St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-29

plenty OF reserve force In either boat.
Oxford kept up the pace and led by
nearly a length at one time. Fernie
thereupon called upon the light blues
for a squirt, and they responded with
such vigor that the Cambridge boat
shot under Hammersmith bridge a
short length ahead of Oxford, and, ac-
cording to tradition, should have won
the race. Gold, however, was as fit
as fiddle and game to the backbone.
Down the dark blues laid to it, and
the manner in which they drove their
boat through the water soon hushed
the jubilant cheering of the partisans
of Cambridge.
At the Lead mills, on the upper side
Of Hammersmith bridge, both crews
were pulling a powerful 80 stroke and
the prophets who declared that 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, who
only gripped the water more power
fully as they sped by The Doves, al
most nose and nose, and gaining fast
and furiously through the choppy seas
In fact the strength Of the oxford
men seemed to increase instead Of
diminish as the struggle wore on, and
there was as much dash in their stroke
at the two miles as there was at the
start Under the influence of this
telling work, the dark blues cut out
great work to the Cambridge crew,
but the latter were equal to the emer-
gency, and, responding with g. beau
tifully sustained effort, drew away
again, causing a hurricane Of cheers
to rise from the crowds ashore A
more exciting race could hardly be
imagined, and the enthusiasm was in
tense. Cambridge at Thornycroft had
a lead Of about three -fourths of a
length, and both crews were bending
down to their work in the grandest
manner possible. From there to the
three-mile post the race was most
furnishing, both from the pace set and
the lumpy water. Cambridge sue
ceeded In holding slight lead and
shot under the bridge ahead Of Ok
ford, whereupon there was another
storm of applause and encouragement
The sight-seers thought the race was
over, and that the light blues had 1t
beyond doubt.
Cambridge wins" was the crv
which rang out from Barnes to Put
ney. This, however. was without reck-
oning upon the reserve force of Colds
men. The cheering only nerved them
to another beautiful effort. and thew
went to it as If their lives depended
upon the result. They almost lifted
their craft over the seas, and drove
her along in manner which will long
a 10H1fN h.
slender racing boat fairly tore through
the water. and there was a mighty
shout OF admiration, when 1t was seen
that the increased power put into the
Oxford stroke was steadily taking
the dark blues up to their rivals. Fer
ME replied with another supreme ef-
fort and his plucky little blues backed
him up to the utmost. They could not.
however, throw off their rivals. who
clung to them fiercely, and then began
to overhaul them, but not surely.
The shouting was almost deafening.
For time, off Mortlake church, Cam
bridge seemed likely to be able to hold
her lead across the finish. But this
was not to be. AS the church was
passed, oxford made a final effort,
and there was squirt. which will be
recorded in the history of rowing. It
was simply magnificent. The men
pulled as If they had just started in the
race, and there was no resisting it.
The dark blues overlook the Cam
bridge shell. For moment or two IL
was nose and nose, with the winning
post In sight, and then, putting still
more steam into their stroke, the dark
blues passed the Cambridge boat, and
finished winners by a short third of
length in 20:01 splendid time, when
the weather and rough water are TAX
en- into consideration. Indeed, this time
has only been beaten over this course
upon three previous occasions. Cam
bridge, in 1873, did the trick in 1928;
Oxford, in 1892, did 1t in 1921. and OK
ford, in 1898, won in ls:47. Last year
Oxford won in 20:50.
Oxford has won thirty races of the
series to twenty-five won by Cam
bridge, the dead-heat OF 1877 making
up the total number of races pulled.
This is the seventh year in succession
that Oxford has defeated Cambridge.