Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-04-10
OXFORD WINS.
THE GREAT ENGLISH UNIVERSITY SCULLNG
MATCH.
A Splendid Pull and Fairly ClOss-Canbridgs
Fails to Show Front at Any Time, Oxford
Taking the Lead from the First Dip.
Other Sporting Matters

LONDON, April 9.-For the twenty-sixth
time since the inauguration of the Oxford
! Cambridge boat race, The crew OF the Ok
| ford University boat club have passed the
winning line ahead of their opponents. The
! dark blue Of Oxford was again carried 10
victory to-day by the strong arms OF Its
wearers, and laundering cheers greeted the
oarsman as they rested on their oars. Al
together forty-nine races have been rowed,
one Of which, that Of 1887, terminated IN a
| heat
The day was an ideal one for the oars
men. The summer weather that has pre-
vailed for the past week continued to-day,
aud the banks Of the Thames were packed
with enormous crowds OF people Inc
water was perfectly smooth, and all in all,
the conditions for racing were perfect. Al
noon, the time fixed for the race, the ors-
men appeared and this was the signal for
laundering cheers that swept up aad down
| the river again and again. Those about
the starting point though could see moth
ing Of the proceedings, and eagerly gazed
in the direction of the officials as the coin
was tossed for choice of positions.
Oxford won the toss, and when this was
known it was taken Dy the supporters OF
that crew as a happy augury Of victory.
Oxford chose the MiddleseX side Of the
river where, If there was any advantage
to be derived from the flood tide, they
would get it. The crews took their posi-
tions at the starting line just above the
aoueduct adjoining Putney bridges, and at
exactly II 80 the starting signal was given.
Oxford took the water first and their
boat jumped TO the front Cambridge was
quick 10 follow, and then the struggle be-
gan. When Hammersmith bridge, one mile
and six furlongs from the start, was reach
ed Oxford was still in front Both crews
were pulling at the rate Of thirtysix strokes
TO the minute. Cambridge's strokes did not
seem TO have the power of their adversaries,
and they dropped slowly but surely. Al
Chiswick Hall, about two miles and hall
from the start, Oxford had increased their
lead, and when Thorny Crofts works, a
little distance further on, were reached.
they were two lengths in front. This lead
they maintained to the Deyonshire Mead
ows. Just beyond Thorney Croft's works,
when, though pulling no faster, more
strength seemed to be put into their strokes,
and their boat forged further ahead.
At Barnes bridge, about three miles and
five furlongs from the start, they were "a
lengths in the lead.
After passing Barnes bridge Cambridge
spurted and gained a little on Oxford, but
the latter bent sturdily TO their oars, and
pulling a powerful stroke, fairly lifted
their boat out Of the water.
Past the Osier beds, four miles from the
start, the boats spun with the advantage
all on the side of Oxford. Cambridge,
however, did not lose heart in the least,
and did their utmost to close the gap.
Their efforts were fruitless, however, and
they dropped astern. Amid an uproar that
was deafeuing oxford crossed the line at
the Old Ship Inn good winner. 1t was at
first announced that they had won by "a
length and half, but the official announce
ment Of the judges put the distance at two
lengths and quarter. Oxford's time was
Il minutes 81 seconds.
The time is the best ever made over the
present course.
The best previous time was 20 minutes,
) seconds, made by the Cambridge crew
when they won in 1873 by 81 lengths. The
slowest time made over the course was in
1860. when Cambridge won by one length
in 26 minutes, seconds.