The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-08

before our readers details OF the practice OF the rival
crews during their stay At Putnev and as lar as pos
raby correct notion OF the relative merits OF tue Two
sets Of oarsnlen
been unusually fine and has been highly appreciated
by the Americana who, before they left home, were
led to expect nothing but clouds rain ana fogs. On
Thursday evening there was a bright moon and a
cloadless sky, giving promise OF glorious day on
the morrow. SO that there was little or no msglv
ing the subject OF the weather for the boat race
day. notwithstanding the prOverbal fckleness oil
the English climate.
Yesterday morning, In accordance with the FORE
cast or the preceding evening, broke flne but with
O haziness f0reshadowing much heat Towards
midday the sun came out In all Its power and shone
all hands expressions Of commseratlon for the
actors In the impending strife were 10 be heard. IL
is true nice ar from the eastward made itself
agreeably felt and mitgated the oppressiveneSs OF
the atmosphere but the day proved TO be one OF the
hottest We have experienced this season. FOrtu
nately as the afternoon wore on aud the tide rose
this air gradually increased In strength and by the
time tue start was made 1t had freshened up into
nice breeze
signs that something out or the usual course was
expected and shortly after midday CROWDS began
10 ose wSsswara oy ROAD ana ps wa o .me
"Oxtordn and yankees" bettkened the great zest
with which every atom OF intelligence concerning
the crews who were about to contend for the honor
OF their uniyersites-n not, strictly speaking, Tor
the honor OF their respective countries-was well
coined and commented upon. The most visible
signs Of the impending contest were TO be found IN
the fact that along the strees Hanson cabs. carts
ana pedestrians were bedecked mainly with two
putably in the ascendant shop windows were
ornamented with the rival cOors, ana from mag
be seen the Union Jack. in juxtaposltion with the
well known Stars aud Stripes occasionally varied
by the unpretentious "darK blue" OF the English
university.
Opposite the Star and Garter at Putney tier OF
half score OF barges was mOored IN line under the
direction OF the Thames COnservancy, and a pom
dcrOuS chain stretched the
made fast at the surrey end TO wooden pile driven
into the mud and at the other to windlass on
powerful ''lumD," the hight or slack Of the chain
passing across the lighters and dropping some dis
lance under the surface Of the water between them,
80 az 70 1eS w ss Tue az
to form boom right across the river, for the pur
pose Of preventing the passage OF any heavy craft
The tide turned and began TO dow about half past
one O'Clock, Immediately after which hunareds OF
row boats appeared at first coming IN twOs and
tnrees and afterwards IN shoals. Among them were
several screw launches aud tugs and two or three
passenger steamers, including one whose owner had
previously expressed his determination OF defying
racing boats bu VINO at the last moment was com.
pelied to succumb to the strong arm OF the law and
9uiety took up stationary position between
Barnes anu MOrtake in company with several other
steam vessels. The Sunflower. for the representa-
tives OF the press also arrived at a comparatively
early hour aud took up her position close over to
alongside the umpres' boat, Citizen T. Lotus,
these being, according to previous announcement,
match. They were neither OF them at all crowded.
the number OF tickets issued for each being limited
to fifty, or perhaps sixty and for the excellent
which ne Afforded his passengers OF every incident
OF the race the captain of the Sunn0wer deserves
their BEST thanks for, while always anxious 70 oblge
them IN every possible way, he was scrupulOusly
careful to conform TO the instructions given him, and
not 10 overrun the crews or even to head the um.
pires' boat In the least degree Mr. Lord, the
panstaklng and efficient executive officer OF the
Thames Conservancy, who merits the greatest credit
for his untirng exertions to provide clear
and to carry out the arrangements for the match in
the manner most agreeable to the two crews, in
which he succeeded beyond expectation was to have
Inc press 1oa1 oat a. the last
steam launch Ariel aud by moving about from place
70 place mainly contributed to keep the course
clear OF ntruders. That this was task of no small
difficulty will be fully appreciated by those who
witnessed the hundreds upon hundreds OF r0wb0ats
winch fringed the sides OF the river In the upper
reaches ana crammed the spaces set apart for
ing H. At four O'Clock in the afternoon the towing
path, roads, banks and bridges were covered with
largest numbers at Putney. Hammesmith, CHS.
wick ION both sides OF the river, Barnes
and Mortake, the road from Hammersmith
suspension Bridge past Mil Lodge and the
West Middlesex UOmpany's reservoirs to Barnes
terrace being completely blocked with venicies Of
all descriptions, Although there can be no doubt
that the slghtseers mustered in strong force at
Putnev. they gave no indication whatever OF the
thousands upon thousands OF spectators who had
crowded together upon Hammersmlth bridge, on
both sides OF the river at Chlswick. and along the
Surrey shore Tor mile and half below the winning
forms erected upon them ranged tier upon tier
as thlckiy Us they could be crammed, and above
ON the oadwa VINE s ABOVE all al eveey
window and on every housetOp, as well on Barnes
railway bridge, there was scarcely vacant place to
De found so deep was the anxiety TO behold the
race. The oxford ana Cambridge boat race Is IA
nous for large crowds but there never before were
such multitudes or human beings collected along
side the Thames. SO anxious were the occupants Of
the small boats Oh Barnes to get as near view Of
the crews as possible that they rowed after them
were following them at distance Of about 100 yards
and many OF them narrowly escaped being run down,
the race was anished tnas a long time elapsed be.
fore the crews could make their way hack to Putney
or the steamboats, return 10 London.
The course having been thoroughly cleared and
everything being IN readiness, the Oxford and Har
ward crews went down to the river shortly before
five O'Clock, the oxford men to the Leander Club
boathouse ana the Harvard men to that of the Lon.
don Rowing Club, and proceeded to get into their
racing craft The oxford crew were first afioat and
pushed Oh from the shore about five minutes to five
O'Clock, followed almost Immediately by the Ameri-
cans. both crews coming In for loud and prolonged
little time was unortunaey wasted 6eore the tWe
tours were In perfect readiness to go, as owing to
an unaccountable oversight. no station boats had
been provided from which to hold the sterns Of the
racing boats preparatory to getting or At length
two sk.rs were procured, and dropping their an
chors just ahead OF the line of lighters they were
placed in position. The two crews then backed
down TO them, the Harvard crew taking the Middle
sex, better situation, while the Oxonlans were on
ly opposite the Star ana Garter Hotel, at Putney.
AT ten minutes past i've the starter Mr. W. Blake,
secretary OF the Harvard University Boat Club pre-
pared 70 get them Off, but owing to the oxford crew
not being quite ready when asked the question, q
few moments OF suspense elapsed. At length. at
fourteen minutes past five, the signal was given and
the race commenced.
The Harvard crew dipped their oars into the
water nrst but the Oxonlans were almost quickly
under way, although not TO such good purpose. so
rapidly did the Americans get their boat of that on
the Dukes Head, about half way between the Star
and Garter and Simmons yar1, they led by half a
length, which advantage they had increased to a
whole length opposite the London Club boat house.
the cheers OF the American spectators and the
c0unter-cheers OF the multitudes creating deafen-
ing upr0ar. AT the Bishops creek on the MIDDLE.
sex side OF the river, the Harvard had II DOS.
sibe added yet more to their lead and, far as we
could Judge from the steamer astern OF them were
clear OF OXFORD with couple Of feet to spare. on
past the Willows and the site OF the Old Half Mile
Post there was no change, the Harvard crew. who
were rowing very rapid stroke OF at least forty
two to the minute, holding their advantage, even
II they did not slightly add to it. The oxford
crew, on the other. hand, were pulling a
very steady stroke Of PERTAINS thirty-nine to
the minute without hurry or scrambng, and with