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VOL. X. NO. 50.
FIRST EDITION
harvard vs. oxford.
The Great International Rowing Match
of To-Day.
The Two Eival Crews and their Com
positionThe Course Over Which
They Will Row.
The Latest Advices by Cable The
iiarvaras Again Announce that
They Have not Changed
their Style.
At 5 o'clock this afternoon the Harvard und
the Oxford University boat crews will drop their
Pars in the sluggish waters of "Old Father
'hamcB" ns the cockneys delight to christen a
trenm that would be hero called a creek and
f he splashes of their vehement blades will have
re-echoes on these shores, thousands of mile
Sway. Scarce will the over-wrought muscles
nd the tensely-strung nerves have come to rest,
:rc our quick-lingered compositors will be set
ting p in types the result of the contest; and
half a. day before most Englishmen can learn
fvhieh Is victorious, our readers will have full
fletnils. Thanks to Sol for jollily beaming on
iriilludelphians just about five hours later than
fie does on "Luunoners," the race by our time
r ,.! ii i. iiv.i v .i i.. , .
ui uc nuisucu 1 1 j winy miuuics past uoou.
hould the weather prove propitious, and the
public will thus early learn from The Tei.i
Jurafh whom to hurrah for.
History of the Match.
In the snrlnir of 1807 the visitors to the Paris
Exposition were regaled with a series of boat
aces on the seine lor the amateur champion-
ip 01 the world, lue contestants included the
ery llowcr of hnglish amateur rowers the
.ondon Rowing Club together witli the Oxford
Jnivcrslty Four, two of whose members are now
n active training to meet the Harvard men, the
ioulognc Club, the famous iiesllng brothers, of
arls, the Germauia Kuclcr Club, various others
rota different parts of Europe, and only one
rom America. Greatly to the chagrin of the
'.nglish press, the St. John (N. B.) crew won all
he honors. Strenuous exertions were made at
he time to have either a crew picked from Har
vard and If ale Colleges combined, or else an ex
clusively Harvard crew; nut, although all ex
penses were guaranteed, the men could not be
obtained.
imbi year. iiarvara uaving uy lar ner insiesi
team yet, a challenge was forwarded to Oxford
or a race on the river Uuse, at King s Lynn, a
lesolate little town on the east coast of Eug
and, but as the English were unwilling to row
without a coxswain, though admitting the feasi-
mity of so doing, and as the Americans would
lot row with one, and as, moreover, the time
mnicd by the Harvard men was in the fall of
ue present year, and oxiora s men couid not
ruarantee a crew of which they would not
licmselves be members, nothing came of the
icgotiations further than a somewhat long cor
espondenee. In April last the following pithy challenge was
ent:
Camhritm;k, Mass., April 0, 1869. To the President
f the Oxford I Diversity Hoat Club: The under
lined. In behalf of the University lloat Club,
ereiiy euuuenges me uxioru i uiveisity uoat Club
row a race iu outrigger boats from I'utnev to
jlortloke, Bome time between the middle of August
ml the 1st of September, ltca ; cacti boat to carry four
lowers and a coxswain. The exact time of the race
be agreed upou at a meeting of the crews. This
hulletige to remain open lor neceptunce one week
Iter date of reception.
Vm. II. Simmons, Captain II. IT. ?. C.
P. S. A similar challenge has been to-day sent to
antbrldge, and wo would like to have all three
rews row in the same race. Would this be agree-
tiile to you ? W'.m. 11. Simmons, Captain II. U. B. C.
I The cable soon announced its acceptance by
Oxford, and a few days later Cambridge agreed
Conditionally.
i inougu some oujecuons were at nrsi raisca
'ere to engaging in a contest of such import-
ice, and upon concessions deemed to be disaa
tntageous, they were 6oon dispelled when all
ie facts became fully known, and particularly
hen it was learned that not only would Har
iird's most powerful oarsman, Mr. Simmons,
Lt the stroke, but also that so skilful and thor-
kigly experienced a man as .Mr. .Lonug, the
roke oarsman oi tne two lasiesi, nmaieur crews
II '07 and that of 'IS would pull the bow oar.
nd, in fact, when theexecediug narrowness and
rookedness of the little brook known as the
am are considered, and when it is remembered
ici lurneu out in iuin cuuuti luu j.iuituu i.
iat this mere ditch Is all that the Cambridge
jew Has to practice ou me greater pari oi
lie time, it will be seen that the Ilarvards
ould be asking rather too mucu in desiring
.em to throw over their only recognized
ethod of steering, and adopt another that could
idy avail them for the one race proposed, and
hleh would have to be dropped as soon as
iat was over; nor would Oxford, though much
tter on as to water, nave ueen mucu more
A Ut7 Jiurvitru uruuir.(uiuDi
Any under-graduate of the Harvard Uuiver-
ly who confesses to a penchant lor boating
comes a member of the Harvard Boat Club ou
lymentof a small entrance lee to the boat ciuo
the class to which he belongs. The uggre
itcd membership of tho several class clubs
.nBtitutcs the Harvard Hoat Club. The federal
ganizatlou is olliccrcd by a president, cap
in, secretary, and treasurer. The subordi
lo organizations are similar, and are severally
verned by the rules and regulations of Har
Lrd Club. The president of the club is not
cessarilv an oarsman, and there have been iu-
unces w hen such has been the case, lie acts
presiding ollicer at meetings oi tne ciuo.
hen the crew are atloat the captain has sole
Ithority, takes charge of all the details of tho
ce, and assigns Ills men positions m me. ""at
cording to bis judgment. He is, in one word,
etator; he selects, trains, and directs the crew;
ere is no appeal from his decision. He may
ake the stroke bow, and the bow stroke, or
u turn the whole crew out and put other men
their places. tt ,,,,,
IThe Captain oi tne juuvmu v.uu. .u ..........
(plain ilso of tho "University Crew, " which
Insists of six Picked men, presumably tho
st muscle which tlio several classes . i !
ire in an emergency calling the Harvard colors
i tu0 river. Tho class crews as well as the
nlversily are six-oared, tho present four-oared
ew being entirely an Innovation. Indeed, tho
Soared crew cannot properly be considered
oart of tho Harvard uoaung sybici ., u.a .n
itireiv an ouisiuu uuu - :-, ---
coiiiuiander hohls no ollieiul position in he
ilvcrsity Club. In numbering the crews the
ictke is to begin with the stroke oar the bow
.i-lielnir I I ill a regular crew uuu wui
;&na.c,ew. ThocapuiniOfacrewehJcts
V.""' ": " ! or stroke. 'In the L'niver-
"" " ' . in tin, Inter.
iy crew the stroKo m
T, n...l.al1 AIIP
Clonal ,,, ,vnlllH nrl.n
In tho Juno raio oi iunt iu , ... -
the Keaeon Cu was borne oil by the tresh
e, crew ami ',ulto unexpectedly on tho part
, uuit leoplo. It will not apear strango,
,rdinJ y, Cay that all tho members t. that
Ztd i tlone exception, this year ho d pos -
v.; i .i... ini.mii onai imiroriiio i i"
TII13 THAMES KACE-OOUBSE.
year, though very remarkable and praiseworthy,
was not without at least one precedent, that of
the Freshmen crew in the year 1800, of which
Mr. Loring was stroke and Mr. Simmons third.
The colors are a prominent feature of the Har
vard organization. Distinctively red is the Har
vard color, though modified according to the
fancy of the several classes, by the adoption of
the shades of cherry, scarlet, magenta, etc. The
University Bix invariably assume the magenta
shade, and this is in fact regarded par excellence
the college color. The attempt to have observed
a rigid adherence by classes to special 6hades,
quite popular a few years since, has relaxed
somewhat. At present, however, the seniors
recognize cherry, the juniors magenta, and the
sophomores scarlet.
The Picked Crew.
The international ere iv. sailed from New York
in the City or Paris on the 10th of July. For
live weeks previous they tabled together on a
prescribed, though not a severe diet; and to pro
vide against the risk of the admixture of any
thing deleterious iu their food, whether by acci
dent or design, they took a cook with them.
While sojourning at tho Astor House, they
received a telegram from England stilting tho
betting was then even. A little time previous
500 against SO was ottered by many on Oxford,
but the recent successive victories of tho Ilar
vards (one last May, in which they beat George
Law; another on the Fourth of July, in which
they easily outstripped the Hamill crew, and
the last one with George Law, when they came
in between thirty and forty seconds ahead) had
this perceptible influence ou tho Eng
lish betting miud. These victories
were not without their effect on the
Harvard men, nnd they sailed away hopeful and
determined. They claimed they had not yet
put forth their best endeavors, but stated Ox
ford should have the full weight of their hoarded
strength. While under training they abstained
from salt meats, fowls, "cakes and ale," cigars,
all liquors, and delicacies, aud retired at half
past nine, believing that the end in view justi
fied the rigorous means imposed. The oarsmen
are all picked men, and will do honor to their
country, however the race may result. Alden
Porter'Loring, captain of the crew and bow
oar. held the position of stroke oar at tho Uni
versity regatta last summer, when the unpre
cedented time ol 1 1 minutes 4b4 seconds was ,
made, over the three-mile course of Lake ;
(uinslgamond. He is of the senior, or gradua
ting class of the present year, and is a resident
of IJoston. His age is years, and his traiuing
weight is 153 pounds. From his position in the !
bow he can at once with his practiced eye detect j
the slightest irregularity in t he rowing of any !
man. The English Captain, in order to "coach" !
his crew, deems it necessary to leave the boat, i
and view aud correct their motions while on :
horseback on the bank. The advantages of Mr. I
Loring's plan are sufficiently obvious to
any one experienced in rowing, lie is of ,
a High-strung, delicate organization, oi ;
elegant actiou and great "staying" powers I
when he is nil right. He pulled number live in '
fliA 1 'nivprsitv crew or lfSdli. ibis was us i
Freshman year, and he held the position of
stroke in the class crew of the isauie year. Iu the
University crew ot jb, as well as last year, he
waB stroke oar. A competent critic says of him:
"Of a temperament like a hot-blooded Moor,
whom ho somewhat resembles, lie knows how to
use nil that is in him to better advantage, to our
eye, than any oarsman on this continent. reo,
like all his men, from every sort of dissipation,
he is a man in ten thousand lor such a position
as he now holds, and every man in Harvard may
well be proud of such a splendid representative
of his alma mater in the contest in which he Is
now about to engage." His official position in
the crew insures him a celebrity and a recogni
tion to which encomium can add nothing.
William Hammatt Simmons, of Concord,
Mass., is a member of the Senior Class. He has
rowed almost daily during good weather ever
since he entered college, pulling number three
in the Freshmen Crew, which beat all the other
class boats In lsi'iO that were willing to try
them; number two iu the University six In 1807,
winning both the Boston city regatta on July 4
of that year and tho college race at Worcester;
and number three in the University six in 1808,
which was defeated twice by the champion pro
fessionals of the country, the Wrard brothers, but
easily beat a strong "Bt. John party, all the
best New England crews, and tho Yale men of
that year. This year he was appointed stroke
and captain of the club, but ho freely resigned
tho former position in favor of Mr. Loriug, when
he consented to row In tho four to go to Eng
land. He stands but half an inch under six
feet; Is more than two inches larger rouud the
chest thau Walter Brown, tuo champion
6inglo sculler, aud weighs, in winter, about UK)
pounds, and in summer, when trained very
line, 170 pounds stripped, or about seven
teen pounds more than Brown. He is
safclv a fifteen per cent, stronger oars
man than any other who ever rowed in tho
Harvard boat, and is a man of most manly car
ria"o and lino presence. Ho Is a Hercules la
strength. Indeed, it is reported that it is dim
cult to provide him with an oar which does not
soon snap by good, honest pulling. Though
quite heavy, he is as easy and handy iu his
movements as a much smaller person, being en
tirely free from all tho usual logyness attending
a heavy man. It Is an interesting circumstance,
in connection with tho proposed friendly contest
between the athletes of tho chief literary institu
tions of each country, that "our Hercules, as he
has been termed, has his home in tho identical
"Old Manse" which the genius of Hawthorne has
made familiar wherever English literature is
ivad. A iir. Lonug la Die only uwu who ever
PHILADELPHIA, FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 18G9.
rowed in a Harvard University crew while a
freshman or a first-year man, and as ho is now a
senior, and lias rowed stroke in every rase men
tioned above where Mr. Simmons took part, it
will be seen at once that they both have had an
amount of experience in shell-rowiug such as
no other amateur on this continent has ever had.
J 8. Fay, tho stroke oar of the Harvard scien
tific crew, is a Boston man, aud weighs 155
pounds. He Is compactly and solidly built, very
muscular, and enjoys the reputation of immense
strength. Mr. Fay Is brown haired, with lair
complexion, Is 5 feet ll.V Inches in height and
22 years of age. Ho will have tho bow oar. F.
O. Lyman, Hawaian Islands, matches his com
panion in style, weight, and form, lie is a sym
metrical man of years of age, stands 5 feet 11
inches high, has brown hair and moustache, and
clear-cut, "thorough-bred" features, and has
been a rowing man for tho last two
years. Ills position will be third, between
Simmons aud Fay. Lyman aud Fay are
fresh from a contest iu which they proved
themselves the best men of the Harvard's
second best crew; aud although they have not
yet shown themselves equal to Simmons and
Loring, yet to-day's record, it is believed, will
prove them worthy companions.
Originally, George Ball, of Chicag. a-ed
tweuty-threo, height five feet ten, aud training
weight 103 pounds, with Sylvester Warren Kice,
Oregon Territory, twenty-six years old, Bix feet
and half an inch in height, aud of about 105
pounds training weight, were selected for- tho
crew. 'Why they were superseded by tho two
loriiier, who were despatched to England as
relicts, has not yet becu made public; but, un
questionably, good grounds existed for the last
fcclcction made.
Arthur Burnham, of Chicago, Illinois, and of
the class of 1870, is the coxswain of the crew. It
need hardly be btatcd that avoirdupois lightness
is the prime requisite in the mau occupying this
position. Burnham has trained dowu to 112
pounds; and although there were several candi
dates of less weight, as being a mau of cooluess
of temperament and experience he was selected
us the most competent. His position is a re
sponsible one, aud his degree of skill may decide
the contest.
The Oxford Crew.
Tho competitors of the American oarsmen
are men of tried mettle and the best trained that
England can produce. All that a good river,
first-rate boats aud splendid training can do to
make good rowers is done at Oxford. Selection
and resclection. trial and retrial, are made to
bring together an eight which, to use an expres
sion that would Hud no favor there, shall "beat
creation."
Tho international crew is made up entirely of
Etonians, and all, when taking tho usual initia
tory training at the great college which nourishes
tinder tho bhades of Windsor, took their places
in the Eton eight all except Mr. Darbishire,
who takes rank as having rowed twice against
Cambridge. All have rowed iu their college
matches at Oxford; all have rowed in the win
ning boat at tho great regatta for gentlemen aud
scholars at Henley; all have been in the w inning
boat against Cambridge iu the great race ou the
Thames.
Chief among them in rowing, name, fame, and
rank, though not in nominal position in tho
boat, stands F. ft'ilan, of Exeter College, the
bowman. He has rowed four times iu tho win
ning boat at the great race, aud has contributed
in no small degree to its success. Mr. Willan is
a sturdy and well-knit man of not more than
middle height, about twenty-five years of age.
A southern complexion ami well-rounded face
are setoff aud deepened by black hair kept short
and neat, nnd small moustache; deep-set eyes
and beetling eyebrows give to Mr. VYillau an
aspect of huukur which is not in keeping with
his genial nature, for he .8 a frank, hearty, and
manly English gentleman. With great breadth
of chest, Bound lungs, and splendid physique, he
combines massive shoulders and powerful arms.
He has somewhat t.f the style of a man who has
served at sea, aud shows a deirreo of courage,
power, determination, aud endurauco not ofteu
found in one man. Ho weighs 101 pounds.
Mr. J. C. Tinue, of University College, the
President of Oxford University Boat Club, is a
younger and heavier man. lie weighs 18'JljJ
pounds. Mr. Tinue Is tall, youthful looking, and
shy. His power is latent rather than apparent,
but with that robust and as yet not fully deve
loped form it is not difficult to associate long
reach, llexible motion, and vast strength. Mr.
Tlnno is of light complexion, has not yet culti
vated a beardnor taken occasion to be particular
as to what turn his moustache niay.be required to
take, but ho has a pleasant look and an Oxford
manner. He Is not tho man whom a stranger
would guess to be tho captain of a club like that
of which ho is the Lead. Yet ho is well able to
govern, thowgh more likely to provoke than to
conciliate. Mr. Tinue has rowed three times in
inc. winning noat.
Mr. A. C. Yarhorough, of Lincoln College, has
rowed twice in the same boat. Ho seems to be
about twenty years of ago. and weighs lO'.ll
pounds, being six pounds lighter thau when ho
rowed in the great race In tho spring. Prompti
tude, activity, and determination are suggested
by his sharp face, quick eye, and firm build. Less
strong apparently than either above described,
Mr. Yarborwugh is probably not less effective as
a rowing man, and would certainly seem to have
more staying power than either, because he Is
more compactly formed, and is likely, on that
account, to do his work with less wear aud tear
of material than either of them. As a scuilor, ho
carried oil tho Oxford sculls, over one mile and
a quarter, on tho University course.
Mr. A. Darbishire, of Hulllol. 15!!' pound
Lao rowed two jtum against Cuiuui.Uge. ilo
1 1
wandsworth
was stroke on tho race th s spring at eleven
stone eight. Mr. Darbishire may be twenty-two
years of age, but, being smooth faced or clean
shaven, he may be more than that. In stature
ho is lees than either named, nnd in figure
smaller, but more firmly built than any. Once
In his day Mr. Darbishire must have been agood
coxswain. Now he is a smart, sharp, and vigo
rous stroke, a man who will keep a pretty sharp
eye on a boat creeping up, aud who will not
spare himself or his men when there is need for
an extra call upon their powers. Judgment of
pace and time and estimate of skill and endu
rance arc qualities that abundantly lit this gentle
man for his position.
Mr. S. AYoodhounc, 154 pounds, University
man, is tho spare oar kept iu reserve to supply
any vacant place that may by accident or
sickness occur. He rowed four in tho
University boat. For a man of his weight Mr.
Woedhouse is short of stature, but from the re
sponsible position assigned to him in the annual
contest, there can be no doubt that ho is a tho
roughly efficient oarsman.
Mr. J. II. Hall, the coxswain, at 101 pouuds,
is a Corpus man. who has not yet steered the
boat in the annual contest, and has thus a grand
opportunity of winning golden spurs aud be
coming "llall marked."
The Final Arrangements
for tho race were agreed upon by the captains of
the two crews at Putney on the 13th instant,
the Cambridge crew having declined the chal
lenge. Mr. Lord, the executive ollicer of the
Thames Conservancy, being present, after con
siderable discussion, it was finally determined
that the race should bo rowed on Friday, August
27, when official promises were given to insure
a fair and clear course. Mr. Thomas Hughes,
M. P., the famous author of tho "Tom Brown"
books, was agreed to as referee upon the propo
sition of the Harvard men, and each crew is to
have an umpire as well. Mr. J. W. Chitty, of
Exeter College, was subsequently selected to
olliciate for Oxford; and tho cable despatches of
this morning announce that Captain Gelston, of
the London Rowing Club, will be umpire for the
Oxonians. William Blackie, Harvard's business
agent, has becu chosen starter, and Sir A. Paull
will probably be judge. The answer of Mr.
Hughes on his acceptance of the appointment
was a characteristic one: "1 should lie If I said
I hope you will win; but I do .hope that at the
finish the bow of Harvard's boat will bo at the
stroke oar of Oxford."
The Boats.
Our latest despatches state that the Ilarvards
will row tho Elliott boat, transported by them
to England. It is 44 feet long, 21 inches wide at
tho widest part, and 8 inches deep; depth over
nil, ll, inches; depth forward, 7 inches; aft, OJ.j'
inches. She was built on a draft model brought
from New York, and is of purely American
construction, even the framework having been
brought over with tho crew. Tho material is
Spauish cedar, copper fastened, and highly
finished. Tho seats are well apart, nnd increased
strength nnd stability are secured by a covering
of wood forward and aft in the place of the
ordinary canvas. Tho customary steering ap
paratus is omitted, leaving only rudder, tiller,
and tiller-ropes, to bo manipulated by tho coxs
wain. Their oars have been made to their
order by J. Kalph, of Wandsworth. These are
broader and larger In the blade than those they
have been rowiug with, nnd, consequently, will
take more hold of the water. They are handy,
shapely implements, 12 feet 0 inches long, and
weighing 7 pouuds each.
The boat that the Oxfords will row has not
been announced. Salter aud Clasper are their
best builders, the former for eight-oar boats and
the latter for two. The London papers closely
criticize the American boat as deeper, broader,
and heavier than theirs. The London Teltyraph
says: "Our racing craft are long and .-traight,
resting ou the water from stem to stern, and
cutting through the surface as an arrow cuts
the air. This American boat is slightly curved
at both ends, and so. though she may be more
buoyant, she will be less under control, aud will
carry more wood than is necessary."
Tone of llie Kimlinh lreM.
If the Harvard crew were not gifted with a
more than ordinary amouut of firmness, they
w ould have been discouraged long ago. In a
strange country, almost without a friend, aud
n-itii ovito iKtwAnimnr airaiust them, they have
been training for a raeo against meu who are at
home, surrounded by their Wends, and lauded
to the skies by their press. 'Ihe betting, too, is
quoted ns two to one against tho Harvard meu,
and. in fact, everything thai i.uciuuwjo. w
dispirit and discourage tho. representatives ot
America is carefully carried Into eitect.
Before tho Ilarvards sailed to Eugland, tho
English press opened their columns to sarcastic
and critical comments upon tho American boat
mauhhip, and continued with a vigor which must
havo proved disheartening had they not been bo
absurdly contradictory iu their statements as to
bo ridiculous. Their stylo of rowing was "simi
lar to the barbarous but long exploded system of
English amateur training in tho dark ages."
Tho style of rowiug is deficient in any mark,
the catch of tho water is slow, and tho recovery
sluinrlsh " "Were it not lor ono 'bustling
spin? in" which they showed decided mettle, we
hould have been disposed indeed to have ar
rived at a conclusion and one not very favorable
as to their prospects. But that burst, short as it
was throws all luto doubt ngain. For lt is clear
that the somewhat listless munner in which they
havo 'paddled their own canoe' to and fro on
the Thames water must not be taken as affording
any satisfactory evidence of what they are ca
pabln of in a race."
They get their oars ut too deep, and tho
DOUBLE SHEET THREE CENTS.
stroke is 6hort and choppv, which can never
insure succoes." "The craft Is strangely Bhaped,
with its curved keel, wide beam, and seemingly
unwieldy length." "It is a long, round bottomed,
canal-llko boat." "They row too much with
their arms, nnd not enough with their bodies."
"Tho Ilarvards have been rowing with their
bodies as well ns their hands, and with less of
that military stiffness which previously marked
their style." "The prevailing Impression appears
to bo that our visitors havo the makings of a
f;ood crew, but that there Is some doubt wiiether
t will bo made." "If the Harvard crew win the
race, we will acknowledge that our notions
about our style of rowing are antiqunted absur
dities." And thus the fair-minded Englishmen
talked till within tho last week, "when they
began to eat their own words, and the Ihiil'u
AVirs said "the Oxfords will have plenty to do
to win," while the Spectator said "tho r.icc Is
likely to bo close. If the weather is bad, the
result will partially bo in favor of the Oxfords.
If eood, the Ilarvards will win. A niee, slow
Engl'uh drizzle is the thing to take the heart out
of the Americans." Their anxious question now
is. "Can they kern up their starting pace?"
That "bustling spin ' may yet revolutionize their
"authiuatcd absurdities.'
The Harvard Stroke.
The international race will be strictly a test of
whether the American or the English systems of
boat-rowing are superior. The Ilarvards, al
though they have used a Salter boat for practice
on the Thames, officially deny that they have
surrendered any of their distinctive peculiari
ties. To secure a competitive race, they have
indeed been willing to sacrifice many considera
tions They have travelled several thousand
miles to meet their opponents; they row over
water long familiar to tho latter, and of which
they can obtain but a few weeks' experience;
they take in the additional dead weight of a cox
swain, to oblige their opponents. But tho boat,
the style of rowing, the system of training, are
all distinctively American. Their peculiarity is
a long stroke with a quick recovery. The Eng
lish press does not hesitate to declare them fully
equal in vigor and physique to their own coun
trymen, while some have frankly ranked them
superior.
The Oxonians know every inch of the course,
and nre neeustsmed to the intricacies of tho nar
row Thames. Thus, at the otitstart, they achieve
great advantages; for the Ilarvards are not only
strangers to the course, but strangers to the
river, and to the English modes of rowing and
manner of boat racing. The sympathies and
outspeakings of tho public have been wholly
with the former, and the reporters have done
them good service by noting all the peculiarities
of the Ilarvards and concealing their own.
There is no denying that the stroke of Oxford is
pulled in proper trim and precision, but it is
slow, though very telliug. There is a stiffness
and rigidity about it, new to those accustomed
to the dashiug and somewhat careless style of
Harvard.
The London Spectator, summing up the op
posing systems, says, "At last It Is acknowledged,
with an odd kiud of grunt, that the Americans
are wonderfully fast 'lor a spurt, and that if
they can only hold out victory over them may
be a real triumph. We have no opinion to offer
on racing of any kind; but having been pulled
many thousands of miles by men who pull with
tho arms only, never 'laying themselves' to the
oar at all, we rather doubt the want of staying
power attributed to such rowers. They would
kill En iishraen In a race of fifty miles."
Tho Daily Xcios says the frequent talk Is, "The
crew that can row a mile on still water in one
minute aud forty seconds, which this crew has
done, are a match for any four the Thames or
any other English river can bring agalust them."
The Telegraph says, "We would consider the
superior hardness of tho Americans more than a
set off against the style of the English, and we
conclude that tho contest will bo mainly a battle
of coxswains. Whatever may be the event, we
trust that kiudly feeling aud good fellowship be
tween the two nations may be the result."
The Knee Course.
Our map of the river Thames will give a cor
rect view of the celebrated boating course to be
rowed over by the contestants to-dav. It is on
a scale of two inches to the mile. The dis
tance from the bridge at Putney to Barker's
Kails is five miles, from Putucv to Mortlake
about four and a quarter miles. The statements
of foreign journals and tho cable despatches arc
so contacting that it is Impossible to say what
tho precise limits of tho race will be, although
the distance of four and a half miles appears to
be about the proper limit. It is officially an
nounced that tho "conservancy of the Thames"
have p-oinised to chaiu the course, and to allow
no traffic on that part of the river, no steamers,
barges, or guerilla wherries on the track, dur
ing the time of the race. It is to be hoped thev
may be as good as their word, and if thev should
be, no one will withhold from them their meed
of praise. It must be given, however, after it
has been won.
It will bo observed that this famous locality,
which has ulso witucsscd for several years past
the boat-races of Oxford and Cambridge, is a
bend, of a horse-shoo shape, about two miles
across by land.
Putney is a quiet little town of about six
thousand inhabitants, immediately opposite
Fulham, with which It is connected by a wooden
bridge. The pipes of the Chelsea Water Works
Company cross the river on piers Just above the
bridge. There is little of interest iu Putnev,
which was the birthplace of Gibbon, tho histo
rian, beyond the old parish church, built ages
ago. and enlarged iu the reign of Henry VII.
Sonio pretty villas lie scattered about along tho
river, the village bauk of which, immediately at
the bridge. Is edged with inns aud beer-houses,
deriving their custom chictlv from the boatiu-r
clubs.
About midway of tho course the Thames is
spanned by a noble suspension bridge at Ham
mersmith, an outlying suburb of London; and
here the river bank on the northern side is lined
with buildings lor a considerable distauce.
Every window of these buildings is hired out on
occasions like the present, while the bridge also,
from shore to shore, presents a dense mass of
human beings, occupying every loot of space,
from an early hour ol the morning.
Above Hammersmith, on the same side, is
Chiswick, and beyond Chiswick. on the other
side, is Barnes, a small, antiquated cluster of
brick houses, built along narrow lanes, with a
tower peeping out of tho foliage tho tower of
tho parish church, where Melville preaches.
Hero a solid irou railway bridge raised on Btoue
piers crosses tho river. No spectators nre per
mitted to go upou this bridge.
As sooh as tho boats shoot uuder its arches,
the coxswains catch sight of tho "Ship" at Mort
lake, just above the brewery building, where a
Hag signal indicates tho goal. Not more than
six hundred yards now remain to be accom
plished of tho distance, and us Barnes bridge is
passed tho excitement of the spectators reaches
its acme.
On tho southern bank of the Thames, all the
way from Putney to Mortlake, there is a tow
path lor tho horses employed in tho barge trans
portation, and hero the lower classes gather in
thousands.
n the northern bank of tho river, for tho
greater part of tho distance, tho grouuds are
private property, and there is no high road.
Here privileged parties of spectators may bo
seen grouped upou the sward, or on tho porticos
of handsome villas. Just opposite tho Putney
Btarting-post is the Episcopal palace, surrounded
by a wido-spreading park, of tho Bishop of
London, end further ou Is tho country residence
of Pool, the tailor, who sigualizes every race by
a breakfast of faultless excellence of cuisine, to
which the most aristocratic only of his customers
are invited.
The stream is about seven hundred feet in
width along the course, aud the current ruus at
the rate of from three to four miles an hour.
according to the state of the tide and the pre
htmce or ubteuce ol treohol. The course is wuu
the current from point to point, and involves do
return.
Races of the Contestants.
The following tables give the re nits of raves
mado by the respective colleges ot tho contes
tants for some years past:
HARVARD UNIVERSITY.
lVar, Wtnnr. Mart.
lsr,;illarvard Lake WlnniplsloRce.
lrftllarvard Connecticut river, Sprlngfleltf.
lKr,9 Yale Worcester.
18f0 Harvard Worcester.
1hI4 Yale Worcester.
1N05 Yale Worcester.
1K61 Harvard Worcester. '
1867 Harvard Worcester.
i Mfis II ar vard Worcester.
18U9 Harvard Worcester.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY.
Ymr. Whmrr. Coiirtr. Titnr. lP.m In
lstso.Onnibrldgc. Putney to Mortlake. Stim I'gth
1mi .Oxford Putney to Mortlake. 2:1m. 27s. 4ts.
lfiii'2. Oxford Putney to Mortlake. 24iu.4(is. 30s.
1s3. Oxford Mortlake to Putney. iMn. 6s. 42s.
1sf4. Oxford.. .. Putney to Mortlake. 21 m. 4s. 2;is.
WWi. Oxford Putney to Mortlake. 2)m. 2:is. 13s.
18t5. oxford Putney to Mortlako.2fnn.4S8. Ifts.
lH7.0xrord Putney to Mortlake. tun. 39s.Hf I'gth
ist's. Oxford Putney to Mortlake. gain. .truths
1SG9. Oxford Putney to Mortlake. 20iu. 40s.51gths
The l.let Advices.
George W. Smiley, tho London correspondent
of the New York Iribune, telegraphed last night
us follows:
Tho following letter has been sent to the
Times, nnd will appear to-morrow:
Sir: After it has been asserted for the 'ast three
weeks that the Harvard four are endeavoring to
conform their style or rowing to that of the gentle
men they hope to meet ou the river to-dav, will you
permit me to say, in advance of the contest, that the
assertion is groundless. We believe our style to be
exactly that adopted by us la each of our last three
annual races against Yale. Our stroke oar is awar
of no change; the men who follow the s'roke nre
aware of none, nor has there been any variation in
our method of training or Instruction, lt Is said, also,
that the Americans will row In an English boat; that
is equally incorrect. They will row a boat built of
Spanish cedar by an American builder, the frame of
which he brought with him from home, and tho lines
of which are identical with those on which the boat
we rowed last year was constructed. If we may
Judge by the stress laid on those matters In the Kng
llsh Journals, they are deemed (as they appear to us
of some Importance, and we ask leave to plane our
selves right in respect to them, so that, whether we
are to win or lose, the merit of our victory or the
blame of our defeat may fall where lt belongs.
William Hlaikir,
Secretary of the Harvard Club.
The crews have done little work to-dav, both
resting for to-morrow's struggle. The Harvard
men finally decided not to leave tho White
House, as Loring dreaded the eff ect of a change
of climate and diet.
The referee question l.as been settled, Mr.
Hughes remaining in that position, while Chitty
consents to serve as umpire for Oxford, and Mr.
Gulston of the London Kowing Club acts in the
same capacity for Harvard. The choice is a good
one. All iircliininarics have now been arranged,
and tho Harvard crew have carried all
points upon which they insisted. To-day they
look, perhaps, a little over-trained, on account
ot the intensely hot weather. There is every
prospect of a dear day for the race and smooth
water; the police arrangements are perfect, anil
every one is determined that thcreshall be a fair
race aud the best men shall win.
HtOM THE TOMBS.
A Cunning Ilurglar Escapes,
The New York Telegram of yesterday prints
tie following:
James Burns, arrested on July 23 on a ckarge
of committing a burglary at No. 163 Beekman
street, and fully committed by Judge Hogan for
trial at tho Court of General Sessions, was
assigned to cell No. 121, which Is situated on the
fourth or upper corridor at the southwest corner
of the male prison. He was hero waiting his
trial, owing to tho multiplicity of prisoners at
present confined in tho prison, which unusual
multiplicity is mainly the result of there having
been no trials at tho Court of General Sessions
during the past mouth, tho Recorder and City
Judge being absent recruiting their exhausted
energies at the sea-shore watering-places.
Another prisoner, William Kanahan, incarce
rated on a charge of petty larceny, was given
quarters in the same cell. This Kanahan, how
ever, professes to bo entirely ignorant of Burns'
preliminary preparations for escaping, as also
the escape itself, a statement which, as our re
cital proceeds aud assuming the facts to be
true will seem rather incredible. In tho first
place, then, according to the evidence now
shown in the Warden's office, Burns tore his
blanket into shreds, which he plaited Into a rope.
This rope, which ho made some thirty feet long,
is ingeniously and strongly made. It would not
pass muster on a man-ol-war's deck, but colled
up on the lloor of the Warden's office it would
rcadilv pass for an ordinary two-inch rope. The
next thing was to reach the aperture in the cell.
About nine feet Is tho height of the cell, and this
aperture Is near the ceiling. ,
Wrenching from its place on the opposite wall
a board extending tho width of the cell, he
jaminud it in between tho walls under tho aper
ture. Here was a platform upon which to.
stand. Fastening ono end of tho rope to the
bedstead, the great and chief obstacle was to
get out of the aperture. To show the difficult
nature of this obstacle, wo will describe this
npcrture. It is nothing more or less than a ven
tilating hole in the side of the cell, a slit or
porthole twenty-eight inches long, the length
being parallel with tho ceiling, and six inches
wide. It is cut into tho solid granite blocks so
as to allow no enlargement without difficult,
prolonged, aud skilled appliances of the ma
sonic art. But at least so say the prison guar
diansho got his body through this opening.
The rest was easy. His ropo was strong and
trusty, his nerves were strong, and stillness and
caution In descent were all that were required to
breathe tho air of freedom again.
Lowering himself to the female prison, which
at this end connects with the lower part of tho
male prison, he thence climbed up the pnter
w all of the prison, an affair of climbing, by the
way, much easier said than done, and then again
fastening the ropo let himself down outside the
wall into Elm street. In carrying out this latter
part of the programme all that was necessary
was to avoid policemen, which it seems ho
easily and successfully accomplished. Burns is
twenty-six years of ago. and a man of average
size. Now that ho hts regained his freedom the
probability is that ho will "hide his diminished
head," a fact to lie taken literally and not other
wise niter the facts we havo detailed above,
when ho will not bo likely to be very soon dis
turbed by the officials of justice.
BAKE IX THE WOODS.
A Three Days' Heiireli lor a Strny Voiiiiicslcr.
A correspondent of the Boston Journal writes
from Northeast Carry, Me., under dato of
August 20:
"A party from (iuilford anil Greenville, numbering
nearly one hundred, came across Moosehead Lake in
B'.eaiuer Fairy of the Luke, Captain Thomas Kohiu
son, for the purposes of (fathering blueberries.
Walter, a little boh of Mr. Huberts, of (Jreenvllle,
aged ten years, being among the number, and be
coming separated from his companions, was lost.
The news spread like wildllre, uud a seared was
Instantly commenced, and after being In the woods
three da vs ami two nights, the boy came out at tho
Northeast t arry farm, owned by Mr. Jirai ford, only
two miles from'where he started. I he folks at the
farm being absent searching for him, he took to the
blueberry bog again, where he was discovered by
Mr. Simeon Ihiuerlield, of Boston, who, With his
coninuiiimi Mr rlmrles H. linker, was In search of
Mmuu'A to his parenu, who were
almost distracted at their loss.
'The most singular part of tho story Is, that when
lost Iib hd tin Dail M1 of berries, and, on becoming
aware tliat he wS !. " 8tartt!d n "Phled
theiii not stopping to pick them up. Still holding on
to the Pil he carried it the whole dlsUneeTand
when found by Mr. Buttertteld hail picked it lull
again after being at the farm. His clothes were lite
r..n. turn from him. He said that he was not
jiiikujuod, but k4 ialhci' void lUiUl,''
aeilysU.. -ccvwi -