New-York tribune., 1899-03-26
CAMBRIDGE WINS.

fINBRfJdE WAS
THE news that Cambridge after a long sue
cession of defeats has handsomely defeated
her ancient rival ON the Thames causes gen
oral satisfaction among those who feel lively
interest in amateur rowing contests. and doubt
loss rho natural partsans Of oxford after their
first pang of regret is over will conccde that 1t
WAS time for "A change of fortune. The annual
race between the English universities, after
seventy years of eager and honorable rivalry'
is still the chief rowing event In the world III
common estimation, as It deserves to be. lhS
is duo I'm part 10 the fact that. on the whole II
is the finest excmphcation of the art OF oars
manship anywhere to be seen. and In part 10
the sentimental considerations arising ont of
q connection so long and galantly maintained
bv institutions of the highest rcnown.
Begun in 1899. the series has continued with
out break since 1SjG and il is scarcely pos
siblc 10 imagine that it viii ever end. Since
1S45 the races have all been rowcd over the
same stretch of water though in few early
wears the starting and finishing points were
reversed Oxford has still long lead in the
record Of victories. having won thirty-two races
10 twenty-thrcc won by Cambridge ana She
can pont. moreover. TO two series or nine sue
ccssive victories. the second OF when was
brought to a close yesterday. Both or theh
testify 10 the pluck with which Cambridge has
borne her losses and sustained her hopes. EX-
cecdlncly credtabc to both sides is the fact
that the strenuous rivalry has been so main
tanned as greatly to strengthen the respect ana
regard which each of the universities feels FOR
the other one race was tie, once oXford
lost by the breaking OF an oar. but there has
been extraordinary immunity from complaints
and even from accidents. The only foul when
the record shows occurred just half century
ago
The course from Puney to Mortlake, though
there is no probability that it will ever be aban-
doned, Is by means good one. II Is IN the
shape Of the letter S. and the two crews never
row exactly the same distance. Moreover, II
is constantly subject TO varying tides and cur
rents and consequently the winning time IS
perhaps even less than AT New-London meas
ure of proficiency. From long association fhe
English Thames has become dear 10 oxford
and Cambridge as It's American namesake has
in an inferior degree 10 Yale and Harvard; but
neither stretch Of water Is thoroughly well
adapted to the purposes Of a boat race. even
when there are only two contestants. Before
Yale and Harvard. by agreement or under the
influence of a growing sentiment settle down
to an unQuestiOning use of the New-LondOn
cOurse II would be advisable. as Mr.. William
Blajkc has recently suggested in The Tribune.
10 consider whether some other body OF water
does not offer far greater advantages. Mr..
Blake contends that the Connecticut River. a
short distance below Springfield. now that
changes have been made in the Enfield Locks.
furnishes an arena where a feet OF cightS could
fairly battle for the championship of the world:
and he Is inclined 10 believe that Lake Quin-
sigamond near Worcester. might be converted
with little difficulty and at comparatively small
expense into an ideal course where records
would establish trustworthy comparison Of
achievements For this year other arrange
ments have already been made but we hope
that a careful investigation of rowing facilities
| will be undertaken before long in the interest
! Of the finest of all intercollegiate sports.
One element of interest attaches to the OK
| ford Cambridge races which Is lacking in this
| country when college crews compete. The Eng
| liSh university Oarsmen essentially the
| same stroke 50 that the annual race does de
| termine with a close approximation TO abSo-
| lutte accuracy which boat contains the better
| and the more thoroughly finished material.
| Here il IS sometimes the crew and sometimes
| the stroke that wins II is TO he hoped that
| the true scientific stroke, that which gives the
| maximum of power with the minimum of exer-
| ton. will eventually be evolved by American
! oarsmen: or # il has been evolved as many
| think II has been al last by Mr.. Courtney. that
| II will he universally recognized and adopted