Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-09-15

III . dUu
% seconds from the start, and actually
leads Oxford at this critical point. This
was so entirely unexpected that the Ok
onians on the banks and on the umpire's
steamer are heard shouting. "Tll never
believe in style again if Harvard wins -
So, beyond Hammersmith, comes the finest
contest ever seen in any race on either
continent, the greatest oarsmen of both
worlds breast to breast for at least three
minutes-for Oxford is getting where she
knows how to gain water rapidly. Har-
ward has, however, no idea of giving up
and keeps abreast gloriously, one continual
burst of cheering marking the tremendous
popular tribute to such mastery work.
Here was, as few minutes since there
had been at the Crabtree, chance for
foul but Harvard avoided it, and Oxford
began TO press strongly for the precedence
at that critical point in the Cheswick water
which | mentioned in my account of the
course. But Harvard did not give up
without a struggle. Those arms were
hardly seen 50 rapidly did they work in
the bright light of the closing afternoon.
At the Cheswick Ait. however, Oxford
gains shoots ahead Harvard comes up
again, b.A uSteEd has got the water and
Harvard lGi .sllow. for few minutes, at
least. Here we have been following only
thirteen minutes, yet it seems hours, so in
tense has been the excitement. But we
do not yield yet there is long expanse
of water between Cheswick and Barnes /;
YOU will see the Haryards come up again
there. NoLtry their best. they cannot,
or do not yet. At last they draw closer
and closer the contest of space as they
approach the bridge is terrible. Under
they 90, both toiling like madmen, and
with such noble skill displayed in each
stroke that the amateurs on the banks cry,
continually, Well pulled :" To Barnes
bridge, Just eighteen minutes and five sec
onds has been used; and the race bids fair
to come within the time usually allotted to
those with light oars. All there is the
stake boat in the distance, and Harvard.
despite her most gigantic efforts, is about
two boats lengths behind So close is the
contest that people on the shore can hardly
perceive any perceptible difference in the
positions But, by final, intense, long
sweeping effort, Oxford draws her boat
one length further ahead of the Harvard,
and the gun is fired just at that instant
Oxford is declared the winner by six sec
onds-tlre 5odts' lengths +; and the great
race is enied.
The O-fords, who have so narrowly es-
capped, rov quietly back amid such a scene
of ENTHUSIASM as no pen can properly
picture They row down the whole course,
and are leluged with boquets from the
walls of villas all the way. At Barnes
the American flag is gallantly waved in
to them; and all along to
Hammersmith thousands of people are
Bravo! dark blue"
The Harvards shake hands with the UNI
pire. in whom they had much confidence
and whom they know in this case to be
quite right. 1t is by no means fair for
any Engiishman TO say that the Oxfords
rowed within themselves and allowed the
to fatigue themselves first. There
is no truth whatever in that. Oxford
never was 50 distressed before, never was
. % NJ 9ira < ! sa superior as fRD~IeaGo GS"s%;sE
aud posslblySa slight lack Of improving all
his advantages on the part Of the Harvard
are in my mind, but ] reflect
The sentimeats of a large class the rea-
sons of the defeat There are only two
things offensive which Englishmen say now
hat the race is over; one is that the Ok
fords had an easy victory after the start,
md the other that the Harvards adopted
English strokes after Cheswick. Both as
sertiOns are absolutely and unqualifedly
untrue. In those three minutes, Just above
Hammersmith, when the fate of the race
hung trembling in the balance, 1t was evil
dent tina, those well trained young bodies
we're racked to the very utmost, and that
a disastrous collapse under such a supreme
effort might at any moment be expected.
Neither IS it necessary, because the Ok
fords had won, to concede superiority TO the
Oxford style of rowing. since the race was
so elosely contested, and only won by six
seconds L am glad to hear, as do every
where, that England will consider it obli-
gatory On the Oxfords to 90 to America
next year, and l trust Boston may yet
have the honor and pleasure of securing
the redoubtable Englishmen, and giving
them as many courtesies as the Harvards
have received and will now receive.
As you have doubtless already been so
well informed by Cable, have not been
particular to give all the facts as to time,
ETC.. but the start was at n very few
minutes after FIVE, and the exact duration
of Oxford's pull was 22 minutes 40 l-2
seconds Harvard, 22 46 l-2.
As a.pretty good evidence that our Eng
lish cousins desire fair play in the str ctest
sense, must notice the manner in which
hey treated one swell. who was out in
boat with his girl, and actually came near
fouling the crews when they were in that
admirable breast to breast struggle. How
the idiot ever got out there don't know
but he was heaped with execrations from
he shores, Kissed, blackguarded, and, had
le ventured to land, would probably have
been moRbeA E.K.