Omaha daily bee., 1895-03-31
the Cambridge water, went In winners by a
lengths daylight.

ienBtn y uayHRnt.
RoWED UNTIL THEY SANK.
There was another famous race in 1859
Cambridge had an elegant crew. who pulled
well together and with an even feather
though low one. Oxford was very strong
but rather tough in shape, and with an un-
even feather In some places. On the day Of
the race the wind blew a whole gale from the
northeast, and Putney reach was a perfect
sea. Above Hammersmith the wind was
across stream but after Barnes bridge It was
dead ahead again. and the surf was as bad as
at Putney. Oxford was almost waterloggsd
when Cambridge launched her boat. but the
low freeboard OF the Cambridge boat caused
her to ship, even in the paddle of the aaue-
Duct, as much or rpre water than Oxford
had taken aboard during the delay. Oxford
led from the start. Rounding Craven point
they were two lengths in the clear and at
Barnes bridge they were twice as much in
the lead. on the White Hart Cambridge
foundered. They rowed to the last, and
though sinking, they never tried to stesr
ashore. They rowed till each mans car
foated out of the oarlock. Oxford was almost
In sinking state. too. and another quarter
OIL mile would have sunk the boat.
II have seen Oxford win nineteen times In
my thirty-two years. In 1866 there was a
sensational and exciting race. Oxford wen by
sixteen seconds. although Cambrdg, shot
Hammersmith bridge a clear length to the
good. Cambridge was stove in by a tug Just
after 1t was over
In 1887 there was the dead heat. Cam
bridge led by a length at Hammersmith
bridge. Oxford drew clear at Bo1ts head. AT
the White Hart there was half length OF
daylight between Oxford's stern and Cam
bridges bows. when Oxfords bow sprung his
oar and became passenger for the rest Of
the journey. In two strokes Cambridge over
Tapped us. and we only had a half lengths
lead. 1t was tremendous race TO the finish
Cambridge overhauled us inch by inch. The
umpires decision has never been agreed 10
since.
THE race of 1889 was rowed in binding
snow storm. and 1t was so dark you could
hardly see the crews from the shore.
The year 1869 was the Harvard year.
They had beautiful boat, and she was very
fast. II they had rowed to match her the
result would have been different They had
coed reach and clean. hard wrench through
the water. but the crew had never been to-
gether They could go as fast as anything
afoat Tor twelve minutes or so; then they
tired, through lack Of perfect pulling together
INTO the feather oar, and they broke down.
And Oxford had probably the finest four
ever turned out"
The race today was over the course from
obliquely opposite the Star and Garter inn, at
Putney, to the finish line, 100 yards above the
AlsoD lane, at Mortlnke. The exact length
OF the course. as measured by the Thames
Conservancy board, Is four miles and 400
yards. II you stand on Putney bridge and
face as the bows of the racing boats point up
stream, the M!ddlesex shore is on the right
hand and the Surrey shore is on the left
From the start the river curves to the right
as far as the Crab Tree, thsnce to the left all
the way to the Three Mile post. when it
again fnclines to the right up to the finish.