Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-05
CONTEST WAS ONE-SIDED
Race Between Crews Representing Uni
VerSitieS Of Cambridge and Oxford.
THE FORMER WON WITH EASE
At the Finish, the Latter Was
Greatly Distressed.
TlME--18 MINUTES AND At SECONDS

Putney, Eng, March 3l.-The 57th
annual boat race between crews repre-
senting the Universities of Oxford and
Cambridge was rowed today over the
usual course, from Eutney to Mortlake,
and was won by Cambridge.
The two boats took up their posi-
tions at ]. 80 p. M, and started at !. 50.
Cambridge promptly took the lead. At
Waldens, about ore mile from the start,
Cambridge was two lengths ahead,
Passing the Crab Tree, Cambridge was
IA seconds ahead; and off the saccha-
rine works, the light blues were leading
by six lengths. At Hammersmith
bridge, less than l3 miles from the start,
the lead of Cambridge had been re-
duced to five lengths. The light blues
maintained this lead at the lead mills,
rowing 30 to Oxford's "a. At the
Doves, about 17s miles from the start,
the lead of Cambridge had been re-
duced to four lengths; but at Chieuic
Church, about 2a4 miles from the start,
the race had developed into nothing
more than procession. As the CAM
bridge boat passed Thorneycroft, near
ing the three mile post, the light blues
led by 10 lengths Oxford then began
to show signs Of distress; and at the
Devonshire Meadows, over three miles
from the start, II lengths separated
the two boats. At Baries bridge, about
31a miles from the start, Cambridge
was 40 lengths ahead. The light blues
then eased off, and won by about 20
lengths. The Oxford crew was greatly
distressed at the finish. Cambridge
finished very fresh, and padded rast
the stakeboat, at Mortlake. the easiest
of winners. The official time Of the
race was IS minutes, AZ seconds.
The race was favored by magnificent
weather. The sunshine attracted i'm
mense crowds, which, from an early
hour, congregated along the course, on
on the buildings overlooking the scene
Every point of vantage was crowded, in
spite Of the general belief that it would
be one-sided contest Neither at the
universities nor in the public eye did
the race suffer in the interest through
the war, though had Great Britain
been at peace the boats would have
been very differently filed.
The Cambridge crew included fivo of
last years blues, and there would hayo
been SIX, had not Mr.. Chapman re-
signed the bow oar to accompany his
militia regiment to South Africa. The
Cambridge crew, coached chiefly by
the old blue, s. D. Muttlebury, was d
combination CT well-tried and trained
oarsmen, with the great advantage Of
having five oars that had pulled to.
gether last year over the same course,
On the other hand, Oxford had only
two old lues-Tomkinson and John
stone. Moreover, it had suffered from
change and disintegration sufficient to
dishearten the pluckiest lot of men.
First of all, W. A. L. Fletcher, sup
posed to be one of the best coaches in
England, was obliged to leave his crew
to go to the frort with the Imperial
Yeomanry. Hale, one of the hest men
in last years boat, was declared pEysi-
cally unfit to stand the strain of the
severe training, About three weeks
before the race, Warre, president Of
the boat club, and considered an ex-
cellent oar, was laid low with scar
letina, and had to give up bis place in
the boat. When the crew reached
London, and when it was thought that
at last Oxford had finally got her eight
collected, g. M. Thornhill, who fowed
at No. 7, was taken i'll. This was on
March 18th. T. b. Etherington- Smith
was moved down from bow, and r.
Dutton was given the vacant place.
Mr.. Dutton rowed for day, and then
he also was taken ill. Until be re-
covered, his place was taken by II. G.
Gold, Oxford's famous stroke during
the last four years, and who would
have taken patt in this year. s race but
for some still unexplainable reason,
said to be the refusal of his parents to
permit of his again undergoing what is
admitted to be one of the severest
h 1oAs nvF1~I
in hard luck, and Cambridge ruled hot
farprita HI-.tda