Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1895-04-04
OXFORD WINS AGAIN.
Dark Blues Triumphant i'm the Fifty
seventh Annual Race at
Putney.

Putney, Eng, March 3O.-OXford won
the ffty-seventh boat race today between
the crews representing the universities
Of Oxford and Cambridge, crossing the
line two lengths ahead.
The morning was gloomy and cold,
but this did not prevent crowds of peo-
pie from vending their way to Putney
III order to watch the final practice of
the crews.
During the morning both Oxford and
the Cambridge boats practiced starting
for about a quarter Of an hour. Rain fell
at intervals throughout the morning and
Il strong southwest wind was blowing
but the banks of the River Thames were
crowded at an early hour.
AT j D. IN. the Cambridge coXswain
went over the course again in steam
launch. Happily the wind moderated
greatly during the afternoon and at $3.50
y. III. was very light and the water was
almost smooth.
The press and umpires boats took up
their positions when the hour for the
race approached and they were shortly
followed by the crews. Oxford won the
toss and chose the Surrey side of the
river.
An Animated Scene.
The scene on the Thames was as ami
mated usual and until the course was
cleared the river was alive with craft
of all kinds. The lighthouses Of the two
crews were besieged by their admirers
early in the day and both Oxford and
Cambridge were loudly cheered as they
launched their boats. The betting just
previous to the start was unchanged from
last night. The crews started at 4:OS
and Oxford soon had a lead OF half a
length.
At Clasper's boathouse Oxford held her
lead, but at Craven cottage, less than
,f 10 f,.>tn thn art
Oxford was only a quarter Of length
ahead and at Walden's the dark blue
boat had not increased this lead.
AT Hammersmth' bridge, Il little over
one and three-quarter miles from the
start. Oxford had increased the lead to
half Il length and was widening the gap.
At Thornycroft's. about three miles
from the start. Oxford was d length and
Il quarter ahead and at the Devonshire
Meadows the dark blue was leading by
two lengths.
Oxford. at Barnes bridge, slightly over
held the lead of two lengths and event
ually won by that distance.
Oxford started at forty strokes to a
minute, the Cambridge stroke contenting
himself with thirty-eight. The dark
blues throughout the race pulled steadily
Cambridge drew up Il little, but the hopes
of the admirers of the light blue soon
faded away and Oxford increased her
lead rs she liked Opposite the Doves,
about two miles from the start, Oxford
was pulling thirty mine and Cambridge
thirty-eght strokes to the minute.
The official time OF the winning boat
is announced to be 20 minutes 80 seconds.
Shortly after passing the Doves Cam
bridge again spurtcd and reduced Ok
fords lead triHe. But the dark blues
had increased their lead to TWO lengths
1T the Deyonshire meadows and this lead
Cambridge could not cut down to any
great extent. When the Oxford boat
shot under Barnes bridge the dark blues
were rowing we'll within their strength
and in perfect form. The Cantabs rowed
gallantly throughout and did better than
expected but they had evidently had
enough of it at the finish. According to
the Judges decision Oxford won by 4
length and half.
The race today was over the usual
course from obliQuely opposite the Star
and Garter inn at putney to the finish
line 12O yards above the Ship inn at
Mort lake. The exact length of the
course was + miles l furlong $50 yards
If you stand Oh Putney bridge and face
as the bows Of the racing boats point
up stream the Middlescx shore is on the
right hand and the Surrey shore on the
left: From the start the river curves
to the ii ght as far as the Crab Tree
thence to the left all the way to the
Threc-quarter post. when it again in
cliues to the right uD to the finish.