New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-23
WON BY OXFORD'S CREW.
THE REST TINE ON RECORD MADE IN THE
UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.
CAMBRIDGE STRUGGLED HERorCALLY. BUT WAS
BEATEN BY TWO AND HALF LENGTHS IN

London, March o2.-The annual university boat race
between the Of oxford and Cambridge was rowed
nm the Thames to-day. oxford won BY two and Il
half lengths in Is AZ, the best time record
or the fortynin that have been contested by
the universities six only have been rowcd other
6svs than Saturday The selection OF Wednesday this
year caused disappointment to many thousand people.
who look forward TO the greatest amateur rowing race
NJ the year Of their chief holidays, and who
are unable to leave their occupations any day
other than Saturday. The absence Of these disap
ponted spectators was not apparent to-day. The
usual enthusiasm and gaycty were evident every
where and there the customary abundance OF
amusements. on Putney Bridge. before the race be-
can serried OF people lined the parapet and
watched the preparations for the start In front
Of the rowing clubhouses great crowd gathered 10
sea the aunch Of the sldfs which were To bear the
heroes Of the day and TO cheer their favo1t"s as
they appeared Each side Of the river lined with
tugs barges. wherries and all manner Of cIaft ac-
commodating sightsecrs Ashore and af'oat there
uas a great show of bunting. In this respect the
picturesque group of lighthouses at Puiney was the
chief attraction Hero there is plenty Of room for the
display of university colors and the colors OF the
various clubs owning the buildings. and tie oppor'
unity was not missed. Elsewhere along the course
balconies filled with gayy dressed women. and
the scene one of constant brightness.
II had been decided, after some hesitation. to make
the start as usual from Puney Bridge. finishing 1T
Mor.lake A difficulty bad arisen owing 10 the
progress OF repairs TO the iron bridge by wEich the
southwestern Railway crosses the river a. Barnes,
three quarters Of a mile from the finsh The bridge
,s supported by two sets Of tubular iron pillars which
divide the river into three channels. At the pier
between the Middesex and centre arches stockade
OF piles Is driven into the bed of the river on the
London SIDE Tho stockade points toward the surrey
shore and although there was plenty of room for TWO
Fights TO pass abreast through the centre arch OF the
bridge both boats would have TO 60 right over 10 thc
Barnes shore in order to obtain clear course. 10
have ordered one boat to take the centre and the
oer the Middlesex arcn would hove been to handicap
Tho outside craft 1t was consideied feasible for both
hoats IN use the centre arch, and IL was decided 10
ADOPT the usual course although 1t was foreseen that
Il would be necessary to keep the crews closer 10
the Surrey shore than is customary. This would also
influence the time Of the race.
The start took place from the stone road bridge at
Putney The patience of the waiting crowds at this
pont was at length rewarded by seeing the Cambridge
crew leave the boathouse OF the Leander Club IN their
boat and take the water as tie chaengers III 'he
race In few moments they were out In the tide
cay their lieht-bIc caps and jackets ana their oar
blades OF the tint being conspicuous In sp'e OF
the CONFUSION caused by few tardy launches ana
Wineries struggling to get odt OF the way. ana sue
cceding mainly In getting In It, The crew looked well
as they padded eisurey with machine-ke precision
IN the skf from which they were to start, ana uey
were Justify cheered by their friends and sympamzers
Hardly had the noisy greeting subsidized when inc
Oxford men emerged from their headquarters at the
London Rowing Club and took their boat 10 the
waterside Their appearance was THE signal Tor an
antitrust OF hearty cheering from those who fanced
the dark blue crew.
Once out from the shore they padded with more
ygor than their opponents to tie appointed place.
the dark blades OF their oars dipping simultaneously
with clockwork regularity
In the toss up for position Cambridge won' ana
selected the Surrey side Of the river tich crew
proceeded TO Its boat at the starting point ana
the men stripped off their flannel jackets ana sweaters
and settled their balance.
All being ready the starter fired his pistol. and
amid the shouts Of thousands OF admirers ana the
hooting and screaming Of steam whistles ana sirens
the crews shot up stream TO decide their hitleh con-
test Close behind them followed the umpire III
small steam launch. and, at respectful distance fcar
clumsy paddle-whee steamers OF the KIND used lor
the ordinary passenger traffic Of the river These
carried privileged persons-one being loaded Win
cuests Of the oxford University Boat Club, second
with those Of the Cambridge Club another with TRENDS
OF the umpire, and the fourth with representatives
OF the London press. Yes of excitement and shouts
OF announcement to both crews rose all along the
course as the boats in sight and as they passed
craft OF every kind be on the Thames closed
In behind and crowded after.
II was exactly 4 "a when the pistol was fired
Cambridge took the water first. and Obtained slight
lead which, rs Clasper's boathonse was reached
Amounted 10 about three feet. Both crews were
pulling thirty Eight strokes to the minute. 1t was
q pretty and close race to Hammersmith Bridge, a
mile and three-quarters from the start Here OMord
had q lead Of a quarter OF length The Light
Blues however, let themselves out passing the BRIDGE
and their squirt placed them level with their opponents
This position they were unable TO maintain, and
when the Lead Mills short distance beyond Ham
mersmith Bridge reached, the Oxonians were
again slowly but surely regaining their lead. Never
after were the Cambridge crew able to catch up with
the Oxfords.
At Chswtok Eyot, the small island In the Corney
Reaoh about two miles and half from the start, the
Cambridge made another squirt but their efforts
were In vain, the Oxonans, who were then three feet
ahead. easily keeping their advantage. Trouble was
anticipated at Barnes's Bridge little more than three
and q half miles from the starting point, but both
ooxswains handled ther boats skilfully and the open
water beyond was reached without accident. oxford
was now a length and quarter ahead. The Light
Blues struggled manfully to ovcrtake the Oxonlans
and passing through the Oder Beds their sturdy strokes
began to tell little in their favor. Inch by inch
they gained but the Oxford crew, with all their
strength brought into play, swung backward and
forward fairly lifting their shell from the water. Both
struggled desperately for the mastery, but the
Oxford crew pulled the more powerful and telling
stroke, and passed the finishing line two and hall
lengths ahead OF Cambridge
The oilidsl time was 10 minutes and AZ seconds,
the best time ever made the course, the best
previous tme made by oxford last year, having been
10 minutes and 81 seconds
The scene at the finish of whirng hubbub
aud agitation The victors were greeted with tumult
Of applause, which answered by counter cheers
from the friends OF the vanqished. TO whom the cry
Of well rowed. Cambridge was given good nnturedy
In recognition OF their gallant fight The river al
once became the Of turmoil. and for long
time a tangie OF launches, tugs, rowboats and other
vessels had as much they could do TO keep out
OF each others way. some slight collisions occurred
hut no accident OF q serious nature resulted.
Oxford has now won four years in succession, ant
for the four preceding years Cambridge was the victor
Tho oxford boat carried 1.47l pounds and the Cam
hxfd hoa 1.14S.