Year: 1869

/ described minutey, last year, the method OF
starting the boats and other details interesting only
10 rowing men, which I may now omit. Oxford
with her usual luck, had again won the toss for
choice OF position and took the Middlesex side. The
difference between that and the Surrey station ls
slight at beet. when the wind rs fair, and whatever
advantage Oxford had was In the end neutralized by
the eccentric steering Of her coxswain. who was new
IN tbe course. and nervous The start was at two
minutes TO four, Oxford much steadier in getting
AWAY than her opponent. There was an instant
struggle for the lead indeed, the race may DO said
To have begun with O spurt which was kept up 10
Hammersmith Bridge, Cambridge doing 40 and Al
strokes 10 the minute while Oxford, after tho first
furry. settled into Sand quite enough II was Tor
the beginning of race four miles and quarter TO
the end. Cambridge evidently was bent on forcing
the pace a doubtful policy for weak crew, unless
.. r..y Justinvd by tneir hope OF getting away
clear length and taking the water Of Ok
ford before reaching the first curve. The
uianeuyer, IL successful, would have given
them perhaps still another length but
IL was not successful and the tremendous pace began
10 break up both crews before reaching the bridge
Light blue was the first to show that they were
being overworlScd. and Goldie seemed to ease his
men for moment. when send OF the tide, which
Cambridge got in full force and Oxford did not gave





smth Bridge so nearly together that spectators on
the bridge doubted which was ahead, but tho doubt
did not last long The time TO the bridge had been
but minutes instead Of $40 $780, as usual. and
those who remembered that unframed man was
rowing i'm the Cambridge boat, knew that he could
not live the pace much longer, whatever the rest
m ght do In fact. the apparent equality OF the race
thus far was only apparent. With the exception of
one critical moment below Hammersmith, the dark
blue had been rowing In their tEne form, while
Cambridge had put all their hopes on winning the
lead and had failed so far failed that their oppo-
nents were level with them within hundred yards
after the central Hammersmith pier had been shot.
The crowd on the bridge nothing TO the crowd of
last year. but it's cry for Cambridge was taken up on
the banks and echoed along the river with good
will that would have put heart into any crew. But
il was not heart that Cambridge wanted. Their
pluck was undeniabe; II was staying power which
was beginning 10 fail them. They had left their
place hitherto by rowing three or four strokes
minute moro than Oxford. They could do 1t no
longer and tho moment they fell off In rapidity,
they fell of in place. They had no longer the steady
strength which sent Oxford irresistby through the
water--a strength on which Darbishire relied 80
confidently that he refused to quicken IN answer to
the last shouts of Cambridge, but with the same
rate per minute answered to the challenge, and
drove on his boat Dy sne lorce Appiou w oaOh uh-
varying stroke. In point Of style not much can be
said for either crew as they passed up beyond the
bridge, past Chswick, where Cambridge made its
last heroic but vain effort and 80 on to Mortlake and
the winning post. Minute criticism / will not at
tempt, for the boats were at such distance
In front Of our unlucky steamer that had
to trust to my glass; and often lost sight of them
wholly on the curves of the river and behind the
uqly bulk of some OF the fleet ahead OF us. But IT
was evident enough, and all accounts agree that
after passing Hammersmith, Cambridge never had q
chance to win. unless by an accident AT Barnes
Bridge. Oxford was two lengths in 'front.' when she
had increased to three, say ve' as she shot
by the flag and the gun in the judges boat an
nounced for the ninth time successfully the victory
of the dark blue. The time was 20 minutes SECONDS
rhe exact distance remains still unmeasured but ~
a little over four miles ana quarter IL IL often
stated at four miles aud three furlongs.


Why does Cambridge losei IL cannot be mere
chance mere fortune recurring year after year for
nine years in succession. There are explanations