The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-03-28
DARK BLUE WINS
Oxford Beats Cambridge at
Henley for the Sixth
Consecutive Time.
QUARTER LENGTH AHEAD
A Very Spirited Struggle in Trying
Weather--Great Crowds
Witness 1t.
Bg Cable 10 The Unitcd Press.

LONDON. March rs, 1S96.-The annual
rowing contest between the Oxford and
Cambridge University Fights took place
over the course from Putney to Mort
lake today, in the presence Of the usual
The weather was extremely disagreeabie,
but the fact had a very slight deterrent
effect upon the thousands OF enthusiasts
who line the banks of the Thames and
crowd the decks 5of pleasure steamers
each year to cheer themselves hoarse
IN announcement Of their respective
crews. AT nine o'clock the wind was
Blowing hard and the rain fell in tor
M BY eleven o'clock the rain had
ceased and the wind lulIed. This con-
dition was followed by glimpses Of sun
shine, but several times later there
were heavy hail storms Of short dura-
ton.
AT noon the wind blew in gusts from
the west and the rain fell quite heavily.
The Cambridge team were out in their
thing was all right. They rowed hard
for ten strokes and then padded for half
a minute and returned to the landing
stage. Afterwards the Oxford men made
a similar trial. The betting had not
undergone any change over night and
everybody was predicting a hard race,
both crews being above the average in
form. Cambridge, having shoWn the
greater speed in the time tests made
within the last few days, was more adj
mired h her rival, n it was re-
garded as quite probable That she would
upset the calculations of the oxford men
that the latter would add one more to
her string of six consecutive victories.
The usual crowds witnessed the launch
ing Of the boats and both crews were
heartily cheered as they padded away
to the starting point.
The Cambridge crew were the first to
make their appearances, and the crowd
went wild over them. They were quick
" followed by the Oxford men and the
cheering was renewed. Cambridge won
the toss for position. and took the Sur
rey side. The water was rough and a
strong head wind was blowing.
The, boats got off at los p NJ, and had
a good start. Cambridge began with her
best rowing, pulling thirty-eight strokes
the first minute, andN when opposite the
boat houses was in the lead more than
her fore-canvass. Both crews were then
rowing at a high rate. Cambridge was
leading by a quarter of a length. and
at the Soap Works had increased her
lead to half a length. At Hammersnith
Bridge Cambridge still held her lead of
half a length, and at Chiswick She was
nearly a length ahead. Both crews were
straining every nerve and muscle, but
Cambridge seemed to be the stronger,
n at Th~orneycrofts vas a full length
in the lead. G.
Il 1OLll wv L a. dild oO-
ing some splashing, but Cambridge
seemed to be putting more power into
her strokes. and upon approaching Barnes
of the, Oxford boat. Both crews were
now showing signs of the tremendous
strain upon them, the severity Of the
From this point, however, Oxford began
to gain. and nearing the bridge drew
rapidly, up on, the leaders who had lost
more than half of their advantage and
We're only t~hree-quarters Of a length
ahead. In shooting the bridge CAM
bridge was hampered by the rough water
and failed to maintain her lead. Oxford
gradually crept up on the Cambridge boat
and the excitement on the banks and on
board the boats following the racers be-
came intense.
The Oxford boat from this point drew
ahead and reached the Ship Hotel at
Mortlake, the finishing point, a winner
by quarter of a length, adding one more
to Oxford's list Of six consecutive VIC
tories since Cambridge has won a varsity
race. The official time Of Oxford was
20:01. The usual deafening cheers and
schreeehing of whistles greeted the
victorious crew. and the usual scenes in
other respects We're enacted, for, except
the slight differences made by the
weather, one years show along the
Thames championship course from Put
ney to Mortlake is exactly like another,
FOLLOWING are the crews and the last weight
posted, but the men were each about a
pound and a half lighter at the start than
these figures Indicate.