Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-31
OXFORD WINS AGAIN.
About Three Lengths Ahead Of Cam.
bridge at xoluake.
THE USUAL IMMENSE CROWD.
Weather Cold and Raw, with Occa-
sional Rain and sleet, but Sti1l the
People Waited Hours for the Race.
Water Rough.

conditions thronged the Thames this
morning to witness the fifty-second race
between the universities q Cambridge
and oxford since the present series be-
gan In 1879. The race was rowed over
the championship course, from Putney
to Mortlake. four and half miles. AS
In former years. the start was made
from boats moored just above Putney
bridge. and the race vas finished at the
Ship Hotel. at Mortlake.
Every bit of available space along the
river was packed with people. who
cheered their respective favorite. In sea-
son and out The river was alive with
every conceivable kind OF craft, but the
arrangements for keeping the course clear
were perfect and no boat was permitted
to obstruct the way to the goal at Mort
lake.
The weather was cold and raw. with
squalls Of drizzling rain, but this did
not deter anybody from keeping his CT
her place In the crowd, and patiently
awaiting the start. There was also a
changeable southwest wind. which put
the water in pretty bad condition.
WELL AWAY.
As the pistol was fired by Mr.. william
both crews got well away. Opposite the
boat-house oxford had already got the
canvas bow of their boat in front OF
the Cambridge boat. For the first minute
oxford rowed 80 strokes. and Cambridge
SO. oxford was drawing ahead rapidly,
and at Bishops creek the Oxfords were
| leading by half a length.
Favored by the shelter afforded by
| the Surrey shore, which the Oxfords
| selected after winning the toss, their
| boat was rapidly increasing its lead over
| the Cambridge shell, and they were row.
| ing easily. At Craven cottage OXFORD
was a. length ahead. Cambridge was
| squirting. but could not gain against OK
| ford's long, sweeping stroke. Shooting
| Hammersmith bridge, Oxford was stiil a
| length ahead. Cambridge made another
| squirt, with the same result as before.
| At Honeycroft the rough water both
| cred both crews. and Cambridge had q
shade the best of II. Oxford being barely
! a length ahead at this point. Thls was
| more than two thirds of the distance,
but the Cambridge men had not given up.
| From this point, however, Cambridge
| fell behind. and at Barnes's bridge OK
! ford was three lengths ahead. From
| Barnes bridge to the Ship oxford MAIN
| tanned the lead, and won BY about three
lengths.
WEATHER DISADVANTAGES.
Shortly before the race the southwest
wind died away somewhat, but 1t was
| still a stiff breeze, and the tue was
strong There were frequent showers, but
there were also intervals OF sunshine.
The unplres and press-boats and the
steamers conveying the Oxford and cam
bridge students and guests took positions
Just above Putney bridge. the arches OF
which were closed to traffic.
| Lord McNaghten, who was member OF
the Cambridge crew Of 49,, VIII pressure
at the banquet, which will be given 10
the crews at the Cafe Royal this evening
MIR. BAYARD THERE.
| United States Ambassador Bayard was
on board the umpires' boat, which FOL
lowed the crews throughout the rae
Mrs and Miss Bayard occupied places or
the rrandstand at Chiswick, midway oil
| the course.
| All of the arrangements for the race
were the same as those which were car
rioJ out in 1894. The crowd was In ex-
| recitation that the race would be starte1
about II o'clock, but 1t was directed that
| II should start at o'clock. when the
| tide should be full In spite OF this lone
walt in the disagreeable weather IRON
the early hours of the day, the crowus
kept increasing. rather than diminishing
until every bit of available space was
damned with humanity.
oxford won the toss for the post, ano
chose the Surrey or south SIDE OF III,
river, where they would be shoi'ereo
greatly from the guests OF wind.
| The starting signal was given ut SUI
p. NJ.
NEW CONDITIONS.
The race was rowed under conditions
| completely different from those whicf
| governed the race of 1891. when the water
was perfectly smooth, and there wa
| scarcely a breath OF wind. To-day thef'
was n strong southwest wind, with raii
and s,eet and the water was rougf
| throughout the course.
In these adverse circumstances, nae
the crews been equal. the result or th'
toss for position would virtually nave
settled the race, owing to the shelter
from the wind which the selection OF th'
Surrey side Of the river afforded.
The time was 295O which, despite I'M
| adverse conditions, is 70 seconds faster
than the time in which the Oxfords wor
last wears race. when they finished three
and a half lengths ahead.
OXFORD WE'LL AHEAD.
Oxford has now won % and Cambridge
% races since the series began. the con
fest in 1877 resulting in n dead heat
The first contest between the two uni
yersities was at Henley in 12S; the mex
In 1926. Since 1915 the race has beer
rowed on the course from Putney to Mort
lake. except on three occasions-ih lo4'
1856. and 1S6S-when the order was re-
versed. and the crews pulled from Mort