The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-08-31
TIE GREAT BoAT RACE.
OXFORD WINS BY THREE LENGTHS.
A Graphic Description OF tho Struggle
and tho Defeat.

ahu tAtC DCICuLs
Tho New York papers, OF Saturday, oomo to
us flled with telegraphio accounts OF the Ok
ford and Harvard boat race, which took placo
on tho preceding day. The kilograms pub
lished Ia The NEWS havo informed our readers
OF the defeat OF the Harvard by tho Oxford
crew. Tho race was SO grand and stirring AL
affair that the particulars will be read every
whore with interest.
LONDON TURNS OUT.
a telegram dated london, Friday afternoon,
says:
|. Over opo million persons witnessed the great
International race between Harvard and Oxford
to-day. The excitement was unprecedented.
London city wac almost entirely deserted, and
business was totally neglected. Everybody
talked about tue race, and everybody wore
either the Oxford or Harvard coIors. From
carly III tho morning until late in the afternoon
vehicles OF all descriptions, heavily laden with
sweltoring people, crowded all the roads lend
Ing to tho course. Tho day was hot. 'Rnd the
crowd was hot. Tho roads in the vicinity Of
Putnoy, aammerswith, Chiswiok, Barnes, Mort
lake, &C., were thronged with pedestrians. The
railway companies found themselves almost
unable to provide CARS sufficient to carry the
vest numbers in waiting at the depot. Dukes,
costermongers. princes. cordwainers, lords,
hshmongers, earls, and roughs poured to the
river bank in one copglomerated mass Many
ladies' were present. Rooms commanding
views OF the course we're rented at fabulous
prices. somo brought as high as -f1OO.
SCENES ON THE RIVER.
Tho steamer London Pride was anchored
abreast OF the Thames Conservatory yacht
The Prince Of Wales, it is affirmed, stood upon
her deck surrounded by several iuembers OF
tho royal family. AL carried large lorgnettes
The umplre's boat was but o few feet distant
Thomas. Hughes, the umpire, was surrounded
by group Of distinguished gentlemen, among
dc Paris, John Stuart Mill, Charles Reade and
others. The arrangements being under tho
directions OF the Thames Conservators, that
body OF gentlemen exerted themselves to tho
the two crews. The captains of steamboats,
on tho. river were served with printed iustruo
tions forbidding them to come beyond mark
mapped out by buoys across the river, and the
river police were active in keeping back and
arresting the progress OF craft that nov and
again shot out bey; nd the prescribed limits
In fact tho arrangements were Us perfect as
mortalman could make them.
! CONDITION OF THE CREWS.
Tho Haryards remained in their quarters
during the creator part OF the DAY. a great
many American and English gentlemen called
upon them, but few were admitted. It was
freely asserted that the American crew were
Loring was the subject of frequent comment.
The former was suffering froni diarrhua, and
tho latter wds troubled with an angry boil. Tho
hmeIican crew,:howeyer, were quite confident.
Biaikle and Josh Ward wore smiling faces,
aud occasionally took the long odds offered on
tue English crew. Kelloy was cool and calcu-
iatlng, and said but little. Some of tho men,
NJ ft,a -
pondsnt, but with this exception. all seemed
confident OF tight race with good square
chance for an American victory =
During the day tic Oxfords kept quiet. None
Dnt favorcd friends were welcomed to their
headquarters. A few OF tho English nobility
and haif dozen boatingmen and collegIans 70.
mained with them until late in the afternoon
an OF their friends were enthusiastic, aud
crew were in tp-top condition. They based
their hopes OF victory upon their superior bot
tom; Il was generally conc,ded that Harvard
Hammersmith Bridge. "But they can't etay.n
said Marlborough, ''you may be sure or it.n
ibis seemed to be the general opinion OF the
vast masses OF Engii shmen that Iiaad the
banks Of the river.
THE BETTING AND THE SPECTATORS
The Thames was tringed with yelling spec-
tatora- Every available boat and housetop was
covered with men and women. Tho betting
was heavy. The long odds offered on Oxford
was freely taken by the Americans and some
OF the English. Kelly snys that over q million
pounds sterling were wagered in London alone.
Many OF the ladies' wore the magenta colors
OF Harvard, and ventured sovereigns on the
skill and endurance Of the Americans.
THE CREWS ON ME RIVER.
The Oxford. crew slded out Of the London
boathouHe at o quarter OF tour. Their appear
ance was the signal for an immense cheer,
which WAS carried up and down both banks of
the river for miles. AS they padded toward
the Star and Garter their long sweeping body,
stroke elected another cheer, and drew out a.
thousand ordinations Of admiration. The
sun was shining brightly, and tho water was
nearly as smooth as mirror. Scarcely
sadS mss seIDS aDs hs % the
sweep OF an eagles wing. Their bodies we're
bare and their eklns were well tanned. Turn
Ing OF. at the Star and Garter, they swept
where another cheer mounted the AZ and was
waited up the river. Their stroke was moder-
ale and their faces bore the calm, imperturbed
look peculiar to English sporting men.
Five mtnu es elapsed. The Harvards spurted
the vaet multitude, but it lacked The volume Of
it's predecessor. Naked to tho waist and
bronzed, the shoulder-blades OF the HatvaIds
water with marvellous preoTsi n. Down toward
the stake-b boat they sped with the grace Or O.
water fowl. The multitude waved their, hand
kerchiefst and sent tpasmodio cheers In the
"aao "a lno khiauE crew. pe O1loruB spoke
not q word as the Ha;vards ranged themselves
at their side. 7 he vast crowd became breath.
less with excitement. ,5T
y: "oFF, GENTLEMEN"
The tiny aterns Ut the epe1r-Iike boats we're
ranged on loyei. The crews held thor oars
IN readiness. Not even whisper was heard.
A slight nervousness. however, was observed
ID ~ the movements of Simmons. Lorpg sat
like statuo, eager-eyed aud imnloyable.
Little Burnham inrtIveIy glanced at the Oxford
c9xswain, and silently awaited tho word. The
English crew sat with their bodies bent to the
front ~ and arms extended, stolid, and apparent-
~ indifferent. Tho Harvard crew had won the
toss for the position, and chose the MtddieseY
eide, the outside OF the semi. circle. It was
i've O'Clock, fourteen minutes, and SIX and o
Light southwest broege prevailed, with The wa
ter as smooth as mirror. There was mo.
ment OF dead silence. ~ -. -
"Of, gentlemen u said the starter, in clear