Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-22
ID EDITION.
OXFORD THE WINNER
England's Annual University Boat
Race.
DEATH Of EX-SENATOR SALISBURY.
Methodist Conference Opened at
Front Royal.
A G R o U ND IN A FOG
OXFORD WON THE RACE.

OXFORD WON THE RACE.
The Great Annual Aquatic Contest Of the
English Universities Decided.
LONDON, March 22.-The great university
boat race between Oxford and Cambridge was
rowed this afternoon. Oxford won. The tide
was running strongly and there was a slight
wind.
OF the forty-nine annual boat races that have
been contested by the universities of Oxford
and Cambridge six only have been rowed on
days Of the week other than Saturday. The
selection Of Wednesday this year has caused
disappointment to many thousands OF people
who look forward to the greatest amateur
rowing event of the year as ore of their
chief holidays and who are unable to
leave their various occupations on any day but
Saturday. The absence of these disappointed
spectators was not however. apparent today.
The crowds who line the course are always SO
immense that a few thousands more or less
make comparatively little difference and prob
ably, too, when the race is rowed on a day that
is not a ''cockney' holiday more of the leisure
class turn out to witness the sport.
SCENES ALONG THE COURSE.
The usual enthusiasm and light-hearted gayety
was evident everywhere and there was the Gus
tomary abundance OF the amusements that
thrive on a holiday crowd-acrobats. penny
shows. cocoanut SHES and the like These min
gled with the throng on tine towpath throughout
the greater part of the course.
On Putney bridge before the race began
serried rows Of people lined the parapet and
eager interest. On the wide foreshore too in
front OF the rowing club houses a great crowd
gathered to the launch of the wonderful
shells which were to bear the heroes of the day
to victory or defeat and to cheer their favorites
as they appeared.
To- hctl., % he .r,l1
barges, wherries and all manner o. odd craft
accommodating sight-seers. whose laughter aud
merriment were drowned by the blatant strains
of brass bands. the walls of concertinas and the
tendish shrieks of steam whistles.
Ashore and afoat there was a gay show Of
bunting. In this respect the picturesque group
Of boat club houses at Putnev WAS the chief
attraction. Here there is plenty of room
for the display Of university colors and the
colors OF the various clubs owning the build
ings, and the opportunity was not missed.
Elsewhere along the course balconies we're
filed with gayly dressed ladies and the scene
was one Of constant brightness.
OBSTACLES AT BARNES BRIDGE
It had been decided. after some hesitation,
to make the start, as usual, from Putuey bridge.
finishing at Mortlake. A difficulty of rather
serious nature had arisen owing to the progress
OF certain repairs to the massive iron bridge by
which the southwestern railway crosses the
river at Barnes, point some three-auarters
OF mile from the finish. The bridge
is supported by two sets OF tubular iron pillars
which divide the river into three channels. At
the pier between the Middiesex and center
arches q stockade of piles is now driven into
the bed Of the river on the lower or London
side. The stockade points toward the Surrey
shore, aud it had been found that although
there was plenty Of room for two Fights
to pass abreast through the center arch Of the
bridge both boats would have to so right over
to the Barnes shore in order to obtain clear
course. To have ordered one boat
to take the center and the other the
Middlesex arch would have been to
handicap the outside craft. After discussion
between the officers of the Thames conservancy
and the presidents Of the rival clubs it was,
however. considered feasible for both boats to
use the center arch. and it decided to adopt
the usual course. although it was .oreseen that
it would be necessary to keep the crews closer
to the Surrey shore than is customary or, as q
rule. desirable. This too, it was seen, would
influence the time made in the race. The start
took place from the stone road bridge at Put
ney.
AWAITING THE START.
The patience of the waiting crowds at this
point was at length rewarded by seeing the
Cambridge crew leave the boat house of the
Leander Club in their boat and take
the water as the challengers in the race.
In a few moments they were out in the
tideway. their light blue caps and jackets
and their oar blades of the same tint be-
ing conspicuous in spite Of the confusion
caused by few tardy launches and wher-
ries struggling to get out of the way
and succeeding mainly In getting in it. The
crew certainly looked very pretty as they
padded leisurely with machine-like precision
to the moored skif from which they were to
start.
Needless to say, they we're Justify cheered by
their friends and sympathizers. Hardly had
the noisy greeting subsidized when the Oxford
men emerged from their headquarters at the
London Rowing Club and took their boat to
signal for outburst of hearty cheering from
those who fancied the dark blue crew.
Cambridge won the toss and chose the Surrev
side. Once out from the shore they padded
with somewhat more vigor than their opponents
to their appointed place, the dark blue dipping
their oars simultaneously with clockwork regu-
larity. Each crew being now held at its moored
boat the men prepared for battle by stripping
of their flannel jackets and sweaters and set
thing their blades. Little then remained to dis
tinguish one set from another except the colors
Of their oarblades.
THE START
AL being in readiness the official starter fred
his pistol and amid the shouts Of Thousands Of
admirers and the hooting and screaming of
steam whistles and syrens the crews shot mp
stream to decide their fiftieth contest. Close
behind them followed the umpire in . tiny
steam launch, and at a respectful distance four
clumsy paddle wheel steamers OF the kind used
for the ordinary passenger traffic Of the river.
These wallowiug leviathians compared
with racing craft carried certain privileged
persons-one being loaded with guests Of the
Oxford University Boat Club, q second
with. those Of the Cambridge Club.
another with friends of the umpire,
and the fourth with the representatives OF the
London press. Yells of excitement aud shouts
Of encouragement to both crews rose all along
the course as the boats came in sight, and as