The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-31
OXFORD'S TEAM WINS,
The Dark Blues Garry
Off the HonorS From
Cambridge.
BY LENGTH, AND A HALF.
Odds Were Offered That the
y Favorites Would Cross
the Line First.
CHEERS FOR THE vICToRs.
Good Work Done by Both the Crews
With Even Stroke Up to
the Finish.

won the fifty seventh boatrace to-day be-
tween crews representing the universities
of Oxford and mbridge. Oxford's crew
crossed the line length and half ahead.
This morning opened gloomy and cold,
but this did not prevent crowds going to
Putney TO witness the final practice of the
crews. During the morning both Oxford
and Cambridge boats practiced starting
for about a quarter of an hour. Rain fell
at intervals and strong southwest wind
was blowing, but the banks of the river
Thames were crowded at an early nour,
notwithstanding the rain and high wind.
At 8 p. NJ. the Cambridge coxswain went
over the course in a steam launch. Hap
PLY the wind moderated greatly during
the afternoon, and at $3.50 it was very
light and the water almost smooth.
The press and umpire's boats took up
their positions when the hour for the race
approached and were shortly followed by
the crew.
The Oxford crew won the toss and chose
the Surrey side of the river. The scene on
the Thames was as animated as is usual
on these great regatta days, and until the
course was cleared the river was alive with
craft of all kinds.
sieged by throngs of admirers early in the
day, and both the Oxford and mbridge
men were loudly cheered as they launched
their boats and prepared for the great
event.
The betting just before the start was I'M
changed from that of last night, when the
odds were 9 to for Oxford.
The crews started at :08 P. N. Oxford
soon had the lead by half a length and
held this advantage as far as Clasper's
boathouse. Then the light blue of Cam
bridge began to close up the gap. At
Craven Cottage, less than three-quarters of
mile from the start, Oxford was only a
quarter of length ahead, and at Waldon's
the dark blue boat had not increased this
lead.
At Hammersmith Bridge, a little over
three-quarters of a mile from the start,
Oxford had again increased the lead to
half length and was rapidly pulling away
At Thorneycroft's about three miles from
the start, Oxford was length and a
quarter ahead, and at Devonshire Meadows
the dark blue.was fast gaining two lengths.
AT BarnesfBridge, slightly over three and
a half mite from the start, Oxford held a
lead of two lengths, and finally won the
race by nearly 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 clockwork. Opposite Lead Mills
Cambridge drew up little, but the hopes
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 thirty
nine and Cambridge thirty-eight strokes
to the minute.
Shortly after passing Doves Cam bridge
again spurted and reduced Oxford's lead
to triie- But the dark blue increased the
lead to two lengths at Devonshire Mead
ows, and this lead Cambridge could not
cut down to any great extent.
When the Oxford boat shot past Barnes
Bridge the dark blues were rowing we'll
withinitheir strength and in perfect form.
The Cantabs rowed CALAMITY throughout
and did better than was expected, but they
evidently had enough of it at the finish.
According to the judges decision Oxford
won by length and half.
The contest upon the Craven Steps was
not very exciting, but when Pitman, the Ok
K,
and Wauchop, the Cambridge stroke, put
in a lot of good work when both boats
took shoot for the Surrey shore, the battle
was fought obstinately and in spite of the
tremendous Pitman, Oxford gained but lit
tie advantage. At the same time the long
dragging stroke of the dark blues began to
tell and realizing the aspect Of affairs,
Wauchop made a big effort, bnt it did not
last and again Oxford drew away.
AS the boats proceeded up Chiswick
Mall, Wauchop continually spurted, not
giving his opponents rest. AT the broken
water in Corney Reach, the superior
strength of the Oxford crew again told
Up TO that time Cambridge had made a
gallant fight. but after passing Thorney-
crofts the race became little more than a
procession. Cambridge, nevertheless, never
relaxed their efforts, but the Oxfords always
seemed to have the measure of their oppo-
nents at every critical point of the race
When Wauchop made a despairing effort,
A Pitman eased his men down and then pad
died home easy winners.
COST OF RACING.