Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-23
CAMBRIDGE EASY WINNER
Annual Boat Race with Oxford Lacking in
Exciting Features.
DEFEATED CREW ABSOLUTELY ROwED OUT
Light Blue AXE the Lead at the start
and at No Time Was There
Any Doubt About
the Result.

PCTNEY, England, March 2z.-The Cam
bridge crew today fulfilled the expectations
Of the prophets and won the hfty-ninth
boat race with oxford as they Ikea. The
time was 10 minutes 3 seconds. At no time
throughout the race did oxford in the
slightest degree fatter the hopes Of the
supporters Of the dark blue. Any pos
sible nance which the Oxonians might
have had was shattered by the result Of
the loss in giving the light blues (Cam-
BRIDGE all the advantage Of station.
Immense crowds, as usual, turned out to
view the contest, and the weather, though
%showery, was not so lnclement as It had
been most Of the previous years.
Cambridge was the first to take the
water. oxford following after a slight de-
lay. and both crews padded to the moored
skihs at the starting line. The start was
delayed, owing to the force OF the tide
making it dificult to keep the boats noses
straight. Lieutenant Colonel Frank VIII
Ian. the umpire, however, finally got them
away in a capital start. As was antici-
pated, the ~livelier stroke Of the light blues
gave them the earliest advantage and their
lead was increased at every stroke. BY
the time Craven Steps were reached Cam
bridge had a clear length to the good and
it was patent to everyone that they had the
race IN hand. barring accidents. Huntley's
somewhat sluggish stroke appeared to be
too slow &c suit some of the powerful OK
ford men behind him Their weight would
have told. at least In the carrier nart OF the
race, had they been given more chance.
AS IL was, each landmark on the river banks
found them further and further in the
rear, and at Harrod's stores their troubles
were increased by the wash Of their OPP
p~onents' boat. on the Saccharine works
the dark blue made it's effort and the OK
ford crew struggled CALAMITY. but only for
q short distance. Nelson Cambridge did
not quicken his stroke and the gap was
reduced to about a length as the boats
shot under Hammersmith bridge.
The effort took all the steam out of the
Oxonians. their stroke dropped from thirty
seven to thirty-two and the race was prac-
tically over. Cambridge came away, pulling
comfortably at an average Of thirty-six
strokes to the minute, and increasing its
lead without the slightest effort. Before
reaching Barnes bridge the dark blues
we're in the greatest trouble. while the light
blues, amid hearty cheers, padded past the
ship at Mortlake. the easiest winners Of
the tamest university boat race In many
years.
The Official time Of the finish was 1s
minutes 9 seconds. and the distance sepa-
rating the two boats was oficially given
out as being FIVE lengths. but it was nearly
eight lengths.
The spectators, especially the Oxonians,
we're not slow to show their resentment at
the somewhat rare spectacle Of a uni
versity eight absolutely rowed out.
The defeated crew included the brothers
Milburn. This was the first time on record
that two Americans participated in an Ok
ford Cambridge boat race.
Cambridge's time was 10 minutes 9 sec
Unds.
The experts agreed that the two Buffalo
boys showed fine style. Shortly after the
race the Milburns Informed a representa-
tive Of The Associated Press that they had
been 80 we'll trained and coached that they
had quite recovered from the strain and
felt in fine condition. Many old blues
congratulated the Americans on the fine
showing they made. aud hopes were freely
expressed that they would both row next
year.
Large crowds OF Americans were present
10 see the Buffalonians row.