The New York herald., 1869-08-28
CHOICE OF POSITION.

CHOICE OF POSITION.
The Harvard crew won the toss and chose the
Niddlssex side, the outside of the semi.circie.
THR START.
Both boats started at Oh. lam. 64s. The tide at
the start, was sluggish and light southwest breeze
prevailed, with smooth water.
rHR RAcB.
The Harvards were nrss 10 catch the water and
took the ead gaming rapidly upon their opponents
ADd making fory.nve strokes per minute against the
Oxiords' forty. At Bishops Greek, three furlongs
from the start the Harvards led half length. GAIN
ing headwsy, they increased their lead as they
passed the willows. Their pace was subsequ entity
wards were stil thres.qusrters Of length ahead o.
Craven Poins-threcguarter Of . mile from tho
start.
Oxford now went on with steady drag but the
Americans rapidly Increased their lead, and Il Crab.
tree "a mile and an eighth from the Aqueduct were
o couple Of lengths ahead.
Beyond this point the Harvards wen taken
wIde," and the Oxfords ouckenng their speed re-
duced the gap at the Soap Works u mile and half
from the START TO haN length.
The Harvards now pulled up with magnificent
burst to HammeramIb Bridge % mile and three
quarters, but In shooting the bridge lost the dis.
tance they had gained.
Opposite the middle Mall the Oxfords spurted and
came up gradually to the Harvards but when oppo.
site "The Doves" the boats were found to be too
close together ana the Harvards gave way, and at
"Chiswick Aitp two and half miles the boats
were "leve"
After proceeding fifty yards further the Oxfords
began to gain, though temporarily, and the Har
wards again got even with them. Oxford gained
rapidly at Chiswick, where 1t became clear that the
pace apparently told on the Harvards, who were
rather wild at this part Of the race.
From this point the Oxfords rapidly drew ahead,
and In few strokes obtained LEAD Of two lengths.
The Harvards, rowing pluckiy, held them there for
half a mile, when they fell asern, and oxford, at
thlry.eght strokes per minute, shot Barnes Bridge
(three and hve-eightns niles three lengths ahead.
Along Barnes Reach the Harvsrds refreshed the eir
stroxe Nlr. Lorng) with river water thereby re-.
tardlng their boat.
effort Intellectual, and oxford, getting more Of a
lead eventually won the race by four lengths, easing
up in the last few strokes. and pulling up fresh.
THE WINNING POINT.
The Oxrords arrived at the Ship at Oh. som.
AIS, making tho four aud one. e.quar,er miles in 22m
4Oxs.
As soon as the result was known cheers rent the
air from the vast crowd, which is said TO be the
greatest tha, ever assembled on the banks OF the
Thames.
Tho race was spoken OF by all as q mos, noble and
exciting one, ana both crews received the hearty
cheers Of the masses congregated to witness this
great contest between the American and English
crews, and which, although lost by the Americans.
was only defeat after brave and manful struggle.
The Americans were wen received at the nnish.
and returning landed at Barnes.
Thus by the Insignificant space OF time OF nve sec.
onds pluck and enterprise were compelled to yield to
tho superior power OF enormous odds. Four
strangers two Of whom have had barely three weeks
practice In England undertook to row four English.
men, the pick and dover Of the lsnd who have for
years. ever since they attained MANHOOD, practlsed
rowing over the very same course as that which was
selected for to-day's race. The Americans rowed In
manner entirely new to them, with coxswsln In
| their boat. they rowed on the Thames river aud
| there lay the great secret OF their defeat.
That tortuous and deceptive river with It's trescher
GUS currents, ITS sudden bends and Its changes,
coming with every shifting OF the wind, was to the
coxswain OF the Harvard crew comparatively un-
known while to the oxford coxswan " was as
! familiar az his own home.