The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-09-02
The International Boat Race.

IA special despatch to the Baltimore Ga
zette, dated Friday last, gives the following
account Of the great boat race:
MoarLAKE, England, August ~, 1883 !
It is estimated that two hundred thousand
people are here. Alta quarter to four the Ok
ford crew put out from the London boat house
and padded, and turning off at the Star and
Garter Tavern at Richmond, pulled to the
starting post Harvard appeared five min
utes alter. They were hailed with great
cheers, equal to those that greeted the Ok
ford. The crews then dofed their jackets
and showed their colors, Magnetic for the
Harvard and the Old Blue for the Oxford
Royalty was present on board the steamer
London Pride, which was placed abreast the
Thames Conservancy yatch. The umpire's
boat was beside this $500 80
The arrangements being under the direc-
ton of the Thames Conservators, that body
of gentlemen exerted themselves to the ut
most to ensure ga fair field and no favor 2
for the two crews. The captains Of steam
boats on the river were served with printed
Instructions, .forbidding them to come beyond
ID mark mapped out by buoys across tho river,
and the river police we're active in keeping
back and arresting the progress Of small craft
that now and again shot out beyond the pre-.
scribed limits. In fact, the arrangements
were as perfect as mortal man could make
them. There was no wind on the water when
I the far-reaching sterns of the two long boats
were as nearly level as need be. and when
|eyery, man engaged was ready ogo the starter
gave the word. ]" OF gentlemen, andsaway."
eystarted as easily as greyhounds slip
ped from the leash. The start was q ute even
1 but In three lengths Oxford showed little
1 ahead For a quarter of a mile the crews
1 may be said to have rowed evenly. At era
ven Point the Oxfords were half a length
ahead. Tho Harvard crew then spurted at
| the rate of forty -threc strokes to the minute,
and drew abreast of them The coxswain Of
Harvard Rugged the Middlesex shore little
too closely. Above Craven Point the Oxfords
made grand struggle. Harvard hung on
the fanks, however, and, although hehind.
daylight could not be seen between the boats,
The run between the juttipg point Of land at
the Soap Works and Hammersmith Bridge,
was greatly in favor of the Oxfords. They
put out all their force. The Harvards also
struggled gamely aud spurted, but while
seeming to put out more strength they ap-
peared to be retarded, as if going through
heavy sedge. On clearing the bridge, Oxford
increased her lead Harvard spurted again
forty-ope strokes to- the minute, and for a
moment seemed to show up to within yard
of the stern of the Oxfords.
The Oxfords did not relax their efforts,
their steady strokes being thirty-eight to the
minute. They gradually increased their lead
from one to one and half and two boats
lengths. The Harvards did not relax their
efforts, and forced the pace all the way to
Barnes Bridge. Here, propelling himself
near the bank with excellent speed, was Rob
Roy McGregor,', the king Of canoe pullers
From here the struggle was apparently over
Oxford was ahead BY nearly three lengths. A
brass band on the umpire's boat could be
heard playing "See the Conquering hery, y
etc. Fully twenty yards ahead the Oxfords
came in at the umpre's boat, and victory was
scored for the English crew-timc, % 41aa-
by Benson's conograph.
i The liarvards were not in excellent condi-
ton. lAt the finish, Simmons nearly tainted
taway. The steering Of the Oxford boat was
the better Of the two. Immediately after the
result which was proclaimed by the firing Of
! a gun, the crew of the Harvard boat left their
4 boat and retired to hotel si y is:f
1 A passenger by the Chesapeake and Ohio
train Saturday afternoon informed US that a
skAJ- Il. n 4-5e n