Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-09-03
ENGLAND.
The Great Boat Race Victory Of the Or
ford The Harrqrds Beaten Jy Four
LenghtS-Commeats Of the Press
FIRST DESPATCH

TOrd-IHc HGrCdrdS Beaten III FOur
LenghtS- C0mmeatS Of the Press.
FIRST DESPATCH.
LONDON, Aug. GA. M-The news
papers, TO day, publish closing comments on
the boat race, which occurs this afternoon
at five clock
The Telegraph eulogises the Elliott boat
as light, fast and graceful-travels well, and
suits her crew We do not expect, the
Telegraph says, that the Harvards can win
the race, but the changes made by them
bring the crews more on a level. On the
whole, we think it will be a capital race.
The Oxfords will defeat their gal ant ad-
versaries without difficulty. If otherwise,
the HarvaIds must have an ovation, to show
that we are not ashamed 10 be beaten by
oU excellent cousins.
The Star says the Americans are indi-
vilually more powerful than the 0xfords,
bur It Is thought their training is not ac-
corning to Eugish notions of strictness.
The Daily AeCs says Above all
thitgs we are anxious that the contest shall
be sharp from first to last that victory,
wheher on one side OF the other, shall be
30 hard to earn as to cover winners and
loses alike with glory. To PREJUDICE the
lssu, would be impertiuent In the last de-
gree"
The writer then takes opportunity to ac-
knowledge to the full extent the obvious
aud inevitable disadvantage the Haryards
have contended against.
The river and everything were strange
and unfamiliar, and masters as they were of
the science of rowing, they had to study it
almost like the alphabet Of 8 foreign lan-
guage.
The Oxford on Charles river would labor
under similar disadvantages. An that can
be said is, that they add grace to victory
and dignity to defeat The general impress
sion is, that 1t will be great race to Ham
mersmth-two miles
The bridge at Putney has been complete
ly barred and no boats except those of the
umpire and press will be allowed to pass
The betting is two to one and seven to four
on the Oxfords. 1t is reported that several
American gentlemen now here stsked $1,000
last evening on the success of the Haryards.
SECOND DESPATCH
E1tH Particulars of the Contest.
LONDON, Aug. 27.-The excitement, to-
day, over the great international boat race
has been intense. The banks of Ibe Thames
have been lined with spectators since an
early hour this morning. The city has been
almost deserted, and business quite neg
leeted Vehicles of all descriptions, bearing
the Harvard and Oxford cOlors, and heavi
ly laden with people, crowded all the roads
leading to the course and during the entire
day the roads IN the vicinity of Putney,
Hammersmith, Chiswick Barnes, Mortlake,
&c, were thronged with pedestrians. The
railway companies iound themselves unable
to provide cars sufficient 20 carry the vast
numbers in waiting at the depots. II is no
exaggeration to state that probably mil
lion people witnessed the race.
The Harvard crew won tho toss for posi-
tion, and chose the Middlesex side 1.-THE
outside of the semi-circle) Both boats
started at o'clock, IA minutes and l64
The weather was fine and hot
The tide at the start was sluggish, and a
light southwest breeze prevailed, with
smooth water. The Harvards we're the first
to catch the water and took the lead, gain
ing rapidly on their opponents, and making
45 strokes minute against the Oxfords 40
Al Bishop creek, three furlongs from the
start, the Havards led half a length. Gam
ing headway, they increased their lead as
they passed the Willows. Their pace was
slaekened, and the 0xfords
pulled up, but the Harvards were still three
quarters of length ahead at Craven Point,
three-quarters OF a mile from the start
Oxford now went on with a steady drag,
but the Americans rapidly increased their
lead, and at Grab Tree, mile aud an eighth
from the aqueduct, were couple lengths
ahead. Beyond this point the Harvards
were taken wide, and the Oxfords, quicken
ing their speed, reduced the gap at the
soap works, a mile and half from the start,
to half length. The Harvards now pulled
up with magnificent burst, to Hammer
smith Bridge, a mile and three-quarters, but
in shooting the bridge, lost the distance they
had gained.
Opposite the middle mall the Oxfords |
spurted, and came up gradually to the Har-
Yards, but when opposite the Doves, the
boats were found to be too close together,
aud the Haryards gave way, and at CHS
wick Ait, two aud half miles, the boats we're
level. After proceeding fifty yards further, |
the OEfords began to gain, though tempo
rarily, and the Harvards again got even with |
them. The Oxiords gained rapidly at CHS |
wick, where il became clear that the pace |
apparently told on the Harvards, who were
rather wild at this part of the race.
From this point the Oxiords rapidly drew |
ahead, and in a few strokes obtained a lead |
Of two lengths. The Harvards, rowing |
held them there for half mile, |
when they fell astern, and Oxford, at 80 |
strokes per minute, shot Barnes Bridge
three and fve-eighths miles-three lengths |
ahead Along Barnes Reach the Harvards |