Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-03-22
A GREAT CONTEST.
THg MOST MAGNIFICENT COLLEGE RACE
ROWED ON THE THAMES.
The Oxford and Cambridge Crews Make Sessaw
Fight for Supremacy From Start to Finish
Oxford Crosses the Line Quarter
Of Length Ahead.

LONDON, March 21.-The forty-eighth of
the famous boat races between the crews
of Oxford and Cambridge Universitl'
was decided this morning. 1t was won by
a quarter Of length by Oxford. The
time of Oxford was - minutes.
The race was over the usual course, wb'ch
starts at point about 100 yards ABOVE
Putnev Bridge, near London, ana nnlsnes
about the same distance about the snip Inn
at Mortlake. The distance IS about "a
miles.
Only four steamers were allowed to fol-
low the race These, of course, were IN ad-
dition TO the umpire'S launch. One OF
the steamboats, was occupied by represen-
tatives of the press. A second was de- Oted
10 old University oarsmen, and tho two re
naming were set apart for the officers Of
the different college boat cluos of the two
universities
The steamer Thames policed the course
and assigned proper positions to the many
hundreds of steamers and barges loaded
with oarsmen and their admirers, which
were anchored or mOored along the river.
In addition the house tops, streets and tow
paths ana other points of vantage on the
Thamee were crowded with spectators.
Oxford won the toss and chose the Mid
dlesex. or north shore side. Cambridge had
70 oe content with the Surrey, or southern
course. The rival eightS were started pref
tilv and successfully at II :O9 a. IN. sharp
As the crews bent 10 their work, hail and
snow was falling upon them in no pleasant
fashion and a strong eros northeast wind
was raising very lumpy sea.
Cambridge at first got away with the
lead, pulling a shorter, smarter, somewhat
quicker. more catchy stroke than Oxford,
and at the Claspers boat house the Cam
bridge boat was ahead. Then Oxford bent
to her work pulling the long, dragging,
powerful stroke, peculiar to the oarsmen
Of that University. This stroke soon told,
and Oxford was leading slightly at the
Craven Cottage, six furlongs from the
start 1t was then evident that stub
born contest was in order.
Nearing Hammersmith bridge, one mile
and six furlongs from the start, Cambridge
again made a magnificent squirt, pulling
strongly together, and passed under that
bridge quarter of length ahead, amid
scene Of tremendous excitement. Oxford,
however, did not lose heart, but bent down
all the more doggedly to their work, tug
ging sullenly, grltting at their oars ana put
ting a splendid move on their boat. At the
Doves, two miles from the start, Oxford
led slightly, Cambridge still sticking TO her
work in magnificent style
4 grand, determined, plucky struggle
took place as the racing eights passed
Chiswick, about 2l5 miles from the start,
the tremendous cheering from the river
sides, causing each man in those two al
most living boats as il seemed Us if they
were almost lifted out Of water by the
bending oars in the grasp Of their wonder
full crews, to strain every nerve 10 win.
Oxford when nearing ChSwick, was. lead
ing, but il was by a few feet only.
At BarloS bridge over three and half
milesfrom the start, Oxford was leading
by half a length. From that point Oxford
had much the best of the situation, though
both crews We're rowing in superb style.
Calamity, cody, without an outward
sign of exhaustion, the contesting crews
tugged AZ their oars with the utmost bril-
liaucv and nerve The struggle in the last
Quarter'6f u m lie of the course will long Oe
remembered in the aquatic world. It was
simply magnificent Oxford had all the
work she could do cut oubafor her As the
boats rounded the Barnes bend OF the riY
cr. Cambridge was rowing pluelily and
with plenty of strength, but Oxford passed
over the line first by a quarter of length,
amid intense, almost indescribable excite
ment, winning the grandest race rowed on
the river Thames in many years OXfordS
time was - minutes. The betting was
nominally three to one on Oxford.