The Indianapolis journal., 1894-03-18
OXFORD VICTORIOUS
Cambridge Defeated in the Great
University Boat Race.
The Course, from Putney to Mortlake,
Four Miles and Quarter, ROwed by
the Winners in II Minis. 80 Secs.

LONDON, March 1.-THE great university
boat race over the historic Thames course.
from Putney bridge TO Mortlake slip, was
won to-day by the oxford crew, which de-
feated Cambridge by three and a half
lengths. The distance is four miles and two
furlongs The time was twenty-one min
utes and thirty-nine seconds. OF the pre-
vious contests between these two universe
ties oxford won twenty-seven, including
the races of the last four successive years.
The Cambridge victories amounted to twen-
ty-two and one race. in 1877, resulted in
dead heat. Last year the dark blues won
really splendid race by two and a half
lengths in eighteen minutes and forty-seven
seconds, the best time on record by a long
way. as nineteen minutes and twenty-one
seconds the time made in 1892, was the
best previous record.
There was no wind to-day, and the water
was smooth and covered with slight haze
when the boating enthusiasts commenced
at gray dawn to gather the tow paths,
bridges. river banks and other points of
vantage On all sides were to be seen the
colors OF the rival universities the dark
blue Of Oxford and the light blue of Cam
bridge, but this year these colors were
plentifully intermixed with the green of old
Erin, for to-day, for the second time only
in the history of these great aquatic
tests, was the race pulled on st. Patricks
day. The oxford and Cambridge boat race
in 1862 when oxford won by three lengths
was also rowed on St. Patricx's day. The
time of the winner then was twenty min
utes and five seconds oxford was out for
a spin during the early morning, and they
were early favorites in the betting, odds of
2, and even TO ] being laid on the dark
blues Cambridge did not go on the water
for breather this morning. but the crew
selected to defend the light blue indulged in
a walk before breakfast AT $40 the mist
was clearing away, and at the beginning of
the race the haze lifted almost completely
and showed the old river covered with YES
sells OF all sorts and sizes, and many thou
sands OF people lining the banks, crowding
the windows and making the hOuSetopS
black with sightseers. The Duke of York
was on the umpire's launch, in company
with other distinguished people.
Loud cheers greeted the crews as they
made their appearance above Putney
bridge. preparatory to taking up the posi-
tions for the start Cambridge was the
light blue was also the first to take up its
position preparatory TO the start. Oxford
the river. The start was made at 800.
Cambridge getting away first with pretty
forty-two-to-t -the-Inlnute Sait' ana oxford
starting with long and steady forty
stroke. The advantage to Cambridge was
soon lost, for off the creek, which was
reached in one minute and eleven seconds,
the boats were even. AT the soap works
Oxford had the lead though a grand race
was being pulled, Cambride being less than
half a length behind. Both crews were row.
ing steady, thirty-siX strokes 10 the minute.
At the one-Inile tree. which was passed four
minutes and twenty-five seconds after the
start, oxford led by three-quarters Of a
length. The Cambridge crew spurted and
pulled up in spite OF Wild steering, and sue
ceeded In getting within half a length OF
of the oxford boat. But oxford men put
little more speed into their boat and
drew away. Opposite the lead mills and
hrf1o
on a beautiful squirt in order to have the
honor OF being first to pass under the