New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
e made up as follows:
OXFORD.
CAMBRIDGE.


Oxford won the toss and chose the Middlesex.
or north shore side, Cambridge taking the Surrey.
or southern, course. The rival Fights started
pretty and successfully at IL :09 g. m. sharp.
AS the crews bent to their work. hail and snow was
falling upon them in no pleasant fashion, and
strong cross northeast wind was raising lumpy
sea. Both crews had been expecting bad weather
and consequently they both utilized rather high
washboards.
Cambridge got away with the lead, pulling
shorter, smarter, somewhat quicker and moro
catchy stroke than Oxford, and at the Claspcrs
boathousc the Cambridge boat was ahead. Then
Oxford bent 10 her work, pulling the long, drag
gins, powerful stroke peculiar to the oarsmen of
that university. This stroke soon told, and Oxford
was leading slightly at the Craven Cottage, six
furlongs from the start. At the Crab Tree, one
mile and three furlongs from the start Oxford had
the lead by length. But under the influence of
O period of bright sunshine which succeeded the
nail and snow, the Cambridge crew spurted neatly
and CALAMITY, pulling their shorter quicker stroke
with plenty Of vim, and with a good strip of
water, which drove their boat ahead in fine style
This effort was greeted with hearty cheers from
the river bank: and at the Soap Works, one mile
and three and half furlongs from the start, the
two boats were apparently OF level both pull
ing evenly and strongly. 1t was then evident
that the contest would be stubborn, ana those
who had been laying heavy odds on Oxford began
70 feel uneasy while corresponding jubilation was
felt by the friends of Cambridge.
Nearing Halnmersmith Bridge. one mile and
six furlongs from the start. Cambridge again made
a'masnitic.nt sourt, the men pulling finely and
strongly together, and passed under that bridge
a quarter c; q length ahead, amid a scene OF
tremendous excitement Their time to this point
was s minutes Sc seconds. Cambrdges gallant
squirt. which resulted in bringing the Light Blues
first lnder fIammersnith Bridge, according to
tradition should have landed their boat first over
the winning line The Oxford crew, however. did
not lose heart. but bent down all the more
coggedly to their work. Juggling suGcnly and
grittily at their oars At the Doves, two miles
from the start, Oxford led slightly. Cambridge
still sticking TO her work in magnificent style. in
spite of the creeping up Of her opponents. The
cheering and excitement were intense, and dead
heat was looked for. At the Oil Mills. two
miles one and half furlongs from the start
the two boats were again level with each other,
and the excitement grew in intensity.
A grand, determined and plucky struggle took
place as the racing Fights passed Chiswick, about
two and half miles from the start the tremen
dous cheering from the river sides causing cacl
man in the two boats to strain every nerve to win
Oxford, when nearing CnlSWlck, was IcaulnS, pu
by only a few feet. Going toward Corney Reacl
the boats struck into smoother water, which as
sisted the lighter men in tue Cambridge boat; ant
beyond Thornycroft's they forged ahead, finally
leading Oxford by quarter Of length The
stream, however, here began to favor Oxford, an'
at Barnes Bridge, over three and half miles from
the <art, Oxford leading by kalf length
Time--IS minutes 10 seconds
From that point Oxford had much the hes
gtatisn gettin. almost clear from the Light Blues
though both crews were rowing i'll superb style
Here everything seemed 10 depend upon the powc
Of squirting which remained in the two crews
TIE strokes rcdoublcd the power and skill whici
tLey sougat 10 iafusc into the men behind them
tke liver banks literally packed will
hosrsely cheering, rushing crowds Of people, wav
ing hats, handkerchicfs, sticks and umbrella
Calamity, cody, without an outward sign o
exhaustion, the contcs,ing crews tugged at thei
oars with the ut1ost brilliancy and nerve. TIN
struggle in the last quarter OF nile OF the cours
will long he remembered in The aquatic world
Oxford had all the work she could do as the boat
rounded the Barnes bend of the river. Cambrids
was rowing pluckily and with plenty of strength
but Oxford passed over the line first by quartz
Of o leagth, amid almost understandable excitement
winning the grandest race rowed on the Ihame
In many years. The betting normally was 10
on Oxford.
The Oxford and Cambridge crews made thci
Urst appearance upon the Thames this year O
March 2, in preparation for the race. The Eng
6sh record for the Putney course four miles an