St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-23
DARK BLUE IN FRONT.
Fiftieth Race Between En-
glands Great Varsity
Crews Decided,
Oxfopd's Bow a Half-Length
Ahead Of Cambpidge'S at
the Finish.
Race RoWed in the Fastest
Time Yet Made in the
Contests.
Fhe 0XonianS Held a Safe
Lead From Soon After
the Start.

hual rowing event of the Old World,
the Oxford and Cambridge boat race,
took place today on the Thames. The
course was that historic stretch of water
between Putney and MOrtlake, which
measures approximately four and
quarter miles. This was the gala occa-
sion on which the annual craze in Lon
don known as the "blue fever" reaches
its climax. Every one Of the enthusiast
tie thousands who lined each bank OF
the river Sported the color in either of
two shadeS-the dark blue of Oxford or
the lighter tint affected by the admirers
OF Cambridge. The American colony
was plentifuly represented and with
reason, for if Cambridge won she would
certainly be represented at the inter
national regatta in America this year;
and if Oxford won, there was strong
possibility thar the dark blues would
also bend their backs and strain their
muscles to win new laurelS on the other
side of the water.
The Great Struggle
was the fiftieth in the history of the
rival universities. The series was in
augurated as far back as 1929, when Ok
ford heat Cambridge somewhat easily
over a two and quarter mile course
from Hambledon dock to Henly bridge.
The rivals dlG not meet again until 1886,
when Cambridge won by minute over
course from Westminster to Pu they
After another lapse Cambridge repeated
her victory over the same stretch in $50,
40 and II. Oxford came to the front in
10, and another break of two years in
the sequence followed. When hOStilitieS
We're resumed in 1915, the course select
ed was from PutneY to Mortlake, and
Cambridge won by half minute in %
min. and 80 sec. The 1916 race was
signallized by the use, for the
first time, of outraged eIghts.
Cambridge won by TWO lengths. An
other void in the series occurred i'll AZ
and IS while in 1919 they mot twice
and scored a win each, that of Oxford
being secured on a foul. Oxford re-
peated 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 been interrupted.
The crews rOWed in keellesS boats in
1851, and in 1878 tried another innOva-
ton, the since indispensable sliding
seats. The experiment was more than
justified by the then unprecedented
time made by the Cambridge crew,
which won in 10 minutes So seconds.
These figures proved too good for
the winners OF the Subsequent
eighteen contests, and were only
beaten last year, when Ok
ford scored her twenty-siXth win in the
record time of 10 minutes 21 seconds.
The victories of Cambridge aggregated
twenty-five in 1889, since which the
wearprs Ct the light blue have failed to
improve their position. The only tie in
the history of the race occurred in 1887,
when seven of the Oxford crew con-
trived to hold their rivals to the finish
after tie bow oar broke opposite the
White Hart, Barnes. Precisely ten
years later No. in the Oxford crew
broke his oar under Barnes bridge and
Cambridge secured an unexpected win
by two lengths.
Both crews have trained publicly on
the Thames since March l, but never in
the history of the yearly event has it
been so difficult to get Zine" as to
TheIr Respective Chances.
Critics who have studied their form
knew nothing of the time, as although
each crew has been over the full course
against the watch, tidal and atmospheric
conditions were entirely different. The
latest betting returns, however, were
distinctly in favor of the Oxford crew.
which has shown remarkable consist
ency and uniformity in its practice UNI
der all conditions The dark blue com.
bine also had a slight pull in the aggre-
gate weight, and this indication almost
invariably finds favor with the English
SpOrtsmen, whose pet theory is that all
other elements being equal, "a good big
'un will always best good little 'un."
The Cambridge men worked today in
a boat fitted with a Stillwell "tin" rud-
der, IS feet long, 1924 inches deep amid
ships, 12l5 inches forward, 64 inches
aft. They also used Ayling oars, fitted
with the patent button, measuring II
feet inches with , feet 10 inches lever
are. The Oxford craft was 81 feet S
inches long; breadth, % inches; depth
amidshipS, 9 inches; forward, %
inches: aft, 81 inches Their oars. fit
ted with the patent button, measured -
feet inches, with feet inches lever
age.
Before the Race
On Putney bridge before the race be-
gan serTied rows of people lined the
parapet and watched the preparations
for the start with eager interest. On
the wide fore-shOre, too, in front of the
rowing club houses, great crowd
gathered to see the launch of the won
derful Skiffs which were to bear the
heroes OF the day to victory or defeat
and to cheer their favorites as they APP
peared. Each side of the river was
lined with tugs. barges, wherries and
all manner of odd craft accommodating
sightseers, whose laughter and merri-
ment were drowned by the blatant
strains of brass bands, the walls of con-
certinas and the fiendiSh shriekS of