Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1897-04-07
OXFORD WINS AGAIN.
tween the English Uni
VerSitieS.

Putney. Eng April 3.-The fifty-fourth
annual boat race between crews repre-
senting the universities of Oxford and
Cambridge was rOWed today over the
usual course from Putney to Mort lake, Il
distance of four and one-Quarter miles.
Oxford won by barely two lengths. The
time was 10 minutes u seconds. Ok
ford has now won 81 out Of the Of races
rowed and has been the winner eight
years in succession.
The weather was bad for boating. a
slight rain falling just before the start.
The betting was ; to 1 on Oxford.
1t was expected that there would be
an unusual amount of interest IN today S
race throughout the United States, as it
was the first time since the beginning
of this series of contests in 1929 that
an American has rOwed in each boat.
J.. J. Deknopp of New college, Oxford,
who is from Albany. rowed bow for the
dark blues and B. II. Howell of Trinity
hall. Cambridge, and New York city,
was No 4 in the boat of the light blues
The start was fixed for 2:15 D. M. an
hour and quarter before high water.
At , p. m. the wind had freshened and
was piercing cold, promising to be at
the back Of the crews the whole way and
making it possible that the record time
might be beaten. FL. Gold the Oxford
stroke, and ". J. Feinde, the Cambridge
stroke, in interviews just before the race
said that their crews were in the most
fit condition for the contest.
The Cambridge men were the first to
embark, having won the toss and chose
the MiddleseX side of the river The
start was made at 2:24 D. M william eff
fected an admirable start Fernie, Cam
bridge, got off the mark sharper than
Gold, Oxford, and at the Dukes Head
Cambridge, minute after the start,
had the nose of their boat in front. The
light blues were pulling thrty-six to the
minute, while Oxford was striking thir-
ty-fOur with a long clear pull. 1t soon be-
gan TO tell and at ClaSper'S. Oxford was
4 quarter of length ahead and coming
away was soon half a length in the lead,
which was never decreased
At Walden's, Oxford's men were row
ing we'll within their strength and pulling
III the most admirable form. They passed
the Crab Tree wharf three-quarters to
the good. Abreast of Harrod's, Fernie,
who was we'll supported spurted and sue
ceeded in slightly reducing the lead,
though Oxford was rowing in the most
perfect form. Oxford shot Hammer
smith bridge a length ahead amid up
roariOus cheers from the dark-blue part,
sans on both banks. There Cambridge
began to feel the effect of the Oxford
wash and at the Lead mills. the other
side OF Hammersmith bridge and one
mile SIX furl0ngs and fifty yards from
the start, the race was practically over
At the Doves, one mile seven furlongs and
sixty yards from the start Oxford was
rowing thirty-three and Cambridge was
striking thirty-tWo, with the dark blues
increasing their lead to three lengths at
Barnes bridge, where Oxford was still
in perfect form. Some of the light blues
were palpably distressed.
AT Barnes bridge Fernie called for
final effort and for time the Cam
bridge crew gained on their Oxford ri
walls. The latter, however, without I'M
duly squirting, passed the judges boat
easy winners by bare two lengths and
III the second best time 1912. III which
the race has been rOWed over this course
The best time made was in 1893. when
Oxford won by one length and four feet
IN 1S:4I. This years dark blue crew
won by less than Il third of a length
last year in 20:04.
Cambridge finished eleven seconds be-
hind Oxford. The time of the dark
blues NJ the Crab Tree was 3 minutes 30
seconds; at Hammersmith bridge min
utes 20 seconds: at Chiswick church. II
minutes. ) seconds, and at Barnes bridge.
l6 minutes.
The. water was smooth at Putney and
the win was due east.