The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-09-07
The Internatlonal Boat Race
OXFORD WINS TIE RACE.

LONDON, August 27-The excitement
to-day over the great international boat
race has been intense. The banks of the
Thames have been lined with spectators
since an early hour this morning The
city hasheen. almost deserted and busi-
ness az neglected. Vehicles of all de-
scriptions bearing the Harvard and Ok
ford colors and heavily laden with peo-
Pile crowded all the roads leading to the
course and during the entire day the
roads in the vicinity of Putney, Hammer
smith, Cheswiek, Barnes, Mortlake, DC,
were thronged with pedestrians. The
railway companies found themselves un-
able to provide cars sufficient to carry
the vast number in waiting at the depots.
1t is no exaggeration to state that nearly
a million witnessed the race.
THE RACE.
The Harvard crew won the toss for
position, and chose the Middlesex side,
the outside of the semi-circle. Both
boats Started at 53o'elock, IA minutes
and 61 seconds. The tide at the start
was sluggishand light southwest breeze
prevailed, with smooth water The Har-
wards were the first tocateh the water
and took The lead, gaining rapidly upon
their opponents, and making forty-five
strokes per minute against the Oxford S
forty. At Bishop Creek, three furlongs
from the start, the Harvards led half q
length Gtsaining headwaY they increased
their1eaad as they passed The willows
Their pace was subsequently slackened
and the Oxfords pulled up, but the Har-
wards were still tliree-quarters of 9
length ahead at Craven Point, three
Quarters of a mile from the start. Tiie
Oxfords now went on with a steady
drag, but the Americans rapidly increas-
ed their lead and at Crabtree, mile and
an eighth from the aqueduct, they were. a
coupie of lengths ahead. Beyond here
the Haryards stacked ii their stroke, and
the Oxfords sp1ickened their speed and
reduced tie shpznat the soap works, a
mile and half from the staft, to hall a
length. The AaryaTds now pulled up
with magnificent burst to Hsnmersmith
bridge, mile,agd three quarters, but in
shooting the bridge lost the distance they
1l;s M f5SFsTds gI;uFted IA and ftAe Middle Mall
tttAf tfifIy 70 TIIe uarvurttsl but when opposite
the Doves the boats were found to be
too close together andthe HaIyards gave
way, and at ChisSicli, two and halt
miles, the boats. were level. After pro
ceeding fifty yArds further the Oxfords
begau tosgain, though temporarily, and
the Harvards again got even with them
The oxfords gainedrapidly at Chiswick
where it became clear that the pace ap
parently told on the Haryards, who were
rather wild at this part of the race
From this point the Oxfords rapidly
drew ahead, and in few strokes ob
tanned lead of two lengths. The Har
wards, rowing pluckily, held them there
for half mile, when they fell astern.-
The Oxfords, at thirty-eight strokes pc
minute, shot by Barnes bridge, three
and fve-eighth miles, three lengths ahead
Along Barnes reach, the Haryards re
freshed their stroke, Dir. Loring, witt
river water, thereby retarding their boat
The Americans then tried to spurt, bu
found the effort Intellectual, and the Ok
fords getting more OF lead, eventually
won lle race by four lengths, easing u
IN the last few strokes, and pulling NJ
fresh. The Oxfords arrived 1T the shiI
at 5 O'Clock, 36 minutes and At seconds
making the At miles in p minutes anC
404 seconds. The Americans were vel
received at the finish, and returning Ian
ded at Barnes. The race was a goo(
one, and excited degree Of enthusiasm
along the banks Of the river utterly un
known IN former races.