The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-29
OXFORD WINS AGAIN
1t Was a Pretty Racs Over a -Four
and a Quarter Mile Course.
OLD CAMBRIDGE DEFEATED
Magnificent Spurts and Splendid
Efforts of the Oarsmen-Close
and Exciting and the Result
Was a Big Surprise.

Was a Big Surprise
Putney. Eng, March 2s.-The Oxford
crew, to the surprise OF almost every
body, won the SD boat race between
the universities of oxford and Cam
bridge by about a third Of a length.
after a most exciting finish. Thus OK
ford won 30 races of the series to %
won by Cambridge, the dead heat in
1877 making up the total number.
This is the seventh year In succession
oxford has defeated Cambridge. The
time was 20:01 and the course the usual
one, from Putney Bridge to the win
ming post above Ship Inn, in Mortlale.
a distance of about four and one-auar-
ter miles
In the early hours a heavy downpour
of rain drenched the gathering sight
seers and caused thousands to remain
at home. AS a result crowds along the
banks of the Thames were much slim
mer than usual Cambridge was hot
favorite at six to four. and few takers.
Cambridge embarked first, won the
toss, and chose the Surrey side of the
river, a decided advantage. as half
gale was blowing from shore, or about
southwest, raising lumpy water every
where and quite a little sea at bad
places. The crews embarked at 12:5S
D. m.
At the pistol shot at 1902 both boats
got away sharply. Cambridge pulling
a pretty SO to Oxford's slightly more
powerful sweep of 81. There was little
to choose between them until Clasper's
boat house was reached approaching
the first half mile, when the Cambridge
boats nose showed slightly in front.
The two crews were pulling with great
/ determination. splashing somewhat on
4 - n. tor A
mile oxford drew up and showed ahead
\ at Waldens At this there was great
cheering, for it was apparent a splen-
did ding dong race was to be rowed.
Gold, the Oxford stroke. evidently
had his men well In hand and ready
for something in squirting work without
any danger of the distress signal being
displayed. But Fernie, the Cambridge
stroke, quickly called his crew to-
gether and pulling a long, powerful.
clean, telling stroke with the high
feather characteristic of this years
Cambridge crew Gust the stroke for
such weather and water), regained the
lead at Crabtree wharf. nearing the
one and a half mile post. Gold. mean
while, was sticking TO his work most
greedily and calling upon the dark
blues to hit her up again. The oxford
boat Tapped up to and passed the
Cambridge craft at the soap works
amid terrific cheering from both
shores.
After passing the soap works oxford
kept up the pace and led by nearly a
length at one time. Fernie called upon
the light blues for a squirt, and they
responded with such vim that the
Cambridge boat shot under Hammer
smith bridge a short length ahead of
oxford, and, according to tradition.
should have won the race. Gold. how
ever was fit as fiddle and game TO
the backbone. At the lead mills, on
the upper side of Hammersmith bridge,
the crew rowed a powerful 80, and the
prophets who declared oxford would
go TO pieces after the first two miles.
looked glum and uncomfortable. for
there were no signs of collapse among
Colds sturdy youngsters. The Cam
bridge crew were equal to the emer-
gency and responding with a beauti-
fully sustained effort, drew away
again.
Cambridge at Thornycrofts had a
lead of about three-quarters of a length
and both crews were bending down to
work in the grandest manner possible.
From there to the three-mile post,
about half way between Chiswick
church and Barnes bridge the race was
most Furnishing both from the pace set
and the lumpy water. Cambridge sue
ceeded in holding a slight lead and shot
under the bridge ahead of oxford.
Cambridge wins" rang from Barnes
to Putney. This, however, was with
out reckoning upon the reserve force OF
Colds gallant men. Their slender rae
ing boat fairly tore through the water
and there was a mighty shout of ad-
miration when ii was seen the Increased
power put into the oxford stroke was
steadily taking the dark blues up to
their rivals Fernie replied with an
other supreme effort and the plucky
light blues backed him to the utmost.
They could not, however, throw of
their rivals who began to overhaul
them steadily.
Frantic excitement reigned on both
banks. The shouting was almost deaf
ening. For a time. off Mortlake church,
Cambridge seemed likely to be able 70
hold the lead across the finish line.
But this was not to be. As the church
was passed, there was a squirt by the
dark blues which will be recorded in
the history of rowing. IL was simply
magnificent The men pulled as II they
had just started in the race The dark
blues overlook the cantabs; for a mo-
ment IL was nose and nose, with the
winning post in sight; then putting
still more steam in their stroke. the
dark blues passed the Cambridge boat
and finished winners by a short one
third of a length in 20:01-splendid time
when the weather and rough water arr
taken into consideration. Indeed the
time has only been beaten over this
course upon three previous occasions
Cambridge in 1873 did the trick In 1.
minutes IS seconds; oxford in 1892 IN
10 minutes q seconds, and oxford in