Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-04
THE DARK BLUE WINS
AMERICA WELL REPRESENTED.
One Man from This Country a
Each Boat-Time OF winning Crew
for 4 1-4-siiIe Course. IN Minut~a
II 40 Seconds.

LONDON. April S.--The annual eight
oar boat-race between the crews Of thu
universities OF Oxford and Cambridge Wa
sowed to-day over the Thames champion.
snip course OF four and a quarter milea
from Putney to MortIake. and won by
oxford by three lengths. The weather
was raw and damp. and the wind blew in
gusts throughout the forenoon. but the
usual crowds. nevertheless. began MOVING
towards Putney at an early hour.
The weather was bitterly cold but the
water was smooth. 1t was evident from
the size of the crowd that occupied every
available space on the banks OF the
Thames at Putney and along the course.
that the event was as popular this year
as IL has been hitherto. The stone bridge.
which leads to the high TOAD across the
river at Putney, close to the point from
which the boats started, was thronged
with people. and the wide stretch OF shore
just below. on the right bank. in front Of
the lighthouses OF the London, Leander,
and other rowing clubs. was no less Dense
ly packed with spectators, this being the
place at which the boats were launched.
Equally great were the crowds OF holiday
makers on all parts OF the tow-path along
the riverside. and upon Hammersmith
bridge. beneath which the boats passed
on their course to the winning post ana
Barnes railway bridge had a smaller, but
not less enthusiastic. patronage.
Shortly before the race was started all
m ha hxz
the officials OF the Thames conservancy
as completely as is the traffic OF tho
streets upon the occasion of the Royal
procession.
The boats got of at 2:2f o'clock exactly.
AT the London Rowing Clubs boat-house
Oxford was a few feet ahead, but upon
reaching Bishops creek Cambridge spurt-
ed, and drew up level with tho OxonianR
and was rowing well.
A GOOD RACE
1t was an exceptionally good race u
Craven cottage, a little short OF mile
from the start. Cambridge sticking close
to the Oxford boat, but at Hammerxmith
bridge Oxford had drawn away. and waA
about a length ahead. Both crews were
fresh and rowing steadily. Oxford, how.
ever. increased It's lead and at ChiswIck
Eyot. about two and three quarter miles
from the start. had drawn ahead a length
and a half. At Bulls Head oxford SEEM
ed to be leading by two lengths, and AZ
the boats passed under Barnes railway
bridge 1t was seen that the dark blues
were fully two lengths ahead. and racing
splendidly.
Oxford's time. as officially announced.
was 10 minutes, II as seconds. The sans
authority says that oxford won by two
and two thirds lengths Cambridge
struck the water first at the start, and led
slightly at Dukes Head, a short distance
from the starting point, but was never
in the lead thereafter. The Globe and the
Pail Mall Gazette agree In the statement
that the oxford boat passed Barnes bridge
three lengths ahead. and that the race was
then virtually over, although Fernie. the
Cambridge stroke. did not relax his eff
forts to spur his men on to possible VIC
tory
There was All American In each boat.
DeKnoop. Of New College. Oxford. rowed
bow for his university. lie Is resident
OF Albany. b. II. Howell No. 4 in the
Cambridge boat lives I'm New York city.