New-York tribune., 1876-04-20
ON THE BANKS.

THE THAMES LINED WITH CRowDs-rHE CAMBRIDGE
ColoRs IN FAyoR--FEsTyE ASPECT OF TIT
SCENE
lFRoM Az OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRiBUSs'i
LONDON, April S.-With day like il has been to-
day. the crowd as might have been expected. has
been altogether unprecedented. The start was liked
at l:ij D. ln., but hours before that time, as early,
indeed IA o in the morning. one continuous stream
pf pcople was pouring down 10 Putnoy. Hammer
smith, Chiswicl, Barnes and MOrtlake-a stream
that never ceased slackened until both banks
were thicIy lined over the whole four miles.
The fayors of the two crews-lght and dark
5lue-were extensively worn but they were the
flags of peace, not contention, and in some cases
were blended upon the same breast. Cambridge
was undoubtedly the popular fayorite What
ever may be the explanation OF the fact there can
he no question that the dark blue of Oxford was
conspicuous BY its rarity, while the Cambridge col
ors were floating on every hand. At every rise or
bend of the road or ut any other point favorable to
an open yiew the eve was met by brilliant mass
of light blue Many ladies wero brightly conspeu-
ous in entire robes of the popular color-ress hat,
handkerchief. aud ribbons, all alike Bat hurrying
past these fair pIrtlsans, past the smoke ana dil-
ness of the town, out INTO tie fresh, open country
we nj last reach Hammersmith Bridge, the point
where the greatest crowd always congregates, be-
cause il was here-though two miles have still
70 he rowed-that the race is virtually decided.
Whichever crew leads here will lead at the flush, or
such at least is the popular belief
The picture is repete with all the elements OF the
picturesque Not a cloud is to be seen in the clear
blue sky the sun il shining rs it surely never shone
before, aud all is life and rough good humor and
iollity both Oh land and water. And so the time
masses and the one single second TO which all else
are mere prelminaries, the second of time when the
two crews will flash past and beyond us, Is drawing
near This is preceded by thickening of the ranks
on shore and the falling into line OF all the boats
on the river The coast is cleared, and everything
but the race is forgotten. All eyes arc eagerly
stretched in one direction, tho bend III the river
where tho first glimpse Of the contending crews will
h. caught The animation and hustle is suspended
for "A moment, but only to find vent in loud. long
cheers as the Cambridge boat comes INST into sight.
| Cambridge winsp "HuTah!" bursts from
thousand throats and they are right. With a fine
stroke the Cambridge boat passes us at least TWO
lengths in front of the Dark Blues Cheer after cheer
rens the and in another instant both boats arc out
of sight But there was no question of the utatere-
.ut barring accidents like the breaking of al oar,
spapably out Of the race, and the crowd az
o,ca began to melt Great numbers, however, still
rom,ined to see the crews paddle back but con-
trary 10 custom, they returned IN steam iauheh'
the absolute result being no longer lett IN donpt
| when the Cambridge crew were seen sitting IN the
bow while their late competitors were relegated 10
tbe stern. Both crews were cheered to the echo on
the return though the victory of the Light Blues was
undoubtedly popular one.