The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-09
CAMBRIDGE WINS TIE DAY.
TIE RESULT or THE ENGLISH UNI
yERSTTY BOAT RACE.
Gala Day on the Banks Of tho Tim mes
An Exciting and Close Conte-t-Thc Light
Blues Winning by Three Lengths in 2Oi1p.

Gala Day on the Banks of tho Tim mes
An Exciting and Close Conte-t-The Light
Blues Winning by Three Lengths in 2Oi1B.
LONDON, April s.-The annual race be-
tween the oxford and Cambridge eiehts is over,
and never In the history of boating has there
been such interest exc{e cd by a water contest,
faction expressed at result a. was manifested
to-day by the hundreds OF thousands who wit
messed tho struggle between the crack crews OF
England's two great universities.
From early breakfast time the streets OF the
metropolis were thronged with people OF all
conditions, awaiting anxlously the time for the
tide to change from full to obb, eagerly specu-
lating upon the prospects OF either crew. and all
Haunting IN the pure morning air the colors Of
their respective favorites. The suburbs Of Lon
don, and the green country side for miles about
It on every sde had poured forth their popuia-
tion by thousands, and until an hour before the
lace began every road leading into the city was
crowded with people In holiday attire; some in
coaches. some In draes. some In cars, some on
horseback, some astrde OF the festive mule,
but by far the greater number trudginR patiently
along on foot. There were not lacking the usual
elements Of rowdyism, either In town or on the
road to Il; but the scenes OF disorder were by
no means so frequent a. they always are Ep-
som, Doncaster or Derby DAYS. Everybody was
out for enjoyment, and 1t s safe to say that very
comfortably ismmed and jolted In the crowd.
failed to derive from the afternoons sport as
much real pleasure as they anticipated.
THE SCENE IN THE THAMES.
At half past 10 o'clock II was high water at
Putney, and It was known To everybody that the
crews would not launch until tho ebb should
serve but long before that hour the banks uf
the Thames from Putney Bridge to Mortlske
were lined with men, women and children, the
b"sets af lunch and o BOTTLES ana imss of beer
| At nigh noon the spectacle along the banks OF
| the river was interesting In the extreme. The
air was balmy, and no farer day ever blessed a
multitude Of out-o of-doOr pleasure seekers. The
| sun shone down with a pleasant warmth, and
as he reached the meridian hundreds OF picntcs
| on small scale were organized along the line :
and for an hour or more jOllity reigned supreme.
| The tide was not a fair ebb until some time
after O'Clock, hut at 1850 the Cambridge boys in
| their new shell. built for them 10y Swaddle \
| Winship ~ Scotswood-on Tyne came out amid
| the hearty cheers Of the vast multitude congrc-
| gated near the starting point, and went into
| position. The oxford crew padded out leisure
greeted. the light blue seeming TO be the rayori'e
both before as well a. during the rtce. The
toss for position was won by oxford. who chose
| the Mddlcsex side ~ the river. There was out
| brief delay. and AZ 22.lI the signal WAS given
aud the start was made.
THE RACE.
| As the boats shot out. Cambridge ahead. and
rowing 81 to the minute, oxford bending to 1t 1t
| 30. the thousands near the bridge set up a shout
| tDht fniflN reached lho Nclkln. Othcf tnou-
sands further down took IL up. and tho sound
rose and fell like Wasneriin ci,scendo. and
then rose agaD as It's echoes reached stili other
| throngs aud IN few moments the whole ength
| Of the course resounded with tue vocal cl imor.
Cambridge made no change In stroke ard kept
steadily on, slightly In the le4d Opposite liish-
| ops Walk she was gaining. hut at Craven Point
| oxford quickened her stroke, made splendid
| rusn. aud In forty yards lessened the gap be-
tween her and her opponent by more than a
| quarter Of length This was the signal for a
tremendous peal OF applause, which role !
4 AL 10 he
| in the distance, until from the judges boat 1t
seemed to die away like the last howl of a worn
| Cambridge now quickened to 30 strokes. or
| ford sureing onward sulendidly at ~, but still
| behind. Grass wharf was passed with the boats
| holding the same relstiye positions. Crab Tree,
just one mile from tho starting point, was passed
| at 2:1.l5, both crews rowing admirably having
| settled down - steady stroke OF 81 to the
| minute. Cambridge a fun length ahead: he
| tween Dorset villa and the disiillery, Cambridge
| foundry the boats assumed their old positions
IN regan to each other, and Hamu 'r,mith
tridge, &. miles from the START. was passed at
| 2:l04s, Cambridge still one length ahead, snd
thousands OF lusty-iunged people cheering her
to tue echo.
SETTLING Down TO THEIR WORK.
Just here is where the river begins to make a
short turn, and here tho sight OF the race and
Its SURROUNDINGS was pvcullaf'y inspirlilng me
two crews were hard At work, out rowing stead
ily. and driving their long, thin, low lying craft
through the dark water ike arrows through tho
| blue empyrcan. The men bent To their oars
| with rhythmic motion as though keeping time
to music head ony toy themselves.
| Pat Bifiin's yard went the sharp shells, cut
| ting through the water at the rate Of twelve
| miles an hour. The Doves, quarter OF milo
| from Hammersmith bridge. ana exactly two
| miles from the starting point, reached az
| 2.l2.19. &. ~ bridge more than length ahead,and
steadily although surely gaming. 1t was time
| now for oxford to put forth hor best efforts
| but before the Reservoir was passed IL was
| plain that the race was virtually over. Opposite
| Chiswick Church, which point was reached at
| 2:l4, Cambridge was three full lengths ahead
| Here the crews found rough water for the inst
| time. and for some yards there was "a much
splashing as rowing, but the ugly spot was soon
| crossed and the nite Cotiaes,tnree miles from
| Putney. was reached at 2:lb.G, Camoridg sun
| three lengths ahead, and oxford tOing manful'
| ly at a quckened stroke TO close the intervening Z
DOWN THE HoMPsTRETcR.
Coming down the homestretch Cambridge was
| loudly cneered by The thousands waiting 10 see
| the wind-up. She quickened her stroke when
| approaching Barnes Bridge, three and a halt
miles from the start. and passed under IL at
| 2l9:5. Tue ship at Moftlake was Reached at
2:22:36, just 20 minutes and y seconds from the
| time Of starting. Distance four miles and two
furlongs. oxford came In nearly four lengths
behind. The multitude who rushed down from
all quarters to be In at the close, raised shout
| that might have been hoard miles away. Then
the two eignts, instead OF rowing back, loon
passage in the steam launch for Putney, and
1t was evident from the beginning that Cam
bridge vas the favorite. AT futney the oetllne
was 9 10 against Oxford, and at Mortlake, amid
great excitement, offers Of and 10 l were
made on Cambridge, with but few takers.
les to the credit Of Cambridge, against II fol
| oxford. since 1857, when the contests became
annual, Cambridge has won only seven races
those OF 1853, 20, IL ~. 70, "a and while
Oxford has led at the finish twelve times.
THE FASTEST TINE ON RECORD.
The time made 10 to-day's race was the fastest
OF record, with the exception OF that made II
1863 and 1873 Last year oxford won In 30 sec
onds, rowing the distance In - minutes and
The following are the names and weights o
the oxford crew;
LIB. Courtney. Pembroke, 159.
| q W. Mercer, Corpus, 100
| s. z. Williams, COrpu', 1874 $500
| 4 A. NJ. Mtchisont Pembroke lMl(
| 8. j. NJ. Bonsl cad, Cnversity, 1854
| D. H. j. stayner, 81. Johns, l7l1a.
| T. II. r. Marriott, Brastn0se, 1854.
| StrOko-T. G. Edwards, Moss, l12.
| Coxswbn-W. u. Craven. worcester, lO7
The Cambridge crew was thus made up:
/ +. W. Brancker, Jesus, 1853.
e I. ". Lewis, Clius. 1855.
g. ". b. Close, First Tnmty, lBo.
| T. C. GuIdon. Jesus, III
o. l.. O. Plkc, Caius, ~.
| o. r. T.. Hockn, Iesu-, lTS.
| = n. 4. Rhodes Jesus. 11O1e
| Stroke-C. D. shatto, Jesus, 1853.
| COxswain-G. l.. DAVIS OS
The following is a tabular statement Of thu
| different races pulled between the oxford aux
Cambridge University creWs'
II. Hmner. Course. Tine Horwo
1eaO pxford Henley .............. II 80 easily.