OXFORD STUDENTS HOLD MAD RAG

Shannon News, 24 December 1926, Page 2

OXFORD STUDENTS HOLD MAD RAG

SMASHED UP TRAIN AND ! STORMED ! VAN. , LONDON, Nov. 27. I How 120 Oxford undergraduates smashed a train until it looked as ■ though it might have been bombarded, is revealed 'by the ‘‘Dally News.’’ The undergraduates, who were returning from Cambridge after witnessing {he relay inter-Varsity races, indulged in good-humoured horseplay and rough and tumbles with cantabs on the Cambridge platform, which" continued as a free fight among themselves. “Up guards, and at ’em!” shouted one, smashing a window, after which the battle spread throughout, three corridor carriages, in which almost , every window and mirror was smashed with beer bottles and boots. Luggage racks were wrfenched down and flung out 1 of the windows, while lamps were broken, and the > fight continued in the darkness. The undergraduates broke down the * door of the , guard’s van, which had been locked to prevent them reaching the train controls, blit the guard drove them out. One of them, however, seized the guard’s cap and perambulated the corridors wearing 'if ■ ;V ■ ‘ f V / Women Respected. The only compartments not dis- * turbed were two.* occupied by women, whom the guard; fearing trouble, had , collected.' The undergraduates stormed in, apologised, and. withdrew. i The cold wind, blowing In the windows, sobered the majority of them, while others slept drunkenly, , many without' their coats, owing to these garments having ' been flung from the windows. > The last act of defiance was to pull the communication cord when in the neighbourhood of Oxford, but the driver refused to pull up. 1 Meanwhile, the University authorities had been notified and awaited the undergraduates at the station. The railways authorities took possession of window blinds and other souvenirs, which the culprits attempted to carry off. The affair is now in the hands of the Vice-Chancellor, Mr J. Wells, M.A., Warden of Wadham College.