The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-14

q
OF the handsomest women, but popularly supposed
TO be extremely eccentric. There is the umpire,
Mr. Gritty, Queens Counsel, popularity known as
Joe entity thin faced, hairless, slender man, an
excellent fellow and great authority on racing
matters.
PuTNBY
Arrived at Putney we ind ourselves in the thick
OF the fun The fringe Of the river Is crammed
with oarges holding many occupants, rowboats
dart here and there. steam launches pun and snort
angrily as they ind their movements controlled by
the Thames police who are aloat in their galieys,
while ON shore platforms. windows and balconies
are covered with spectators thick bees. The
houses are all decked with flags, while from the
roof OF the star and Garter floats proudly the broad
American banner, a "reminiscences, guess, OF the
Harvard struggle in 1902 The Cambridge
crew were domestlca ed in this house last
year, but made so much racket and
gave so much trouble that the landlord declined TO
have them again. this year they have taken up
their quarters IN that private house on the Terrace
from the drawing room window Of which their
light blue flag is waving.
PREPARATION.
Exactly at eleven O'Clock the oxford crew
cleared away rom The Leander boat house and
dropped down to the starting barge, imme-
dlatey IN rear OF which we're moored the
four permitted steamers the representatives
OF OXFORD being closest to the Middesex
shore, and the Cambridge, umpire and press
steamers lying abreast OF her III the order
named. The 0xonlans had denuded themselves
OF their jackets, but wore their sweaters round
their tnroats, straw hats with dark blue band
on their heads, ana their arms bare. Time and
pace are reckoned TO be good as they come SWING.
ing down, gently drop round ana take up their
position on the surrey side OF the starters barge.
Scarcely has the ringing cheer with which they are
greeted by their partisans died away when their
rivals are also seen to be ahoat. The Cambridge
men have not yet discarded their light blue flannel
Jackets and do not take them OH until Immediately
before the start, when all wraps are collected
by one OF the starters men, who, in his little
dingy, visits each boat for the purpose, and finally
places the bundle on board the umpires steamer.
Latest rumors from the shore whisper that three
to one are the odds on Cambridge and that as
much as four to one has been in more than one in
stance obtained. All ready now. Mr. Chitty has
taken up his position at the nose or the umpire's
steamer, the Prince Of Wales stands close benlnd
him. The umpire on his barge bends forward and
asks each crew If they are ready Answered IN
the affirmative, ne holds up his hands. One
rwo-three-he claps them together. "Gop
TIE RACE.
They started almost simultaneously, but 1t
seemed to me that Oxford delayed little. For the
first quarter OF Il mile they rowed sngu!arly even;
then Cambridge began to draw little ahead in
creasng almost unobservedy, bit by bit, until pass
ing the Whitestone lodge, on the MidueseX side,
which marks the first mile, they had gained.a
boats length, and one OF the knowing ones, stand
ing near me, dropped his glass and said, "The
race is over" Not so, however. Just at Ham,
mersmith Bridge the Oxonans put on q
and now the real interest OF the began. The
Cantabs got to work TOO. out could not shake Off
their opponents, who held to them with grim te-
nacity. The shouts OF .Wen roweJ, OXIord,n IRON
the densely lined banks became universal, and 1T
really looked as though fortune were once more
going to favor the dark blue The bow oar OF the
oxford boat is seen to be rolling his head in very
strange manner, but II is declared to be 'his
way" and the coxswain Is certainly steer
ing very devious course, but the whole
crew is doing wen that Just entering
Carney Reach they collar their opponents. The
wind has been careering about the Reach, ap-
parently, and has left the water lumpy-a state OF
things which the Cantabs, who are running In their
Waite boat, are supposed to specially object to.
Here Is Oxiord's greatest chance, and certainly
while in the Reach she had got her boats nose
half length beyond her antagonist. Short-lived
Joy for the dark blue supporters. Barnes Bridge
is in sight, and the coxswain OF the Cantabs calls
upon his men, whose superior training has kept
them comparatively fresh, while the Oxonlans
are manifestly spent. Once more they
try squirt, but in vain The Cantabs draw
relentlessly ahead, and the Oxfords know they are
beaten. but pull on plucaly TO the last When the
gun fires announcing the Cantabs' arrival at the
goal their rivals are three lengths behind them.
REMARKS.
This was an admirable and closely contested
race throughout-not over quick. Tor the four and
half miles were rOwed in 90 min. 3S Sec
but it must De remembered that the tide was slack
and the wind contrary. The average pace was
Cambridge, 3S strokes per minute; Oxford, 81.
Both crews rOwed well; but 1t is matter
Of question whether oxford, had she been able
to give her crew another two weeks training to-
gether would not have reversed the decision. Both
crews seemed dreadluly punished by the perform
ance Mr.. Rhodes, the Cambridge stroke, leant
over the side Of his boat though about to vomt,
then rested his head his arms unable TO respond
to the cheering. The Oxford strokes plight was
not much better, and the men In both boats looked
thoroughly pumped out.
The cOncourse OF
SPECTATORS
seems this year TO have graduated towards the
winning post instead of collecting round the start
ing point, as was formerly the CASE The Duke
and Duchess OF Edinburgh are said to have wit
messed the race from private house IN Chiswick
YOUNG MEMS CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
The regular monthly reception or the Young
Mems Christian Association was held last evening"
The reception rooms were filed by distinguished
company, and at eight O'Clock Association Hall
was crowded by an eager and attentive
auditory. The programme Of the enter
tainment included readings by Mr.. VIII
liam H. Easily, OF London, England, and
music by MI. Henry Carter. MI. Eastty's readings
were remarkably well received and deserved the
liberal and enthusiastic applause they obtained.
me rendering OF "Bardel VS.. Pckwick" and the
recitation of 1.-THE Vagabond- excited an enthu-
slasm seldom manifested in public audiences, and
az the close OF the programme Mr.. Easily received