The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
WON BY OXFORD'S CREW
CAMBRIDGE DEFEATED IN THE
GREAT VARSITY BOAT RACE.
VictOrs Were Over Twelve Lengths
Ahead at FiniSh-Thirty-TVOW Wins
Out of Fifty-Five Races.

PUTNEY, England, March 26.-With a
bitter northeast wind blowing, and rain and
sleet falling, the fifty-fifth annual boat race
between crews representing the universities
of Oxford and Cambridge was rowed to-day
over the usual course, from Putney to Mort
lake four and one-quarter miles, and was
won by Oxford in twenty-five minutes fiji
teen seconds The dark blues were from
twelve to twenty lengths ahead at the fin
ish, and the Cambridge crew almost
stopped off 1.-The ship at Mortlake, thor
oughly exhausted and with their boat half
full of water. oxford has now won thirty
two out of fifty-five races, apd has been
the winner nine years in succession.
During the morning the sky was over
cast, with fine rain falling occasionally,
a cold east wind blowing, which raised
the question as to whether the race would
not be postponed, especially as boisterous
waves were expected in the unsheltered
reaches of the river. But after confer
ence between the captains of the crews and
the coaches it was decided to start the race
at about $3.50 p. m. Oxford won the toss
and took the Middlesex side of the river,
which was regarded as assuring the race
to the dark blues. The boats got away
at 3:4S p. m. Both boats carried a guam
tty of air bladders. Cambridge led for
the first 200 yards, but never had a chance
to win.
AT the Crab Tree, about one mile and a
quarter from the start, Oxford was leading
by three lengths. When the soap works,
about mile and three-quarters from the
start, were reached, Oxford was leading by
four lengths, and maintained this lead while
passing under Hammersmth bridge. At the
Doves, little over two miles from the
start Oxford was still leading by four
lengths, by which time Cambridge was pull
ing short Opposite Chiswick Church, two
miles and three-quarters from the start, the
race had developed into a procession, and
was regarded as a certainty for Oxford.
when ThOrnycrOftS works were reached,
three miles from the starting place, Oxford
had lead of five lengths, and at Barnes
bridge, three and tWo-thrds miles from the
start, the dark blues were forty-f1ve seconds
ahead of the light blues. Off the ship at
Mortlake the Cambridge boat was half full
of water the men were exhausted and the
, crew stopped rowing
The race had been a martyrdom for the
oarsmen and spectators. oxford pulled
strong, steady stroke, which soon carried
them to the front and which enabled them
to gain throughout the race, while Cam
bridge, with their boat half filled with
water, labored painfully behind. The re-
suit had been foreseen, but such q walk
over was not expected. Many of the ex-
perts express the belief that the race should
not have been started with the water in such
a rough condition. Both crews began with
a forty-four- to-the-minute stroke which
they dropped to thirty, maintaining that
rate to the end. The waves caused the
boat began shipping water Immediately,
with the result that her stern sank until
while passing under Hammersmith bridge
the Cambridge coxswain seemed to be sit
ting in water Thereafter the spectators
expected Cambridge would be obliged to
give up the race, but the light blues Draced
up during the last mile, displaying pluck
and Craftsmanship in face of heartbreaking
conditions until nearing the finish when
they almost stopped,