Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-31
OXFORD STILL LEADS. Her Steady Stroke Carried Fer Out of Reach of Cambridge.
 N A GREA vsCR0WD PRESENT
 q And " iS h Interest Centered Tn : Result--The Water x Was Rough. hI
A GREH xSoRoWp PRESENT

LONDON, March 30.-The usual immense crowds of people of all classes and condf- tions thronged the banks of the Thames this morning to witness the fifty second
 race between the crews of the universities of Cambridge and Oxfordisince the present series began in 1929. The race was rowed over the cham pionship course from Putney to MortIake, four and half miles, as In former years. The start was made from
 boats moored just above Putney bridge,
 and the race was finished at the Ship hotel
 at Morllake. The boat club houses were
 gaily decorated with flags of all descrip-
 tions, though the club colors predomi-
 na,ed.
 Cambridge launched their boat first and
 were followed almost immediately by Ox- ford. Both crews were heartily chesred by their respective partisans as they carried
 their boats down to the river, and cheering continued when the boats took the water. The launching of the boats was very prettjly done, and the crews showed their appreciation of the scene.
 Every bit of available space along the river was packed with people, who cheered
 their respective favorites in season and out. The river was alive with every conceivable kind of craft, but arrangements for keep- ing the course clear were perfect and no boats were permitted to obstruct the way
 to the goal at Mortake.
 The weather was cold and raw, with
 squalls and drizZllng rain, which, how-
 ever, did not deter anybody from keeping
 his or her place in the cold and patiently
 awaiting the start of the race. There was
 also changeabe southwest wind, which put the water in pretty bad condition. Ox- ford won the toss.
 United States Ambassador Bayard was on board the umpire's boat at Putney, which followed the crews throughout the race. Mrs. and Miss Bayard occupied places on the grand stand az Thomey Croft's torpedo factory at Chriswick, midway the course.
 As the pistol was fired by MT. Williams
 both crews got well away. Opposite the
 boat house the Oxfords had already got the
 canvas bow of their boat in front of ihe
 Cambridge boat. For the first minute Ox-
 ford rowed thirty-eight, strokes and Cam
 ahead rapidly, and at Bishops creek the
 Oxfords were leading by half a length.
 Favored by the shelter afforded by the Sur
 rey shore, which the Oxtords selected after winning the toss, their boat was rapidly increasin it's lead over tue Cambridge rheil, and they were rowing easily. At Craven | cottage Oxford was length ahead. Cam | bridge was. spuriing, but could not gain against Oxloro's long, sweeping stroke. Shooting Hammersmith bridge, Oxford was still another length ahead. Cambridge
 made another squirt, with the same result
 as before.
 At Thomey Croft's the rough water
 bothered both crews, and Cambridge had
 shade the best of it, Oxford being barely
 ahead at this point. This was more than
 two-thirds of the distance, but the Cam
 bridge partisans had not given up hope.
 From this point, however, Cambridge fell
 beh ind, and at Barnes bridge Oxford was
 three lengths ahead. From Barres' bridge
 to the ship Oxford practically maintained
 that lead, and won easily by about three
 lengths.