The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-04
THE ENGLISH BOAT RACE.
Success Of the Ca mb bridge Crew.

A special dispatch dated London, March
which has already been made in the Bulle-
tin:
The annual race between the Oxford and
Cambridge boat crews came Oft this morning
over the usual course OH the Thames, from
Putney to MOrtlake, distance four miles and
two furlongs, and, as has been the case in
the past four years, resulted in victory for
the Cambridge boat, which came in four
lengths ahead of it's rival. The weather was
beautiful, and a more proptious day for the
contest could not have been selected. The
crowd that assembled to witness the race
was unprecedented. On the Surrey side OF
the river from Putney to Mortlake there was
one compact mass of people $50 feet wife,
and at the latter place carriages five deep
stood in long rows.
The Princess of Wales aud the Duchess
Of Edinburgh, who were expected to be
among the spectators, were absent.
Upon the toss for choice of positions Cam
bridge won, and selected the Middlesex or
northern side. The Oxford crew rowed into
the stream at 1l:01 o'clock. Five minutes
later the Cambridge boat appeared, and was
received with immense cheering by its
friends. The betting at this time was five
being in readiness, at 11:l4 o'clock the
signal to start was given. Immediately
upon receiving the word to start, both
boats took the water together but after a
few pulls at the oars, Cambridge was one
quarter Of length in advance OF Oxford, and
at Bishops Creek, three furlongs from
the Aqueluct Bridge (the starting point,
were nearly clear or their opponents. Here
the steering of both boats was eccentric,
and the time was bad. Between Craven
Point and Hammersmth Bridge the cox
swain of the Oxford boat steered wildly.
Off the Crab Tree, seven furlOngs from
Bishops Creek, Oxford decreased the lead
Of Cambridge by plucky squirt, and at the
Soap Works. about one mile and four far
longs from the Aqueduct Bridge. was only
one length behind the Cantabs. At Ham
mersmith Bridge, about two furlongs and a
half from the Soap Works, Cambridge lost
half length by bad steering, but off the
Doves, two furlongs further on, again went
ahead f,st.
The Dark Blues made another squirt and
drew up nearly level with the Cantabs, and
off Chiswick Church succeeded in getting
one-quarter Of length in advance. The ex-
citement then became intense, and cheer
upon cheer from Oxford's supporters rang
out from both side of the river.
Ill Cofney REACH, ABOUT tWo HilleS anu d
half from the Aqueduct Bridge, Cambridge
took the lead again, and passed Barnes
Bridge, a length and a half ahead of Oxford.
Here Oxford rowed wildly, and Cambridge
kept the lead to the end, reaching the stake
boat at Mortlake four lengths in advance of
their opponents amid the deafening cheers
of their friends on the shore.
Cambridge rowed at the rate of 81 strokes
per minute, arriving at the stakeboat at 81
minutes and IS seconds past IL o'clock,
winning the race in % minutes and IS
seconds. The water, though not 80 smooth
as might have been desired, was fairly
calm.
Both crews were very much exhausted
when the race terminated, but Oxford ap-
peared to be the most distressed. This
evening the victims and their opponents
dine together at the Criterion Restaurant,
the members of the Oxford crew having de-
clined the invitation Of Lord Mayor Lusk to
both crews to dinner in the Egyptian Hall
of the Mansion House.