horseback and on the various boats were numer-
QUE members OF the aristocracy. The London
Rowing Club had special boat, upon
and a brilliant party, whom he afterwards enter.
tiined AT luncheon. The people along the shores
seemed innumeraoe, the fog Increasing rather than
not less than three hundred thousand persons wit
messed the race and the gay scene both on the river
and the banks, one OF the most picturesque ever
seen even In picturesque England.
THE CREWS APPEAR.
II was hslfpast eleven O'Clock ana quite nigh t,de
crews appeared In their slender racing boats,
which, ike miniature Monitors, just showed above
the surface OF the water Both crews had
cups OF weak tea and brandy just before
starting The toss for places occupied but moment,
and great cheer was raised when the news came
that Cambridge had the toss, for the first time
In many years. This gave the light blues the inside
track, and the confidence OF their hackers rose ac.
cordingy. Quickly following the news the oxford
crew came out their boat looking like gigantic
SKINNER or water fly with It's slender body and long
oars. The crew were dressed in white, with straw
pf no
blue. They looked well, rowed well and greatly
pleased the critics anoat and ashore. Then came the
cambridge crew, In nght blue Jackets and white
hats. Their oar blades painted their favorite
color They looked weak crew, rowed unevenly and
% ous ny sns Appearance asconfaged he,r pfes
ranged In front VI the starting boats where their
Iuuuer posts were held by the starters. Then there
Prince Of Wales boat thought that he ought to be
Sheaa oi everybody. The captain OF the Beips LIE
ppnce saamsrp a,s Importance s and bumped against the
&oins 70 .she anytodys water, and pushed In to the
snoni 90 phay, hn lust a. the racing crews seemed
the start was given at q quarter before twelve
| O'Clock.
The rowcrs took or their hats and Jackets and
ieanea @ % FORWARD, WIN Their oars deep in the water
and every ., muscle strained to It's work; then came
the signal whistle, the boats were let 90 and amid
great shout they were or. At the iirst stroke
oxford shot ahead, but in . moment afterwards
everything on land and water seemed In snddeniv
start into motion. The steamers padded ahead:
s2uest,isns and pedestrians raced along the shore
ment. The thin fog had lifted so that the exertions
Of the rival rowers could be distinctly seen. The
perfectly smooth and ne tide @ Tassa nn,na a'%os, 9sts
strongly In favor Of the boats. From rom
the Gr'f s Eas evident that Cambridge had no
were fun o. vsor and Can; there was q spring AZ
their serOke wae full strOnR nee ana useasnsa,