The herald., 1895-03-31
Oxford Wins Over Cambridge
by Two Lengths
AN EXCITING BOAT RACE
Start Was Somewhat Delayed by Rough
Water
Cambridge Made Squirt and Nearly Caught
Up to the Oxford Crew but the Chase
Was Hopeless

PUTNEY, March 30.-Oxford won the
hfty-seventh boat race today between
crews representing the universities of Ok
ford and Cambridge, crossing the line two
lengths ahead. The morning was gloomy
and cold, but this did not prevent crowds
from going to Putney to watch the final
practice of the crews. During the morn
ing both Oxford and Cambridge boats
practiced. Rain fell at intervals through
out the morning and strong southwest
wind was blowing, but the banks OF the
River Thames were crowded at an early
hour. At 8 pm. the Cambridge cox
swain went over the course again in
steam launch. Happily the wind moder-
ated freely during the afternoon, and at
$3.50 it was light and the water almost
smooth. The press and umplres' boats
took up their positions when the hour for
the race approached, and were shortly ioi-
Oxford won the. toss and chose the Sur
rey side OF the river. Af
The scene on the Thames was animated
as usual, and until the course was clear
ed the river was alive with craft OF all
kinds. The boat houses of the two crews
day and both Oxford and Cambridge were
loudly cheered as they launched their
boats. Betting just before the start was
unchanged from that of last night, when
the odds were to on oxford.
The crews started at 4:0S pm. The
Oxford men soon had a lead of half u
length At Clasper's boat house the Ok
fords held the lead, but at Craven cot
tage less than three-quarters OF mile
from the start, Oxford was only quarter
of length ahead and at Waldron's the
dark blue boat had not increased this
lead. At Hammersm:th' S bridge, a little
over three-quarters of a mile from the
start, Oxford's had increased the lead to
half length and was increasing the gap.
At Thorneycrofts. about three miles
form the start. Oxford was length and a
quarter ahead, and at Devonshire Mead
ows the dark blue was gaining two
lengths. Oxford. at Barnes bridge.
slightly over three and half miles from
the start, held the lead by two lengths,
and finally won by that distance.
Oxford started at forty strokes to the
minute, the Cambridge stroke contenting
himself with thirty eight: The dark blues
throughout the race pulled steadily and
like clock work. Opposite the lead mills
the Cam bridge crew drew up little, but
the hope Of the admirers of the light blue
soon faded away. and Oxford increased
her lead as she liked. Opposite Doves.
about two miles from the start, Oxford
was pulling thrty-nine and Cambridge
thirty y-eight strokes per minute. The
time of the winner was 20 minutes and
so seconds.
The contest opposite the Craven steps at
Putney was not very exciting but soon
Pitman, the Oxford stroke, settled well
down to his work and Wauchop, the
Cambridge stroke, put in lot of good
work. When both boats took shoot for
the Surrey shore the battle was fought
obstinately and in spite OF the tremen
dous Pitman. Oxford gained but lite ad-
vantage. At the same time the long
dragging stroke of the dark blues began
to tell and realizing the aspect of affairs,
Wauchop made big effort but it did
not last and again Oxford drew away.
AS the boats proceeded up Chiswick
Mall, Wauchop continually spurted, not
giving his opponents rest. In the broken
water IN Corney Reach, the superior
strength of the Oxford crew again told.
Up to that point Cambridge had made a
gallant fight but after passing Thornin
Crafts the race became little more than
procession. Cambridge, nevertheless
never relaxed their efforts but the Oxfords
always seemed to have the measure of
their opponents at every critical point Of
the race, when Wauchop made o despair
ing effort. Pitman eased his men down
and then padded home easy winners.