New-York tribune., 1906-08-19

cold 81 the Thames in March while their rivals
rowed on over the course alone.
At Twickenhaul one Of the worst turns in the
course is met, the river flowing on almost al
right angles. Then il flows 70 Barnes Bridge
where. says tradition. the winning crew is al
ways in front But once. to the writer's knowl-
edge has tradition erred That in 1895
All through the months Of practice Cambridge
had been regarded as invincihle. Her men were
stronger bigger and better in all that goes 10
make z crew than those who wore the dark
blue IF oxford. For many years oxford had
won but that year II Looked ali Cambridge and
every Cantab was on the banks of the Thames
that day "a cheer his crew - the victory that
seemed certain. All that could And room we're
al the Barnes Bridge. waiting breathessly for
the appearance of the flying shells AS they
came in sight il seen that Cambridge
far in the lead. q full four lengths ahead Under
the bridge the crews swept Oxford fighting
hard but hopelessly beaten 70 all appearances.
on the other side Of the bridge there comes the
wors, turn Of the course for the coxswains and
that year the Cambridge coxswain. overcome bY
the victory that seemed within his grasp. threw
up the race by one Of the stupdest bits of steer
ing ever seen on the course. Cambridge had the
advantage Of position the inside Of the river.
but the coXswain threw this away and gave
Oxford the chance il needed 10 slip in between
him and the bank and take the race. Cambridge
being compelled TO row many yards further By
the blunder OXonians went crazy when the
hags on the bridge showed the dark blue on TOP.
but they could hardly believe their eyes and il
was not until the judges boat steamed back
over the course that the crowd could be con-
virccd
To Americans who may be in England az the
time of the race IN September the crowds that
viii throug TO the contest will undoubtedly
be almost as interesting the race itself The
English intervarslty race is always rowed on
the last Saturday in March. matter what the
state of the weather may be, and II is only fair
to the famous English climate 20 say that
more than half the recent race days have been
such as to make attendance impossible. And
even on those days the crowds have turned out
reEnarka BILE numbers There are no obserVa-
tion trains and the means OF access to the
course would make a Staten Islander apologize
has heaped upon them. But the discomfort is
all taken III good part, and the Engishmap.
often accused Of taking his pleasure seriously.
certainly does not do so on Boat Race Day. The
greatest fun is 10 buy third class ticket on the
railroad. and then unblushinsIy jump into first
at tickets. and if should appear, there
is the excuse that the third class carriages were
full.
To Americans desirous of seeing the race who
steamers allowed 20 follow the crews the best
advice that be given Is to take train on the
London & Southwestern Railroad from Water
loo 20 Barnes Common. and thence walk or ride
10 the river No directions are necessary bur the
simple one. follow the crowd More of the
race can be seen here than al Mortlake, the fin
ishng point. and IL is almost certain that the
that passes first under the bridge viii win
the
To most OF the tens Of thousands who line the
from Putney to the finish all that the
means Is long wait 10 catch fecting
glimpse of the shells, and then longer wait for
the Judges boat bearing the result Of the
painted great canvas banner, 10 pass back