New-York tribune., 1871-04-14
THE ENGLISH BOAT RACE.
ADVANTAGEs OF FCAMBRIDGB-VETERANs AGAINST
NOvICEs-TuE ARRANGEM EETs-DETAIIs OF
TIE RACE.
rFRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT


IFROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT
I,oNDOE, April I'm former years we have had all
sorts Of testimonies TO the public interest in the OK
ford and Cambridge Boat Race There wac no sacri-
fec Of time or comfort people did not seem ready to
make in order to see the grand struggle This year
the devotion of the public put to new hazard
the race being fixed for so early hour that 1t was
no easy matter to get up and get breakfast, aud
get out to any one of thousand rendezvous along
the river III season for the start II is the tide that
governs the hour and the tide sometimes refuses to
follow the Astronomical indications of the almanac
yielding to adverse winds, and coming an hour too
soon o. staying bOur too long, and so battling the
hopes Of the public whose convenience is meant TO
be consulted, ma the hopes of the crews who seek
the opportunity and the honor of rowing the
fOur miles and quarter IN good tlme'
In this the public quite manifesy failed over
come the difficulties of the hour have never seen
a race so thnly attended. There were some hund-
reds Of thousands of people it is true, and stranger
who saw the race for the first time. would go away in
the belief that il was impossible to crowd more
thic,ly the river banks from Putney to Mortlake.
But tho veteran observer marked many gap, and
when we cane to Barnes Terrace, and thence on To
Nor;lake there was none of the dense packing when
used 10 make that reach OF shore the most wonderful
sight in the world. There was simply crowd OF men
and women and horses and carriages, some three or
four times as great a5 you can see anywhere on
public holiday. 4 single fact will show the change.
came down the river, after the race in steamer
Within two hours after reaching my office, friend
droppld in who had driven back by the Hammer
snith road from Mortake. Last year hc would not
have been in pail-Mall before dusk.
Nor do think the public cared quite so much
abont tie race itself as they did last year, when
Cambridge was to rcycrsc, for the first time IN u
weary series Of year, the i'll fortune that had brought
her inyaIiable defeat Among men who care for
rowing the excitement las been very great, for both
crews were known 10 bc much above the average.
Cambridge had everything in her favor from the
bcQinuiDg She was able TO put into the boat Ave
OF her victorious crew of last year. Oxford were
almost wholly new to the Putney course. Cam
bril~o had boat shct suited 4 I'm TO a charm. Ok
ford found that which was first Eult unsuitable,
had 60 borrow boat lor practice, then tIled the con
lclnned craft again TO 10 purpose and finally roWed
the race il new boat built Gt the eleventh hour,
To w,ich The men never got f9irly accustomed ahn
which was Of such formidable dimensions as to he
almost tupmaragcaUiein wind. Cambridge DO longer
had the services Of MI. Morrison IS coach, but he
had probably done al ne could last year Graduating
some Of the worst faults Of the Light Blue style
and leaving h.s pupils quite capable ot gong on
without him. Nj GOidie bids fair to succeed 10 the
renown wiilh among strokes Of recent years MI.
DartisIire Lad acquired for himself exclusively ana
CoIlie +, still in the boat and ell victorious, while
Dagbishire lowed and lost his last race last year.
Acainst Goldic, Oxford had oaly Lesley to match,
man hitherto uutried at Putney. beyond donbt an
oalsnan Of very great ability if you look only to his
own rowing, but who never succeeded in getting
stroke which all tic men behind bin could row, and
whose ge2cIaship during the race cannot for mo
Incnt he compared with Gcldie's. And rot 10 men
tion minor matters, Cambridge had still the good
wishes cf the public. Their single victory OF last
year needed 10 be repeated before Ia could really
seem az If thc annual contest were resumed WIN
cocn chances and on even terms From
tho commencement of their training, Cam
l,idce has grown steadily also in the favor
~ that larg, class of men who Lave sentiments
tc INDULGE but money 10 inyct. dislike 10 ray
ANYTHING about betting but there is no doubt il is
rrettv safe criterion OF the Judgment which rowing
mon form on the merits of the competing crews
drsinr theif practice Aud the fact is that the
betting which becan six weeks ago at to on Ok
ford left OF 40 . 10 on CaDbr lge, change which
the result shows was quite justified.
Tie arraYecncn 3 were sU' santially The same as
last ycar with regard TO The river The act OF Parla
mont ,;hch gives power to the Thames Conseryancy
Board 10 stop al the ordinary traffic on the river on
the day OF tie race again put in force. Stringent
rolco regulations were published, and every steam
boat captain, every barge master, every steam
vac,tsman or rowboat owner knew precisely by
printed order what he might and might not do,
where he aht and where lie must not 80 during
the raco aud for many fixed hours before.
There is however certain difference be
tween issuing orders; and getting them oheyed.
M flnlt could be found with tho advertised pro-
IL. ,,,1; ,it he TXaC far
from clear when tie race was rowod. As for the
steamers. which used to be intolerable nuisance
| and haze spoiled many a good race, they were kept
-volli.iu hand A fine of 500 for each order DISC
L.yed and Tic presence on board each steamer Of a
polics officer who can give about 90 orders minute,
| Laye efcctual!y discouraged the lawless zeal of
steamboat captains who used to look upon the race
! "a a means ot making money, and who cared little
what befel tho delicate outiggcrs whom they some
times nearly and sometimes quite swampcd in their
| bcadlorg course. What the police have not yet
learned is how to contne to the banks that of
small row boats which almost annoying, and
sometimes from their number quite as dangerous as
| the steamers They were not kept in order to-day
indeed ] thought some Of TIE most conspicuous Of
tenders bore the blue flag of the police and in their
eacerncss to ruIsue derquents, occasionally got in
the way themselves. But mischief occurred un-
l,ss ~ the ncrvcs OF the coXswans, who had too
often To strain their eyes in search Of passage amid
shoals Of clumsy craft which the tide and wind
had far more control than their occupants.
II had been blowing so hard for some days that
great f. ais were entertained lest the should be
| seriousIy intcTfered with by the wind. In fact,
"a at with the wind and tides and cold Of the week
there was lttlo hope of favorable day OF a quick
race. u was light enough 10 get up by at O'Clock
this morning, aud that is about all | can say. A
fresh breeze blew from the northwest, and the sky
mna oil lrav with driving clouds. Oxford are so