The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-04-08
OXFORD WINNER
IN THAMES RACE
DEFEATS CAMBRIDGE IN SIXTY
SIXTH EIGHT-OARED ROW
ING EVENT.
THOUSANDS SEE CONTEST
Rare April Day Attracts British Sport
ing Public to Banks OF His
toric River.
FINISH EASY FOR OAONlANS.

PUTNEY, April 3.-Thc siXty-sixth
Oxford Cambridge eight cared rowing
ace was won on the Thames today by
oxford by three and oue-haH lengths
lfter Il tusse which for three-quarters
# the course was one of the most stir
ing contests seen on the Thames for
many years.
The time was 10 minutes and 30 sec
,nds, but had the OXonans been pressed
1t the finish they could have reduced this
" good many seconds. AS far as
Barnes bridge II was anybody's race,
)ut at this point the greater weight and
stamina of the dark blues told and with
/ magnificent dash b. t. Bourne, the
Oxford stroke. sent his boat to the front
md passed the post the easiest of win
lers.
Story of the Race.
Cambridge won the toss and chose the
Surrey side of the river, but in the alb
,ence of any wind the water was smooth
and there was not much advantage in
The selection of station. Al the crack
If the pistol the Oxford stroke, Bourne,
was the first TO grip the water and Tor
The first minute his oar moved at the
rate of 80 strokes to the So strokes n
minute set by II. G. X. Stuart, the
aose of the oxford boat showed slightly
in the lead. Calling to his men at Rev-
eley Brook, the veteran Stuart quickly
overlook the leaders and forged To the
front. Soon he was quarter length to
the good. Bourne, however was not
10 be outdone. The ONouiaus answered
squirt with squirt and it soon became evil
dent that the race of 1909 would be
memorable
Aware that his chances of victory rest
al in securing a commanding lead early
n the race, Stuart held To swift stroke.
tie was well backed by his crew, who
pulled in splendid rhythm and pushed
further and further ahead until the coz
swain of the Cambridge boat was on II
evel with the Oxford bow. Then the Ok
ford crew came on again and closed up
'apidly until, passing the half mile post,
he two boats were level
Excitement on Banks.
The excitement on the banks was tire.
mendous and roar of cheering broke
out as the Oxford mon, gripping the
water in great style, passed theit oppo-
nents and established lead of half a
length at llarrods.
Stuart, however. quCkcnCd his stroke
and the Cambridge eight. rowing with
splendid dash, gradually ovcrhauled their
rivals and the two crews shot under
llammersmith bridge almost on dead
level.
Here Bournes longer stroke Of 80 to
the minute ms against Stu0rt's 3G began
to tell, and the DNouiauS drew away nm
/ til Il spectators boat got in the way ami
made Il SWcrvc to one side necessary.
/ This enghicd amhridgr again to draw
up on level OF thiswick the ONu-
mans were again slightly i'm the lead.
/ but this advantage was only mom,utary.
] no I,, Nm. ,..1 &
4 the boats together again at Thorncycroft
by this time the excitement on board
! the launches following the boats and
along the river banks had risen to fcyci
! pitch, and the shouts of encouragement
were deaicnlng.
Oxford Draws Away.
Passing Barnes the boats were prac
/ tcally level but from this point on III,
/ oxford crew drew away, and by IA,
! time liarncS' bridge WAS reached there
was daylight between them. The Cam
bridge men were beginning to show
signs of the heroic struggle and al
/ though they stuck calamity 10 THEN
work the issue never again WAS in doubt
! The OXonians came right away and sooI
| led by two lengths.
Nearing the finish Stuart the cam
/ bridge stroke. made q desperate attempt
/ to rally his tired crew, but his squirt wa,
shortlived and could make no impression
on the leaders. The further the ONfor,
crew went the better they seemed {,
row.
Thousands See Race
Tens of thousands hurried to the bank,
/ of the Thames between Putucy aur
MortIake today for the annual race, M
event which shares with the Derby the
undying enthusiasm of the British sport
/ ing public. When there occurs that rare
boon, pleasant day, here, ia early
April, then the spectacle along the
! Thames is one Of the rarest sights al
the world and il chanccd that this morn
ing dawned clear and sunny, although
somewhat cold. With an absence oi
wind however, conditions were favor
able for rowing as we'll as for the com
fort of the spectators.
1t was an animated scene rs The
throng hurried from city and country
coming by train trans, motor cars ant
carts. Hundreds Of brightly decorated
small craft ebowod one another MS they
made their way towards the course from
miles up and down the river.
Is Historic Spectacle,
The contest between the two universe
ties is historic rs It pageant ms well rs {
contest of Craftsmanship. Willie veteran
rOwerS like Guy NIckalls proclaim th'
crews of 1909 rs inferior to those Of th'
'gus. the enthusiasts today were wurkc,
up TO II high pitch of excitement uycI
the result.
The female suflragists took advantng,
of the gathering for advertising purposes
They sent up balloons omhiazpncd will
the words vote for Women
OLDFIELD IN SALOON FIGHT,