Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-04-09
OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.
THE GREAT INTER-UNIVRRSITY
BOAT RACE,
A Magnificent Contest on the Thames
Yesterday Victory Rewards the
Oxford Crew Particulars of The
Splendid Pun.

PUTNEY, April s.-S:4O A. M.-The
haze began to clear away at s
o'clock. Before o'clock the two
crews were on the ground and also
larca cro' spectators. The Oxford
crew, sliminary spin before s
o'clocA. me Cambridge crew did not take
the water until they were ready for the
start. The ampire's boat appeared soon
after s o'clock. On entering their boats the
crews were greatly cheered, Cambridge
seeming to hold first place In pub
lie estimation. The Oxfords got the best
of the start, and led for a short distance
but on nearing Hammersmith bridge the
Cambridge crew, who were evidently work
ing very hard, made strong effort and
drew nearly on q level amid great cheering.
The Oxfords did not seem much distressed,
but qulckeHed their stroke slightly and
passed the bridge \ clear length ahead.
As soon as the boats were through the bridge
Cambridge again made bid for first place,
but the Oxfords shook them off without diff
fculty, and increased the gap to nearly two
lengths. The Oxfords evidently felt that
they had the race in hand and were rowing
strongly and steadily.
The press boat and the five steamers to
accompany the race were well filed. Sir
Charles Dixie was among the passengers on
the press boat. The Cambridge crew en-
barked at $40 O'Clock and the
Oxford crew at 8:25. The tide
was nearly spent, being neither strong nor
high food. The Oxfords won the toss for
choice OF position. The skitfs were moored
very close together. At $50 O'Clock the
men stripped and were all ready at
9:35. They started well together, both
crews striking 36 strokes to the minute.
They kept together to the top of the con-
crete wall. Time 2 minutes 43 seconds.
Here the Oxford boat drew slightly ahead,
but the Cambridge boat got on level again in
at Walden wharf. Time 4 minutes %
seconds. Up to now there was little
to choose In time or style, the crews having
kept very close together, and rowing very
steadily. At Crabtree, one mile and two
| furlongs from the start, Cambridge drew
| over little towards the Surrey shore.
The race was magnificent, and the crowds
ashore and aboard the steamers loudly
| cheered and applauded. The time to the
Soap Works, about two furloDgs further on,
was seven minutes twenty seconds. At
Hammersmith bridge, one mile six furlongs
! from the etart, the Oxfords were two sec
onds ahead. Time minutes 4S seconds.
| They drew away just above the Mall, and
| seemed to be going better than the Cam
| bridge crew, though the latter quickened
| up aud got within half length when off
the Oil Mills. The time to the bottom OF
Cheswick Eyot, six and a half fur
longs from Hammersmith bridge, was
| IL minutes A seconds, with the OXfords
nearly length ahead, and both rowing 36
strokes per minute steadily, but the Ok
! fords longer and clearer stroke. In Cav
neJ Reach the water was not rough enough
to cause inconvenience. The Oxfords now
! had clearly the best of what was neverthe-
less q most determined struggle, and
seemed to have the race well In
hand. When Barnes bridge was
sighted they were quite clear of the other
boat and passed the bridge In Is minutes
and seconds. Cambridge followed in 18
minutes and 8 seconds. The Oxfords now
went clear away, and when the bend was
made for Mortlake they were three lengths
ahead, rowing with the same ease, power and
regularity from the start to the finish. The
| Cambridge crew rowed a splendid race
for three miles. The course was admirably
kept throughout, and there was not an ac-
eident or hitch of any kind. The Oxtords
won by fully four lengths. The time Of the
race was 81 minutes and 81 seconds. The
Mortlake tow path was densely crowded
with spectators, especially that portion
commanding q view Of the turn at the
Osier Beds, and that opposite the winning
post.
Among those who arrived to witness the
finish Of the race, were the Chinese Ambas-
sador and his suite. AS the crews came In
sight 1t was evident that Oxford was the
winner. At the brewery the Oxfords were
about two lengths ahead, the Cambridge
crew slashing considerably. The Oxfords
pulled up fresh at the finish, but the Cam
bridge crew showed great distress.