New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-04-04
THE UNIVERSITY BOAT-RACE.

LONDON March 2-Evcr SINCE the appearance or
the Oxford and Cambridge crews on the Thames,
now more than fortnight ago, there has been set
lied conviction on the part of the public that Cam
bridge must win. Perhaps 1t would not be too much
to say that conviction and desire went together
still there plenty Of good reasons for the pre-
vailing view. Oxford has been unlucky al
most from the beginning Of this years
practice. Unusual difficulty was expert
euccd about crew. and IL looked
at one time as il the captain of the University Cluo
was quite unable to make up his mind who should
row in the boat or where they should row. After
many other changes he finally changed the stroke
himself, and Lesley was degraded from No. 6, and
assigned to No. Z. strained side was the cause.
The effect of that alter alton has been that crew
accustomed TO Lesley found it difficult to adapt it.
self all of sudden to Houbon, and good critics say
that throughout their Thames work they have con-
finued TO take the stroke from Lesley at No.
z instead Of from HOublon at No g. Inc
style of the two men is as unlike Us
possible. Lesley has been unlucky but at leaSt
he retains some of the traditions which gave oAioru
its long supremacy, while Houblons stroke Is COM
parayeIy short and quick. With this collision going
on i'm the boat il is wonder that oxford has been
very rough aud that in mere appearance the rowing
Of the Dark Blues should have little to commend It
tn popular favor. Ill luck followed them closely,
down almost to the very day of the race. No. had
been early marked weak spot. Mr.. ArmitsteadI is
n good man who has overworlled himself from sheer
anxiety TO do his university and himself full justice
He rowed himself to pieces i'll mere practice, and so
late as Wednesday, three days before the race, nc
had 10 give M his place in the boat 10 MT hholys
NOTHING could be inauSpiciOus of victory than
an enforced change at so late an hour On the all
important question of the boat they should row in the
Oxford men have been almost equally at sea- They
did not like the Salter they brought with them She
WAS too heavy. She would not travel. She did not
suit the men. A boat was ordered nom-Ol all
places in the wolld-DubGn, which city possesses a
builder of some repute in one Mat Taylor, ana tus
boat arrived in threequaTteIs finished state week
or so before the day. She was tried and liked, aid
then tried AGAIN All. disliked The stretchers gave
way and the outrggers were 700 high, ana hhaily
timed trial proved that she was ten seconds slower
from the Bridge to the POnt-a matter OF less than
three minutes rowing-than the old Saiter. SO on
Thursday it was settled that the old Salter must
carry the crew. What hope could a crew, weighted
with all their mishaps, have of winnings
Cambridge on the other hand, have neither met
with accidents nor had to contend with the kind OF
nreiudce which early set in against their rivals.
During the latter years of their long series Of de-
feats they had everybOdy's sympathes with them,
and these they still retain Out of the whole num-
Der of races Oxford has still majority OF four, the
score standing 10 to 12 and as the interest OF these
contests deuend Good deal on their equality, there
is feeling that Fortune ought TO bring Cambridge
on level terms with her opponent before she deserts
her. Beside al which, the public, or 80 much OF
the public as knows anything about rowing
dearly likes style, and IN respect OF style
Cambridge as everybody admits, is far superior this
year TO Oxford. OF what Went on before the actual
race speak only from hearsay, for have not been
allie 70 see any of the practice. Generally there are
almost rs MANY opinions critics. This year hardly
ANYBODY has lad good word to say Tor OXFORD
They did not keep good time, did not leather To-
eether did not finish together, and were pronounced
10 be as whole a ragged and untidy crew. may be
necessary to saw for the benefit OF the unearned thaV
these oppTobIious adjectves by no means Apply 10 tue
dress OF personal appearance of the crew. but soey
60 their defective rowing External appearances
were all in favor of Cambridge. There are those
who say they do not row far enough back ana nave
never thoroughly acquired that mysterious catch OF
which we have heard so much during late years
Put in respect Of polish and prettness OF Work the
rowing world agreed that more perfect
crew had seldom been seen on the lhaines
Moreover it has been remarked that Oxford, VINO
were at first considered the stronger crew, showed
frcouent signs Of distress after long spin, poor
Arnistead especially shutting up very early Oh more
thau one OCCASION when either the Wh0e course Was
IowCd over, or q trial against d eciatcA 0lo" Va
some London club. Nothing OF the sort couId De
detected among the Light Blues. They would come
In Al the end Of four miles against time III as
GOOD form as they started with.
If all this seems comparatively unimportant now
thai the race ia over must ask you TO bear IN mlnd
that the history of the would be very lncom-
plote without it, and that is essential TO forming
ANYTHING like an accurate judgment on the race
its.f and Oh the performances Of the two crews In
ameyely popular point Of view, 1t is but snght
summary of what the London papers have been PRINT
ING for a fortnight. They lind column day ON
the race none too much for the appetite of the
general reader; remarkable creature that he
is Every year. one is compelled TO remark
,he increasing interest in the race. A
sirde fact will bring it out clearly.
Only FIVE. OF perhaps six, years ago, score OF po-
Hceoen were thought sufficient to keep the specta-
tors ON the banks in order. This year two thousand
officers were on duty, and they were none too many
More people 90 now to the daily practice OF the
crows than then witnessed the itself. once II
WAS tbcught stretch Of authority to close the
towing path ON tho Surrey side Of the stream to
boremen on the day Of the race. Now 1T is closed
g. fortniobt before SO great is the throDg of pc
5ctrians whose comfort and even safety are endan-
COED Inv fine riding. The letting of houses ON the
80 hanks and the erection of grand stands
with seats for hire has become con-
siderable business, Of which the newsla'
ners reap share in numerous advertisements
Parcss 90 up the river a day Oh two before anu
anchor themselves in the character Of floating ter
races for spectators, at varying prices 80 90 'he
steamers which, in the evil days before the thames
1919