Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-04-01
OXFORD WON.
Cambridge 0arsmen Crossed the Line Two
Lengths Behind.

PUrNEY, March 80. Oxford won the o1th
boat race Saturday between the crews rep
fesenting the universities at ONtoru
and Cambridge, crossing the line two
lengths ahead. The morning was gloomy
and cold, but this did not prevent crowds
of people from vending their way to Put-
ncy in order to watch the final practice
of the crews During the morning both
the Oxford and Cambridge boats prac-
ticcl starting for about quarter of an
hour.
Rain fell at intervals throughout the
morning, and strong southwest wind
was blowing, but the banks of the river
Thames were crowded at an early hour.
At3 p m the Cambridge coxswain went
over the course again in steam launch.
Happily, the wind moderated greatly
during the afternoon, and at $50 p. M.
was verr light and the water was almost
smooth.
The press and the umpires boats took
I'D their positions when the hour for tho
race approached and they were shortly fol-
lowed by the crows. Oxford won the toss
and chose the Surrey side of the river.
The scene on the Thames was as amin
ated as usual and until the course was
cleared thi river was alive with craft of all
kinds.
The lighthouses of the two crews were
besicged by their admirers early in the
day and both Oxford and Cambridge were
loudly cheercd Us they launched their
boats.
The betting just previous to the start
was unchanged from that of last night,
when the odls were 9 to 2 on Oxford.
The Crews Started
ct 4:OS D. IN. and Oxford soon had a lead of
half length At Claspers boathouse
Oxford held her lead, but at Craven Cot
tage, less than three-quarters of a mile
from the start Oxford was only quarter
length ahead and at Waldens the dark
blue boat lad not increased the lead.
At Hammersmith bridge, q little over
one and three quarter miles from the start,
Oxford had increased the lead to half a
length and was widening the gap.
At Thorny Crofts, about three miles
from the start, Oxford was q length and
quarter ahead, and at the Devonshire
Meadows the dark blue crew were leading
by two lengths.
Oxford, at Barnes bridge, slightly over
81 miles from the start, held the lead
of two lengths and eventually won by
tn at distance.
Oxford started at 40 strokes to aminute,
the Cambridge stroke contenting himself
with So Tho dark blues throughout the
race pulled steadily and like clockwork
Opposite the lead mills Cambridge drew
up little, but the hopes of the admirers
of the light blue soon faded away and Ok
ford increased her lead as she liked.
Opposite the Doves. about two miles
from the start, Oxford was pulling 50,
and Cambridge 80 strokes to the minute.
Shortly after prssing the Doves, Cam
bridge again spurted and reduced Oxford's
lead trle But, the dark blues had in
creased their lead to two lengths at the
Deyonshire Meadows, and this lead Cam
bridge could not cut down to any great
extent.
When tine Oxford boat shot Barnes
bridge, the dark blues were rowing well
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.
ford won By length and a half.
What Crew Costs.
An interesting point which has arisen
in connection with the Oxford and Cam
bridge boat race, and one which will in
terest college men in all countries, is the
question of the cost of sending crew to
Putney from the great English univer-
sities A press representative asked this
question of the Rev. w. f. Sherwood,
master of Magdalcn college schools,
honorary treasurer of the Oxford Uni
yersity 'soat club n member of the Oxford
crews of 1873 and 1874, and one of those
admirable divincs who do not find preach
ing a bar against an ardent love of honest
sport He said:
1.-The crew for Putney costs about $500.
The revenue of the Oxford University
Boat club comes from three sources.
Tie principal one is life membership fees
from new men. Every man who intends
participating in any of the college races at
Oxford is obliged to join the Oxford Uni
versity Boat club, and becomes u life
member by paying e3 los. The men aver
age about $50 year. Secondly, there is
the entrance fees, s. for each boat in the
college races; this produces about G20o
"Thirdly, there is n capital grant from
each of the collcges-a college having 100
men will pay eco, and one having 50 men
will pay go We would, of course, ask
moro in the event of deficiency, but, we
prefer to keep it about as above. The cap
tation grant brings in another sa0), so
our yearly income is about e. 650. 1t takes
the whole of it to meet our expenses for
clubhouse barge, etc, and any little sur
plus that remains goes to reduce the debt
ON our clubhouse.
'Wo pay only the extra expenses OF the
men, providing the boat of course. Dur.
ing the time the men are in training here
they pay al their own expenses, including
their rowing outfit. The club foots the
expense of getting the boats to Putney,
but the men pay to get themselves there.
But during the stay of the crew at Putney
we pay all the expenses, in order to re-
move the race as far as possible from any
trace of professionalism"
Tn, Cambridge University Boat club
does not get its funds in quite the same
manner as Oxford, as each iaan on Join
ing his college club at Cambridge does not
subscribe to the university Loaf club. The
university makes an estimate of the ex-
ALL tbo