3-021-271 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Oxford and Cambridge Universities Boat-Race: the start from Putney, [south London], 1869. Rowing match on the Thames between the two University crews of Oxford and Cambridge, which '...resulted once more in the victory of the Oxford boat - for the ninth time in so many successive years...The tide was a neap tide, and three quarters up; the towing-path on the Surrey side was crowded with people; thirteen large steam-boats and eight steam-tugs, with several private yachts, and hundreds of row-boats and wherries, lay close to the Aqueduct; among these were the steamer Lotus, the umpire's boat, with the son of the Viceroy of Egypt on board her; the steamer London Pride, engaged by the London Rowing Club, on board of which was Prince Arthur; and Mr. Blyth's private screw-steamer Ariel, from which Mr. Morrison had "coached" the Cambridge crew during their practice at Putney. The starting-boats were moored a short distance above the Aqueduct, opposite the fourth house in Putney-terrace, about seventy yards below the steam-boat pier...The scene was most exciting...The umpire, Mr. J. W. Chitty, was prevented from seeing the termination of the race, his steamer having come into collision with that of the harbour-master at Barnes'. From "Illustrated London News", 1869.