The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-03-26
BOAT RACE BETWEEN OK
FORD AND CAMBRIDGE ON
THE THAMES.
MULTITUDE OF SPECTATORS.
description of the Race, Which Was
Won by Oxford by Only Half
Length.

III LONDON, March 2l.-The Oxford Cam
bridge boat race took place today on the
Thames. The race was over the usual
course which starts at point about 1O(
"A yards above Puntney bridge near London
and finishes about the same distance above
the slip in at Mart lake. The course as
N most oarsmen know, is samewhat like an s
in shape. The distance is about four and
n quarter miles. The course is bounded bv
Middlesex and Surrey counties, hence the
n stations are termed the Middlesex aud Sur
rey stations. The Surrey side Is the best
\ for the first two miles and the Middlesex
water is the most advantageous for the last
miie ana quarter.
The Thames board poiced the course and
assigned the proper positions to many
hundreds OF steamers ard barges loaded
with oarsmen and their admirers which
were anchored or moored along the river
In addition to the house tops, low paths,
streets and other points of vantage near
the Thames, about Butnev Itself and al
Hammersmith, Barnes Mort Lake and
other places were crowded with sptcialo s.
As on many previous casions, thou
sands of carriages of every description,
mongers to tour in hands loaded witt
aristUcrats, were to be seen lining The river
banks and most convenient places.
The Oxford admirers displayed wealth
of dark blue ribbons, rosettes and other
ornaments, while the friends oftambridge
made an equs lily lavish display of light blue
SILK Oxford won the toss, to chase the
middleseX or nor hshore side. Camb idge
had TO be intent with the Surrey or
southern course.
The rival Fights were started pretty sue
cessfully al II :J9 a. m sharp. AS the crews
beat to their work hail and snow were fan
ing upon them in all unpleasa fashion
ard strong cross northeast wind was
raising very lumpy sea. Both crews had
been expecting bad weather and conse
quently they both utilized pretty high
washboards Cambridge was first away
with the lead, pulling with shorte
smarter, somewhat quicker, more Catching
stroke ran Oxford and at CIaspers b "a
house the Cambridge boat was ahead
Then Oxford was leading slightly at tn
Ceaven cottage six turlungs from the start
At Crnbtree, one mi e and three fu'long>
from the start, OXfnrd had lead bya length,
but under the il tluenCe of a period of
bright sunshine which suCct eded the hail
and snow the Cambridge crew spurted neat
ly and gaIlantly pulling their quicker
stroke with plenty OF vim and with Il good
grip on water which surged their boat
jahead in find style.
This effort redUubled the cheers from the
river banks and AT the snap works, one
mile and lhree and ha,f furlongs from
the start, and the two boats were apparently
on level Al the caves, two miles from
the tart, Oxford Ieds-and Lamhri lge st'I
sticking 10 her wor Yin magnificent 81 iie in
spite OF the creeping up of their da TX blue
opponents in theStfuggIe.
In the last QIlalrtar milo nj tho pnutSa nc
contest .Mill-49nG be remembered lin the
aquatic world. 1t was simply magnificent
Oxford had all the work she could do cur
out for her. AS the boats rounded Barnes
Benu of the river Cambridge was r0wine
puckiy and with plenty of strength, but
oxford passed over the line first by Il
quarter of a length and, amid intense aud
almost understandable excl ement, winning
the grandest race rowed on the Thames
river in many years. OxfOrd's time was
~ minutes. Betting was nominally to
on Oxford.