Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-31
OXFORD WON BY TWOLENCTHS
Judgment Of the Sporting World Proves to
Be Well Founded.
LIGHT BLUES WERE BEHIND ALL THE TIME
Great University Boat Race on the Thame,
Was Rowed in Gloomy Weather but
the Banks We're Lined
with Spectators.

PUTNEY, March 30.-Oxford won the fifty
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 admirers
vending their way to Putney TO witness the
final practice Of the crews. During the morn
ing both oxford and Cambridge boats prac-
ticed starting for about quarter OF an hour.
Rain fell at intervals throughout the morn
ing. and a strong southwest wind was blow
ing; but the banks of the river Thames
were crowded at an early hour.
At p. m. the Cambridge coxswain went
over the course a second time in a steam
launch. The wind had moderated greatly
during the afternoon, and at p. m. was
very light, and the water was almost smooth.
Tho press and the umpire's 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.
The scene on the Thames was as animated
as usual, and until the course was cleared
the river was alive with craft of all kinds
The boat houses Of the two crews were be-
siesed 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 un-
changed from that Of last night, when the
odds were to 2 on Oxford.
The boats started at 4:0S p. M, and OK
ford soon had lead Of half a length. AT
Claspers boathouse Oxford held her lead
but at Craven Cottage, less than three
quarters Of a mile from the start, Oxford
was only quarter of length alread. and
at Waldens the dark blue had not increased
this lead. At Hammersmith bridge. little
over one and three-quarters miles from the
start, Oxford had increased the lead to half
length, and was widening the gap. At
Thornycroft. about three miles from the
start, oxford was length and quarter
ahead, and at the Devonshire meadows the
dark blue was leading by two lengths.
Oxford, at Barnesbridge, slightly over three
and half miles from the start. held the
lead of two lengths. and eventually won by
that distance.
Oxford started at forty strokes to a min
ute, the Cambridge stroke contenting himself
with thirty-eight. The dark blues through
out the race pulled steadily and like clock
work. Opposite Lead mills Cambridge drew
up little, but the hopes Of the admirers of
the light blue soon faded away and Oxford
increased her lead as she liked
Opposite the Doves, about two miles from
the start, Oxford was pulling thrty-nine
and Cambridge thirty eight strokes to the
minute.
Shortly after passing the Doves, Cambridge
again spurted and reduced Oxfords lead a
trife. But the dark blues had increased
their lead to two lengths at the Devonshre
meadows, and this lead Cambridge could not
cut down to any great extent. When the
Oxford boat shot 3ares bridge. the dark
blues were rowing we'll within their strength
and in perfect form. The Cantabs rowed
gallanty throughout and did better than
expected. but they had evidently had enough
of IL at the finish. According to the judges
decision Oxford won by length and a half.
The official time Of the winning boat was
announced to be twenty minutes fifty sec
onds.
COST OF A VARSITY BOAT CLUB.
An interesting point which has arisen in
connection with the Oxford and Cambridge
boat race. and one which will interest col
lege men In all countries is the question Of
the cost Of sending a crew to Putney from
the great English universities. A repre-
sentative Of the Associated press during the
week asked this question of Rev. e. w.
Sherwood. master of Magdalen college,
honorary treasury Of the Oxford Boat club,
a member Of the Oxford clubs Of 1873 and
1874, and one Of those admirable dvines
who do not find preaching a bar against an
ardent love OF honest sport. He said "The
crew for Putney costs about fb00 The
comes from three sources. The principal
one is life membership fees from new men.
Every man who intends participating in any
college races at Oxford is obliged to Join
the Oxford University Boat club and become
life member by paying f3 los The now
men average about $50 a year. Secondly,
there is an entry fee of f5 for each boat In
the college races-this produces about f200.
Thirdly, there is captaton grant from
each OF the coIleges--a college having 100
txtiII md thn hatrtp ffu
men viii pay f10. We could, OF course,
ask for more in the event of deficiency.
but we prefer to keep 1t about as above.
The capitation grant brings in another f200.
SO our yearly income is about f2.G50. 1t
takes tho whole OF 1t to meet our expenses
for club house. barge. etc. and any little
surplus remaining goes to reduce the debt
on our club house.
1--WE pay only the extra expenses OF the
men. providing the boat. of course, during
the time the men are in training here They
pay all their own expenses, including their
rowing outfit. During the stay of the crew
at Putney we pay all the expenses in order
to remove the race as far as possible from
any trace Of professionalism"
The Cambridge University Boat club does
not get its funds in quite the same manner
as Oxford, as each man on joining his col
lege club at Cambridge does not subscribe
to the university boat club. The university
makes an estimate OF the expenses and then
this year was for about f1 ,000-1Sh per cent
OF the college clubs income. or this sum
fi50 was required for Putney.
SOME HISTORIC CONTESTS.
Tom Timms. or ''Timmy," as he Is better
known, has been varsity bargeman ON the
Oxford University Boat club for the last
thirty-two years He was In n reminiscent
mood when seen by a representative Of the
Associated press last night.
II have attended every race at Putney
since 1862, and the greatest crowd which
ever turned out was the one which came
to see Harvard in 1869. OF course, did
not see the first races. but 1t must have
been great sight at Henley in 1929 when
the 'varsities faced each other for the first
time from Hambedon lock to Henley bridge
two aud quarter miles against a summer
stream. The books tell us they had no
light blues and dark blues. oxford's colors
were nearly those OF Christ church. the head
OF the river a sort OF blue. and Cambridge
rode In their white shirts, with pink sashes,
out OF compliment to their captain, who
was q Lady Margaret man. They were a
famous lot. The Oxford crew were mostly
clergy--afterward No. g. Wadsworth became
bishop OF ST, Andrews; No. became a
prebendary OF York; No. O. dean of Lincoln
No. T. rector OF Tmstall; Strike became
rector OF Bolton-by -Boland, and the cox
swain, Fremantle. became dean of Ripon
"Cambrdge had a rare lot No. became
vicar OF Dover; No, became dean Of Ely;
No. 7, Selwyn, became bishop Of New Zea-