New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-12
ENGLISH SPORT.
THE THAMES. WITH ETON TRAIN
ING IN RESERVE.

After sending by cable an account of the Uni
versity boat race should hardly be justified In
supplementing 1t with additional details by mall
II It had not been one Of the greatest OF the long
series of contests between oxford and Cam
bridge It was incomparably the best Dill OF
sport which had ever witnessed. but 1t was the
first one which I had seen on the famous course
from Putney to Mortlake. and consequently my
impressions ere vivid and my enthusiasm
strongly celorcd by novelty and excitement sun,
the veterans on the press-boat. one Oh who''' nov.
seen every University contest since 1905 oni'eu
IN declaring II TO be one OF the best races ever
roued Retter welther and larger crowds OF
spectators there might easily have been, but
finer performance Of rival crews ana Closer
and more determined struggle from start 10
finish could not have been desired even by the
most faded and critical sportsman.
There is. perhaps no stronger proof OF the IN
stinctive English love Of sport than the popuiari'!
of the University boat race. Whether 'he sn'
be clear or the wind blowing gaie' the oahA'
of the Thames are invariably lined WIN eAsei
.nectators. who stand for hours waiting for
few flashing glimpses OF the rival eigh's' i"e
rscs II not like the Derby-a spectacle which
every ono can see while enjoying q roiiic".e
.ummer.s day outing. OF the many thousands
dred actually see the whole of 1t. These are the
r..s.rysrs an the press and Oxford and Cam
bridge steamers which follow the umpire's launch
Immediately behind the racing crews THESE
threa steamers with the umpire's boat, start as
soon as the gun Is fred and while 1t - a view
astern. Il Is not a remote prospect, and 1t Is a
continuous one of the race from Putney TO MOTT
lake. These three hundred. spectators alone see
the contest all the way from the lower 10 the
upner stakeboats The remaining thousands
whether massed along the Putney emoankmen'
ar an the Bishops Walk. or swarming about the
annroac hes to Hammersmith Bridge. or ming up
the hanks above Barnes. can see only single
.taee Of the contest and neither the occupants oi
.be railway train drawn up on one OF the orloseN'
nor the sieht-seers manning the hotilla OF ooa's
along shore. can have more than paruai ana
unsatisfactory view OF the race. YET III e'eiy
stress OF weather the thousands are 'heie' "''
smiling faces and volatile enthusiasm, ehuui,"s
the hardship Of exposure to raw "iho anu I"
blnd,ne hailstorm and breaking out IN a mighty
roar of satisfaction when the eignts go oS' =, %
.h.er love of good athletic sport that explains
the presence OF a vast concourse Oh SPECTATORS Al
such weather as there has been to-day
THE ENGLISH IN THE OPEN AIR.
In no other country Is the range OF outdoor
snort wider and the interest In 1t more general
than in England. Snatchng up while am VIII
ing at a club table. morning Journal "nu
six closely printed columns devoted 10 Sports u
various kinds. Here are records OF turf meetings
at Liverpool and Nottingham; trotting matches
NJ Paisley; football scores without end; quoltlng'
cycling, gymnastic and athletic contests; hanoi-
cans for barriers, hunting meets. swimming races
and boxing bouts. There Is no stronger tralt OF
ENGLISH character than this passion Tor opeh-air
recreation Indeed. nobody can truthfully De said
to know London until he has spent summer OF"
the Themes watching the wonderful river ITO
dav by day, or has explored the East Emo IN the
winter time and observed the prominence OF ooA-
inx and rough-and-tumble contests IN the amuse
mont. Of the poor. The most successful Wears IN
the worst quarters Of London are those VINO nave
hu,,t rymnasirns and clubrooms underneath or
edto,ninr churches. and who allow street boys
ana workingmen to face one another In the ring
and TO box and spar to their hearts content.
II IA the commonest English instinct that COM
uands public attention. Of rich and poor alike,
In any trial Of physical resources and endurance
Among all the contests Of the year there Is none
That approaches in interest this four-ile race be-
tween tho University crews. The Derby Is a
splendid spectacle. a democratic town show. en-
flowed alike by the privileged classes and the
masses. q Characteristic picture OF manners and
outdoor life in England: but struggle among
fast horses, even OF the best stock. lacks the
dignity and mpresslvenese Of contes. on the
river between trained University athletes. The
Henley regatta is a water fete OF bewilderins
fascination and ever-chansing beauty; but with
the river jammcd from bank to bank with a
flotilla flashing every hue under heaven, ana win
me club lawns and open hillsides thronged with
light hearted pleasure-seekers In bright costumes
interest In the racing is diverted by the scenic at
fractions and the tranquil pleasures OF lovely
festival. But for one who follows the University
oarsmen on the river on raw March day. the
race 10 the only thing that is seen. The steam
craft and punts hugging the shore pass I'M
noticed: the crowds of spectators on either side
are out Of mind. II not out OF sight: the gray
tovem OF three quaint churches and all the
familiar objects Of beautiful reach OF the
rnsmes are vague, misty shadows which are
scaycely REGARDED: and for twenty minutes the
sixteen oarsmen struggling for the mastery are
ura Homer's heroes fighting a battle which gods
might witness and which men are highly privi-
legged to see.
wELLrMATCHED CREWS.
II was q great race rowed on even terms by
vell-matched crews with the elements against
them. The wind rose with the tide and there was
rough water for the light shells nearly all the
NV. ana as the gale freshened beyond Hammer
.mith the driving rain was changed into hail and
sleet. peting the faces Of the oarsmen like small
shot. The gray surface Of the river was crumpled
with waves and crested with foam, and in the
exposed reaches there was something like sea
running. The conditions ala not favor fast time,
hut the record was among the best ever made,
for the distance was longer than that ordinarily
rovved. The time was fast at every stage. and
the crews were on closer terms all the way than
they appeared; for although the Cambridge crew
LED until the last reach OF few hundred yards,
they had won the toss and with IT the choce OF
positions. and had mathematicany the snorte,
.o,,r.. NV a couple OF lengths Hence. II oxford