THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

Press, Volume IV, Issue 489, 24 May 1864, Page 3

THE UNIVERSITY BOAT RACE.

The great aquatic event of the year—the Derby of the Thames—came off on Saturday, March 19, in the presence of a greater concourse of spectators than we have ever yet seen assembled to witness these exciting contests. For the first time, too, since the inauguration of the races in 1829 the day was honored by the presence of royalty, the Priuce of Wales coming on board the Thames Subscription steamer, George Peabodv, and accompanying the race from the commencement to the end. The interest felt in these friendly competitions botween the members of the two Universities seems to be increasing every Tear, and there was never an occasion on which this feeling has been more deeply evinced than the present. The length over which the race had to be rowed 13 over four miles, and throughout this long extent there was scarcely a part of the river's banks from which a view of the boats could be gained wliich was not thronged, while dense crowds lined the shores, both at the starting-place at Putney, and at the winning-post, from Barnes railway-bridge up to past the Ship at Mortlake. A good deal of this unusual interest was no doubt due to the knowledge that the hitherto unequal list of triumphs and defeats had been at last balanced, Oxford having won 10 races and Cambridge 10, and that therefore an unusually exciting struggle would take place on this occasion for the honor of supremacy. The Prince of Wales embarked on board the George Peabody from the Pimlico pier, accompanied by Prince John of Glucksburg, and attended by General Knollys, Colonel Keppel, and Baron Guldencrone. When the boat came alongside the pier his royal highness and party were standing oa the little, bridge that leads down to it, and strange to say, though hundreds were passing as they proceeded to or left the boats which call there every minute, not a single person recognised him. On board the boat ho was received by the non. G. Denman, M.P., president I of the Thames Subscription Club, Mr. Alderman Rose, M.P., and Mr. K. N. Philiprs, and conducted to the forward part of the vessel, where o-. space was inclosed for the royal party. The prince's ensign being hoisted, of course, wherever the George Peabody went the prince was known, and was cheered almost as much as either of the contending crews themselves. It is needless to say that tranquil Putney exhibited all the abnormal vivacity which might have been expected from a village which only wakes up once or twice a year, or tiiat the " Star and Garter " seemed to be doing a famous stroke of business. The Cambridge men had secured this famous and conspicuous hoslfery, -whilst the Oxonians were stowed away in another inn up a street in Putney, where nothing could be seen of them, until at last they rowed up to the starting point. The scene at this point at this lime woe exceedingly gay and animated, and drew more than one expression of admiration from the Prince of Wales. The balconies of the Star and Garter were crowded with company of the Cambridge party ail decked in favors of cerulean blue ; and at the wharf was a perfect swarm of boats—college boats, watermen's boats, punts, wherries, ard even " dingies" of low degree' in many of which latter were simple instrumentalists, who played up airs of anticipated triumph 0:1 cracked cornets, wheezy clarionets, and in one case a terrific set of bagpipes. j There tvae cheering, some slight swearing great •■'•■ firing oif of sinnll ordnance, volumes of smoke from !j tlie hated "tugs, ,, and impitying obstiiufy in th<?

navigation of tho obstructive " Billyboys." It was, in fact, liberty lia!l on the water, and the presence of the heir apparent on her fore deck did not secure for the George Peabody any exemption from tho pleasant miseries that beset her neighbours. Every eyepeered through the smoke to caU'h a glimpse of the contending boat 3 as they came out from their moorings. Cambridge was dnt on tho ground, and previous to easting away guernseys and flinging away caps the crew took a little paddlo down stream, and in doing so certainly oilVred grounds for an unfavorable augury of the future contest. There was a slight tendency iv crab-catching, a wabbling of the boat in the water, and an indirectness of motion which did not look exactly like the perfection of drill. Amateurs looked grave, and began to inquire how it was that Cambridge could not get up a crew equal to Oxford. Some said the men were too heavy—others, that that they were not " trimmed ;" some said that the day was too fine for the Cambridge quality; and one hardy speculator affirmed that it was the mathematics that took the pluck and spirit out of the men. Then Oxford won the toss ; Oxford always wins the toss, at least has done so for the last four years, and in selecting the Middlesex side had a double advantage ; the boat had a clear passage before it, and was immediately under the eye ot 'the Prince of Wales, who it was hoped would now hare a line view of the race. |The gun was fired, tho boats took their places, and the rowers took oft" their guernseys and threw a»vay their caps. Cambridge performed this preliminary operation with immense energy, and each rower flung his cap down with the air of a man who meant to win the race or perish in the attempt. Oxford took the matter much more coolly, The men in their dark blue frocks looked exactly like a crack man-of-war's crew, and there was nothing in their looks to belie the illusion. They were bronzed, hirsute, and manly, and when they at last bared their arms, displayed biceps and triceps and deltoid and forearm in a high state of training and development. They did not condescend to fling away their caps until the very last moment, and from tins it was inferred that they did not see anything in the coming struggle to justify extraordinary excitement. Tho start on botli sides was perfect, just like two first-rate four-in-hand of the old coaching days, when the team went of at once into a clean 10-mile trot, without any previous prancing. The illustrious passengers on board the Geoage Peabody prepared for a fine treat ; but alas, for human, even royal expectations, the moment the boats were ofT, tho whole steam fleet, tug 3 and all, recklessly converged in their wake, and in a moment there was nothing but universal bump, smoke, alarm, and confusion. Fenders were flying about in every direction, captains were dancing wild eorrobcries on their several paddle-boxes, the hateful ' ; tugs" belchedfreshvolumcsofsmokeatevery collision, as if to puff away all obstacles, and the result was that the George Peabody soon found herself bringing up the rear of an imposing fleet, with the umpire boat for a companion in misfortune, and nothing in sight ahead but the steam fleet and the smoke. One thing, however, must bo admitted for the advance squadron, they shouted the vk-issitudes of the race for the information of the rear guard, and in this way it was not long befoi'e news wa3 hoard, ominous for Cambridge, of"' Oxford a hundred yards a-head." This, however, was an exaggeration, as it was afterwards found that Cambridge kept abreast up for a considerable distance, that at " Craven-cottage " Oxford was scarcely a length clear, which was increased to four lengths as the boats shot under Hammersmithbridge amid the shouts of 10,000 spectators. The greater rapidity and regularity of stroke which Oxford possessed now began to tell tremendously. At Baraea the Cambridge men seemed distressed, while the Oxonians, seme 8 or 10 lengths ahead, were rowing quickly, 37 strokes a minutes, and were evidently as fresh as when they started. Off the Ship at Mortlake Oxford was leading by at least 12 lengths, and here they ceased rowing, imagining the race to be over, and at that moment 20 minutes 50 seconds had elapsed from tho time of starting. Luckily they discovered their mistake in time, and rowed on, finally reaching the flag-boat, which had been placed somo 200 or 300 yards higher up than usual, in 21 minutes 48 seconds, and about half a minute, or some 12 boats' lengths ahead of Cambridge. The following are the names of the rowers, with their weights : — OXFOJtD. A st. lb. 'rinity 10 8 2. W. Awdry, Balliol 11 4 3. F.H.Kelly, University 11 8 4. J. C. Parson, Trinity 12 9 5. W. B. Jacobson, Christ Church... 12 3 6. E. B. Sevniour, University 11 1 7. M. Brown, Trinity 11 3 S. D. Pocklington, Brasenoso 11 1 Vv r . Tottenham, Ch. Ch. (cox.) ... 7 3 CAAIBUIDGE. St. lb. 1. J. C. Hawkehaw, Trinity 11 3 2. E. V. Pigott, Corpus 11 9 3. H.Watson, Pembroke 12 4 4. W.Hawkins, St. John's 12 0 5. R. A. Kinglake, Trinity 12 5 6. G. Borthwick, Trinity 12 1 7. F. Steavenson, Trinity Hall 12 2 8. J. It. Solwyn, Trinity 11 0 G. H. Archer, Corpue (cox.) 6 6