The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22
OXFORD DEFEArs cAMBRIDGE.
The Greatest Boat Race Seen on the
River Thames for Years.


The Greatest Boat Race Seen on the
River Thames for Years.
LONDON, March 21.-The forty-eighth
boat race between Oxford and Cambridge,
decided this morning, was won by quar-
ter of length by Oxford. The race was
over the usual course, from Putney bridge
to a ship at Mort Lake, about four and a
quarter miles. Owing to the s'S" shape Of
the course, it is in favor of the right
handler at the Middlesex position, while
the left, or Surreyside, is best Tor the next
two miles, and the Middlesex water is
most advantageous for the last mile and o
quarter. The rear tide was high at London
bridge at p. m. and at Putney an hour
later. The whole course was crowded with
spectators, though the attendance as q
whole did not equal that Of former years
owing to the early hour at which the race
was rowed and to the prevailing sleet
storm in the forenoon and the bitter cold
weather.
Oxford won the toss and chose the Min
dlesex or north shore side, and the Fights
started prettily and successfully at II 90
sharp. As the crews bent to their work
the hail and snow was falling upon them
in no pleasant fashion, and the strong
cross-northeast wind was raising very
lumpy sea. Both craws had been expect
ing rough weather and consequently they
both utilized high washboards.. Cambridge
at first got away with the lead, pulling a
short and somewhat quicker stroke than
Oxford, and at Clasper's boathousc the
Cambridge boat was ahead.
Then Oxford bent to her work. pulling q
long, dragging, powerful stroke peculiar to
oarsmen of that university. This stroke
soon told, and Oxford was leading slightly
at Craven Cottage, six flrlongs from the
start. At Crabtree, one mile and three
furlongs from the start, Oxford had the
lead by length, but under the influence of
a period of bright sunshine which sue
ceeded the hail and snow, the Cambridge
crew spurted neatly ahead in fine style.
This effort redoubled the cheers from the
river bank, and at the South Works, one
mile and three and half furlongs from
the start, the two boats were apparently
those and nose," both pulling evenly and
stronger.
1t was then evident that stubborn con-
test was in order, and those who had been
laying heavy odds on Oxford began to
feel sad, while corresponding feeling of
JuulldtlOu WAS pcTlcHCeu Dy lie lIleuQS
of Cambridge. Nearing Hammersmith
bridge, one mile and six furlongs from the
start, Cambridge again made magnificent
squirt, pulling timely and strongly together,
and passed under that bridge quarter of q
length ahead, amid scene of tremendous
excitement. Their time to this point was
8 minutes and Sc seconds. Cambridge's
gallant squirt which resulted in their being
under Hammersmith bridge first, accor-
ding to tradition, should have landed their
boat first over the winners line.
Oxford did not lose heart, however, and
bent down all the more doggedly to the
work. At The Doves, two miles from the
start, Oxford led slightly. Cambridge
was still sticking to her work in magnifi-
cent style in spite of the creeping up of
their dark blue opponents. The cheering
was immense and dead heat was looked
upon as possibility, not to say probable
ity. At the oil mills, two miles and one
and half furlongs from the start, the two
boats were again even with each other,
and plucky struggle took place. AS the
racing Fights passed Cheswick, about two
and one-half miles from the start, ire
mendous cheering from river sides caused
each in both sides to strain every nerve to
win. When nearing Cheswick, Oxford
was leading, but it was by few feet only.
Going towards Corney Beach the boats