The New York herald., 1869-08-28
TRAINING OF BOTH CREWS.
How the News was Received in
New York.


Tns great international boat race. which for tho
last few months has attracted 20 great degree Of
attention, both here and in the United States came
Oh to-day on the Thames river amid the greatest
enthusiasm.
THE COURSE
was from Putney to Mortake, distance Of four and
quarter miles. and the race was won. after close
struggle, by the oxford Crew, beating the Harvards
BY four lengths, and In time BY six seconds. The
time occupied in rowing the distance was "a minutes
AoX seconds.
THE STREETS
presented the came lively and animated appearance
a. on . Derby or Oxford and Cambridge boat race
day. Vast numbers Of people. wearing blue or
magenta colors, thronged the thoroughiares.
crowded tho vehicles ana convey ances and flled
the steamboats, going to the scene Of action.
ON THE RIVER.
Many sporting boats on the river and whole fleets
Of small boats rowing or with sails went swiftly up
the stream, With the tids each carrying Its full COM
plemen, Of passengers 10 the scene. The city was
almost deserted.
THE RoADs LEADING TO THE COURSE
we're blocked with carriages, horsemen ana people
on foot and the thoroughfares leading to and In the
vicinity Of Putney, Hammersmlth, Chiswlck. Barnes
Mor,lake. &C.. were thronged with pedestrians.
THE CROWD.
There IL no exaggeraton to state that over q mil.
lion Of persons witnessed the race. The banks Of
the river were lined with spectators at an early hour
tv MN lmOo 40 ind
and business quite neglected.
The railway companies found themselves almost
unable to provide cars suncient to carry the vast
numbers In waiting At the depots
ATPUTNEY
the scene was extremely gay ana animated. Every.
where were to be seen the American and English
national nags entwined, with large displays Of the
coors OF both crews the bright crimson Of the
Thames Conservancy nags mingling harmoniously
with the darker shades Of other nags Thousands of
people, Of oil conditions, ages, and both sexes,
crowded the towing paths on both sides Of the
river. Thousands Of small boats were confined
within their limits near the rivers bank. A per-
fectly clear course was kept
over the whole four and quarter miles rowed on
both sides Of the river and on the numerous
bridges by which the stream was spanned, were Of
true Derby day type.
ADJUSTMENTS.
At Barnes and other points along the road every
sort OF amusement was offered to the public for the
small charge OF one penny. All over the commons
s'knock me downs" ana Aunt Salesr invited
sportsmcn to try their luck.
THE HARVARD CoLoRs
OF tho houses along the banks Of the Thames and
the plucky American four evidently found favor
among the watersiue men and cadgers, at all events
until after the result Of the race became known
when those gentry are usually found on the winning
side.
THR BETTING.
Up to noon the betting was two to one on oxford,
tnen the Americans began to arrive and the tide
turned.
over 100000 Of American money was lost on the
race besides what was bet outside OF England.
PROMINENT AMERICANS VIEW rHB RACE.
The best places to see the race were taken by
Americans. The party from the American yacht
Dauntless had whole house to themselves. Mark
Smith and . party Of American actors were prom4.
nent 1t tHammersmith. Mrs. John Wood and party all
wearing the Harvard colors, were the guests Of the
Marquis Of Landsdowne. Charles Dickens was on
the towing path Charles Rsadc and tho Chevslier
wyckon followed the contestants In the press
steamer.
Al the regulations were strictly observed.
COMING TO THE SCRATCH
Both crews made their appearance In their boats
st Ave O'Clock, and were loudly and cnthusiastcsll
cheered by the thousancs who lined the shores Of tho
river. After few momcpts Of intense anxiety a
toss was had for