The Washington herald., 1908-04-05
EASY FOR CAMBRIDGE
Oxford Crew Beaten All the
Way on Thames.
SUPERIOR CONDITION TELLS
Getting "A Slight Lead shortly After
the start, Cambridge Eight In
creased Lead Until 1--WE ana One
half Lengths Separated the Two
Shells at Finish-sIake-up of Crews.

London, April 4-"Cambridge all the
way and an easy vim
That is the story of to-day's annual
eight-oared varsity boat race over the
historic Thames River course, and once
again the fayorlte won. Bat at that it
was a great race Superior conditioning
was responsible for the victory of the
winners, but for time it was the real
thing in acquatic contests. And to the
best men went the winners honors.
Long before the hour set for the ar
rival Of the crews the exodus of visitors
from this city was apparent. Last night
conveyances were crowded. but to-day It
was not who could go. rather it was
How can We go?" and the banks of the
river We're jammed with a distinct holi-
daymaAing crowd as the sun rose over
the fiat lands beyond
Cambridge was the first 70 appear, and
as the eight padded toward the start
at Putney they were cheered to the echo
Their rivals were not long behind them
and as the Oxford crew padded into the
Shase-surrey side of the course. the as
sembled spectators realized that the out
siders In the betting had won the toss
and had chosen the sheltered side of the
river
Great Crowd at Start.
As they lined up for the starters gun,
the scene was, with possibly two excep-
tions. the most brilliant in the history
of The contest From a cloudless SKY the
sun poured down. penetrating the chilly
air with a delightful warmth. and the
long smooth stretch OF the course was
but slightly ruffled here and there by a
kittenish westerly wind that absolutely
failed, even at the most exposed spots. 10
kick UP even the slightest suggestion Of a
white cap
It was just 3;3l p. m. as the report Of
the pistol resounded aUross the idle river
and with the signal the two crews caught
the water as one man. For the scant
portion Of minute they hung on well
nigh even terms. and the crowd watching
cheeTed with all the fullforce OF a high
pressure steam calliOpe.
But no one was 10 be left long I'm
doubt. BFaWn and muscle, aided by
superior conditioning, told, and even be-
sore the first quarter of nile had been
covered the "Cantabs' began TO draw
into the lead. First 1t was the advantage
Of an car, then il was a trife more, and
so on, by the veriest fractions Of inches
the Cambridge men drew almost imper-
ceptibly into the lead
Passing Craven Steps the men from
4t.tsa af.s-4f1r
had increased their advantage 20 half
a length. There their eoxswain seemed
satisfied TO keep them and as they swept
along the course TO Crabtree they slid
along easily maintaining an ADVANTAGE
that could plainly be increased.
Smiling back at the dimunitive steers
man Of the rival craft the coxswain Of the
Light Blue held his own for time and
then, seemingly following the Instructions
poured into his ear by the coaches Just
before the start he signaled the eight
and they began 20 hit her up"
Cambridge victory Assured.
This ended the race. Therefore it was
simply a procession. Passing Harrod's
Wharf the favorites had a good two
length advantage Of the contest and were
pulling well within themselves.
On toward Hsmmersmlths Bridge the
crews swept. and. having felt their rivals
out. the Cambridge men were content and
played with them somewhat after the
manner OF the cat and the mouse. Tie
result was. that going under the bridge
the Oxford eight had picked up some
three parts Of a length. and their sup
porteTs, encouraged, were yelling Ike
hends and spelling holiday ehapeaus in
public indications Of renewed hope.
But IL was ali futile Boyle. sitting
crouched up like monkey in the stern of
the Cambridge shell. shouted an order,
and the giants ahead Of him. manipuat-
ing their sweeps like an electric machine.
caught the water as an individual and
fairly made the row locks smoke as they
tore their boat through the CLASSY water.
From this point on there was never the
slightest question. Passing under Barnes
Bridge, Cambridge was plainly the mas
ter. and, although both crews spurted hard
approaching the finish line at Mort Lake.
the work Of the Cambridge men was
much the better, and they finished well
within themselves in the good time of -
minutes and 19 seconds.
The oxford men were in a state OF Ut
ter collapse at the finish. and three of
them had 10 be lifted out of the shell into
the launch, but the winners were in ex-
cellent condition and padded about as
they waited for their electric tender.