Year: 1869




This is the letter written by one of the oxford
crew after the race, and against which such great
outcry was made:-


10 Inc Editor og the Londpn Tin,es:-Reluctant as
l am to take any notice OF what may appear in any
of the papers after boat race, and especially one
in which | have been myself engaged, cannot
allow the letter which Sir Aubrey Paul has addressed
to the Times and other papers to pass without some
explanation.


lie writes to say that the oxford crew won last
Friday by fength and three-quarters, instead of
four, as commonly reported. Now, as nearly all
the newspaper accounts give the distance as four
lengths, this appears direct contradiction, and
it is this apparent contradiction which wish to
Sir Aubrey Paul was chosen by the Harvard crew
as judge at the finish Of the race, than whom / am
sure more upright judge" could not be found, and
what he states believe to he correct.


However, wish to explain how we came to be
only length and threequarters ahead at the finish,
which, from my position in the bow of the boat
think am competent to do. just below the ship at
five lengths in front, but here a row-boat) which has
been mentioned as throwing out of course)
caused us TO lose about length.


We of course expected, as we had started
certain distance above the Aqueduct to row an
equal distance above the Ship: but after rowing
about that distance, and finding we had not yet
reached the judge, we began to think whether the
fdgboat had not been forgotten. / myself looked
round and could see nothing of it; we even
called to some people in boat to know where it
was, but they said they could not see 1t; so we pad
kept on grumbng and talking as we rowed along,
and even said TO Mr. Marlborough, 81 vote we stop,
for am not going to row much further" All this





but the Harvard men were still rowing on hard with
that pluck and determination with which they rowed
all through the race, and 1t may therefore be readily
conceived thatthey gained on us considerably, and
the ''1at" of the Judge is doubtless correct. ]
have tried to explain this apparent anomaly
to the best OF my ability because /
have heard many people debating about
tance we should win by; but hope people will un-
derstand that we did not row the race to win them
money and that as the crew had not one arthing at
stake it was to some extent immateTial how much
they won by ApOlOgizng for intruding so much
upon your space, which should not have done had
IL not occurred to me that no one else would offer
any explanation and that the next thing we might
hear from some one would be that should have
been repassed in few hundred yards, believe me,
yours faithfully, FRANK WILLIAM.
Whltchurch, OXOn, Sept l.


How Beecher Took Defeat.


Beecher could not attend the banquet to the IIar-
ward Boys yesterday, and sent the following note OF
excuse -


PEEKsKILL September 19.-My Dear Sr:-Nothing
but illness would prevent me from being present at
the dinner given to the Harvard returning boat
crew by the associated clubs Of New York aud
Brooklyn. | watched their every step going over,
while there, and during the race with an interest
which could hardly be surpassed. / was so cast
down at the news OF their defeat that l could not
rally my spirits all that day. 1t was, however, but
for the day; am abundantly satisfied now, and
am proud OF men whose defeat is glorious in both
hemspheres am not of those who count such
efforts waste Of time and money. / believe them
10 be contributions TO true manhood. In this case
j believe that the Harvard crew have been peace
makers between two great nations that ought to be
eternal friends They have called out sympathy
and cordial good fellowship which will not sub
side. There may be good work done with oars as
well as pens in craftsmanship II were with you
should like TO give them each cordial grip OF the
hand, and TO tell them that for one am heartily
obliged to them. ] am truly yours,


HENRY WARD BEEcHER.