The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-23
Oxford Again Defeats Cambridge in The
Great English Varsity Boat Race.
Won by Half Length in 1S:47. the Fastest
Time Ever Made Over the Historic Course
of Four aud a Quarter Miles.
Jew Batter Ahlwardfs Sensational
Charges Rejected by the Reichstag.
Funeral Of Jules Ferry. the Eminent French
Statesman-Eulogies by NJ. RibOt and
Others Delivered in the Luxemborg.
OXFORD VICTOR AGAIN.

OXFORD VICTOR AGAIN.
Her Varsity Boat Crew Defeats Cambridge
I'm Championship Race the Thames
LONDON. March 22-The great annual
rowing event of the old world-the Oxford
and Cambridge boat race-took place to-
day on the Thames. The course was the
historic stretch of water between Putney
and Mortlske, which measures approx.
mAtely four and q quarter miles. This was
the gala occasion on which the annual
craze in London. known as the blue
fever" reaches its climax. Every one OF
the enthusiastic thousands. who lined each
bank of the river. sported the color IN
either of two shades-the dark blue Of Ok.
ford or the lighter tint affected BY the ad-
mirers of Cambridge. The American
colony was plentifully represented, and
with q reason, for If CAMBRIDGE won
she would certainly be represented at the
International regatta in America this year;
ana if Oxford won. there was strong pos
sibility that the dark blues would also
bend their backs and strain their muscles
to win the iaurels on the other side of ths
water.
The great struggle was the fftieth in the
history of the rival universities. The series
was lnaugurated as far back as 1922 when
Oxford beat Cambridge somewhat easily
over two and quarter mile course. from
Hambledon lock to Henley bridge. Ther ri.
walls did not meet again until 1896, whom
Cambridge won by minute over q course
from Westminster to Putney. Af'er another
lapse Cam bridge repeated her victory over
the same stretch in 1889. 1910 and 1S4l. Ok
ford came to the front In 1912, and another
break of two years in the sequence fol.
lowed. When hostilities were resumed 10
1s45. the course selected was from Putney
to Mortlake and Cambridge won by half
minute in % minutes, so seconds. The 1915
race was slgnalized by the use for the first
time Of outraged eights. Cambridge Won
by two lengths. Another void in the series
occurred IN 1Si7 and 1S4S while in 1S49 they
met twice and scored win each. that OF
Oxford being secured on q foul Oxford
repeated her victory when they next came
together in 1852 and scored again in 1854.
In 1855 there was another blank. but the
fixture became an annual one in 1856 and
has not since been interrupted.
The crews rovved in keelless boat in 1857.
and in 1878 tried another innoyation-tbe
since Indispensable sliding seats. The ex-
pertinent was more than justified by the
then unprecedented time made by the CAM
utes and thirty-fve seconds. These figures
proved too good for the winners OF the sub
sequent eighteen contests. and were only
beaten last year. when Oxford scored bel
twenty-sixth win In the record time Of
nineteen minutes and twenty-one seconds
The victories OF Cambridge aggregated
twenty-five In 1880. since which the wear.
ers of the light blue have failed TO improve
their position. Theo only tie in the history
of the race occurred in 1857. when seven OF
the Oxford crew oontrived to hold their
rivals to the finish after the bow oar broke
opposite the White Hart, at Barnes's bridge.
foro crew broke his oar under Barnes's
bridge. and Cambridge secured an unex-
pected win by two lengths.
OXFORD WAS THE FAvoRITE.
Both crews trained publicly on the
Thames since March /, for to-dsy's race.
but never In the history OF the yearly event
has it been so difficult to get q line" as to
their respective chances Critics who have
studied their form knew nothing of the
time, as, although each crew have been
over the full course against the watch.
tidal an atmospheric conditions were en4
tirely different. The latest betting re-.
turns. however. were distinctly in favor Of
the Oxford crew, which has shown remark
able consistency and uniformity In it's
practice under all conditions. the dark blue
combination also had q slight pull in tho
aggregate weight, and this indication al.
most invariably finds favor with the Eng.
lish sportsmen, whose pet theory 10 that
all other elements being equal. "a good big
'un Will always best a good little 'nn."
The Cambridge men worked to-day IN n
boat fitted with Q Stiilwell "tin" rudder. 81
feet long. 2234 inches depth amidship, 9iA
inches forward, Ga inches aft. They also
used fling oar. fitted with the patent
button. measuring II feet inches. with 3
lRuorcUq nVforA af
was 81 feet inches long; breadth. % inches;
depth amidship. inches; forward. 6l4
inches; aft. 5is inches. Their oars. fitted
with the patent button, measured l2 feet
inches, with feet o inches leverage.
There were the usual crowds of sight.
seers on shore, on steamers. tugs, wherries,
barges and ell manner of watercraft. and
the event was made noisy by brass bands
and the shrieks of whistles. Everything
possible was gay with bunting. and pref
tily.dressed women added no little share to
the brightness OF the spectacle.
THE RACE.
The start took place from the stone road
bridge at Putney. It was exactly 434 p. NJ.
when the pistol was fired. Cambridge
took the water first and obtained q slight
lead, which, as Clasper's boathouse was
reached. amounted to about three feet.
Both crews were pulling thirty -eight
strokes TO the minute. 1t was O very
pretty and close race to Hammersmith
bridge, a mile and three-q quarters from the
start Here Oxford. which in the interven.
ing distance had forged to the 'front.' had q
lead of o quarter OF q length. The light
blues, however. let themselves out passing
the bridge and their spurt placed them
level with their opponents. This position
they were unable to maintain. and when
the lead mills. very Short distance beyond
Hammersmith bridge. was reached. the
Oxonians were again slowly but surely re-
gaining their lead. Never afterward was
the Cambridge crew able to catch mp with
Oxford. At Chiswick Eyot, the small
island in the Corney Reach. about two
miles and half from the start, the Cam-
bridge boys made another squirt.
but their efforts were in vain.
the Oxonians who were then three
feet ahead. easily keeping the advantage.
Trouble was anticipated at Barnes's bridge.
little more than three and half miles
from the starting point. but both coxsw aims
handled their boats skillfully and the open
water beyond was reached without acci-
dent Oxford now length and q
quarter ahead. The light blues struggled
msnfully to 0vertake the 0x0nians. Inch
bv inch they gained. but the oxford crew.
with all their reserve strength brought into
play, swung backward and forward, fairly
lifting their she'll from the water Both
crews struggled desperately for the
mastery, but the Oxford crew, despite the
twenty-five pounds heavier weight in their
boat, pulled the more powerful and telling
strokes and passed the finishing line half
a ahaad of ha Tha