Year: 1871

/ tne N1npltb htcdHiPG, ONlOtu just HHcau III Mh'oo
jerseys, Cambridge as usual, and think more pru-
IDENTIFY, comfortably wrapped up in their light blue
jackets. In point of style. Cambridge were
confessedly far superior to their opponents yet
there was an unmstakable power in the Oxford
boat, and the oars even as they rowed softly down
for the start, were pulled clean through from the


well-Geflned catch at the beginning TO the square
finish far past the rOwlocks. They were not crew
to be trled with, that was plain, nor do suppose
Cambridge doubted that they hada good bit of WORK
cut out for them for the next half hour Oxford had
won tho toss, and took die Mddlesex shore Mr.. J.
W. Chitty, one of the most renowned oars Oxford
ever had, was in his place umpire, which he has
filled for years than can remember, aud inya-
rably with impartiaity Lot less conspicuous than
his talents Mr. Edward Searle was starter and sat
in skiff between the two moOTod boats, in each OF
which man held fast one of the two boats just
ready to start. Both crews were stripped. There
was no delay. No response came to Mr. Searles qucs-
ton, "Arc yOu ready I" and he gave almost instantly
the word "gop There was hardly asplash on either
side, and hurry. Both went away at 70 to
the minute but in moment Cambridge had settled
down to 81, while Oxford went up To 30. Yet in
spite of her rivals rapid stroke, Cam
bridge began almost ut once to draw ahead.
It is inch by inch at FIRST and from the bow OF fol-
lOynR steamer it is by means easy to be sure OF
the gain for the first 900 yards. But as tho two
boats passed the last of the yards on the Surrey


shore, it became clear that Cambridge was leading;
and the Oxford men in our steamer where all were
Oxford except us of the press who have no synpa-
thes) betook themselves to shouting as If the eA-


pendure of their breath might supply some to their


friends who were rowing hard in the boat ahead of
US. All that l had heard of the rowing Of the two
crews which during their practice had not been
able 10 see at ALL was verified by the work they were
doing There was Oxford, strong as so many horses,
but rowing sadly cut Of time Therewas Cambridge,


beautifully together, showing possibly less mere
pb ysica force, but using all they had in the most
perfect way / could not but think of that ever
memorable oxford and Harvard race, where all tho
physical superiority was on tho side of the Amtri-
cans and all the skin on the side of tho English
with what result We all know only too well.
The omen was not destined to be talslted
not to-day nor do | think critic in cne of
the London papers has objected that Cambridge
during their practice did not catch" but only
"snatchod" The distinction is subtle at best, and the
critic would have been puzzled to say in what con
sisted to-day. When | remarked that the race was
nninteresting meant simply that there was none
of those vicssiudes of fortune which sometimes Keep
the event Of a struggle in suspense till near Barnes
Dridge. But a specimen Of rowing and a. lesson
IN rowing the full of interest throughout
, At Craven Cottage Cambridge had drawn clear;


was full length in front, and thero was no longer
any doubt that the Light Blno would lead through


Ha1nmersnith Bridge. A good many examples have
| taught u.s. however, that first through Ham
mersmith Bridge may not be first past the Ship at
Mortlake. The struggle comes in Corney Reach. 1t
| did not seem TO me that Lesley was satisfied with
what his doing. ever so early in the race,
and when the two boats rounded the
point Oft the Soap Works below the
bridge, he tried bs first squirt Its only
| result was to break mp whaS 1mformity Of stroke
| there still wac among the men behind him. Cam
bridge showed no sign of being hurried; Godie
rowed on at his unchanging rate. and his cgew were
| in perfect time throughout. Their boat. too. was
steady while Oxford, under the pressure of Leseys
| spuTt began to roll in a most alarming way. In
| fact it here began to be plain that though there
| might be right good OaTsmen in the Oxford ship,


they would never learn to row together; and how


can a crew that does not row together win q race


Not though they were all Ajaxes in strength, and
| Ajax dare say pulled q terrible IL some Gre
| elan galley Of his day.


Through Hammersmith the Cambridge lead was


of least q length and half. As we followed, i
missed the roar Of cheers that always grcets the
| two crews The people on the bridge were not half
| so many az | have seen there, and the chains were
| bare of bows altogether. Once past tho real work


began as it is sure to begin, before Chiswick Eyot
| is reached Mr. Lesley is new 10 the course but he
kuows the traditions Of it well as any man, and


he knows that if this race If to be won 1t must be


won along the banks of the Eyot aud before Barnes


Bridge is neared. He sets himself TO task that he
must have known was hopeless with as gallant an
effort as if lie had believed in success He sees, We


all see. how much Oxford have already lost


nnt


have expected from Hall. whose experience goes


back half-a-dozen years. Hall seems to have had


hut one idea to get rid of the Cambridge wash aud to


avoid this he has already twice sacrificed position on


the side of circle and the strength Of the central
! tide. lie ought 10 have gone into Corney Reach
| with one or the other, but ho gained neither Bat


he the steering bad OF good Lesley is going to try to
| row down those Light Blues ahead of him. tie
| ouickened his stroke, but soon found his men had
| enough of it before. He rowed what seemed TO me


an unremitting squirt all the way from the Eyot on


Cbiswick 70 Barnes Bridge, and so far as Lesey's


own work was concerned, nothing could have been


more admirable But he clearly overasked his men.


There were not eight Lesleys in the boat and when


the stroke went up to 40 aud even to II and ~. his
| crew went TO pieces hopelessly.


Cambridge was rowing on in the same admirable


form as at the beginning hard perhaps, put


not showing any outward sign vi uietc7o' Hoi p''i


VARYING that methodical uniformity in which they


seem to me unrivaled among all tho crews have


known on tho Thames At Barnes Bridge Cam


bridge was certainly two lengths clear, yet Lesley
| never relaxed his tremendous effort Hope OF the


race he could have had none but TO save his Uni


yersty from the discredt of bad defeat there was
still a chance. He pressed on, and Goldie' VINO


never loses bis head. kept his men so Thoroughly IN


hand that oxford drew up to them httle III INC


last half-me They passed the winning post lttle


moro than one clear length apart-OxtoId plainly SO


exhausted that they could not nave heiu togoIheI