The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-27
YACHT RACE AT OLD POINT COMFORT.
Correspondence of Washington Starr

OLD POINT COMFORT, va, July AZ, 1854.
Saturday, July 22 Ia q gala cay at Old Point.
Our community has been on the tiptoe Of anxiety
and curiosity for some days back Ia anticipation Of
the yacht race which will be decided TO- day. The
contending boats are the yacht Breeze, belonging
TO William Allen, Esq, Of Virginia and the sloop
Messina, Captain -, Of New York. The vessels
are owned respectively by the aforenamed gentle
men, and will be under their Immediate control and
supervision in the race The race, il is said, will
be for s. 900 side besides any quantity Of smiles
Of approval and congratulation from the congre-
gated array Of female beauty here centered and
which will preside over the scene with blushing
and encouraging anxiety. The Breeze was pur.
chased of Stevens OF New York whose name
is identified with the fam,u yacht America,
whose sailing qualities rendered her so conspi.
cuous with or TRANSATLANTIC brethren. aud which
furnished such unmistakesble evidence of our snpe
f1ority In bo9t buding-part culary With reference
to speed. She il 1l5 tons burthen has had several
races heretofore in which she far outstripped her
competitors, and is in consequence decidedly the
fayorite The sloop Is but eighteen tons, and pos
sesses fine sailing qualifications. II is supposed the
contest will be one of unusual interest and excite
ment. At the time of writing this the shores are
being lined with the beauty and fashion of the place,
every eminence being crowded with groups Of gen.
temen, ladies, children, nurses, &c, all anxious to
know and see tie result of an affair which has oc-
casioned such universal gossip for week or so back
The starting point will be off the Rpraps, around
the Craney Island light boat, thence to Wloughby's
Point light boat and back to the point of departure.
In consequence Of the exceedin ely delightful wea-
ther, there is much more comfort in witnessing such
scene from the beach than in watching 4th of
July procession from the dusty and burning side
walks Of thickly populated city.
In looking over the thermometer quotations from
the various cities, ranging from 90 to lO2 it would
seem that greater degree Of heat has been expert
enced during this than for many previous seasons.
This may in measure account for the length of the
arrival lists at Old Point for certainly more de-
lightful temperature could scarcely be imagined
than what we at present enjoy !; besides, notwith-
standingl the various reports Of the existence Of
CHOLERA throughout the country, we have not had
single case Of any thing resembling that much
dreaded maady, nor can we discover at all the ap-
pearance or existence Of any disease.
Governor johnson Of Virginia, now stopping
and waited upon by the officers in body. After
proceeding to the reception room, he was introdu.
ced to such Of the guests a. were disposed to call
upon him.
p. S.-The boat race has been decided agreeably
to the general expectation, in favor Of the yacht.
She came in some two miles in advance Of the
sloop The spirit Of boat racing seems but to have
been just aroused and you may ere long hear Of
many Others, as II il species OF amusement very
popular here, and calculated to afford great gratiu
cation to yisiters, r. "a.