, 1866-02-20
THE NAVAL KACE,


Observation-Disclosures In 11uso or AFa
rival Of the Two veaselA at sands
Point, 1-9 HourA Il
From The New York World. 1sth,)
HE grand naval race, Of which 10 much has
been .sald and written of lata, stta. several
ve1hons delays consequent upon 'tunh6esecu
ted circumstances, was hnaz1y begun Inst
Tuesday afteruoon.:
TIE rshe was to haye CONS Oh on Saturday
afternoon last, but owing to the Illness Of the !.
chief civil engineer Of the Algonquin, and the
foggy state Of tho weather, It was not COM
menced until the day before yesterday: The
route fixed for tho racc was from Sands Point
to Faulkner's Island, near New Haven, then
round tho Island, and back to Sands Point,
four times without stopping, making IN ali
distance Of about eight hundred and fifty
miles.
- STARTING FOR SANDS POINT.
. On Tuesday morning the two vessels lay of
tho Navy-fard, Brooklyn, With steam up,
chor aId start for the rendezvous on ,the
found. About II o'clock the Wlnooski cut
bose from the buoy aud steamed up the riv.
cir, The ALGONQUIN soon followed. On thelr
way up the stream tho two yosse1s were hailed
from either shore by the waving Of hat4 and
handke1ch1sia by crowds assembled on the
e4perencea snsa Cd sds It ast % @ gooi des of f9oa6la
from the bad working Of her steering appara-
tus, which, before the vessel could b well
uauuee had to be secured BY ropes attached
10 tie tiller. The officers Of this vessel e1-
pressed the opinion that they were laboring
under great disadvantages In the race, since
the Wtnooskl had been in commission for q
long time before the Algonquin, and had con-
seq1entlJ her machinery and working appa-
ratus in smoother running order.
TIE RACE DEoISs-THE FIRST HEAT.
The W1nooskl arrived at Sands Point
about o]4 In tho niternoon, and after laying
to for short time TO meet the A1gonauin,
which was at the time steaming up the
Sound, two or three miles in the distance
On nearing her, the WlnooaH turned round
agatn and ran up the stream In company with
her competitor until they both stood directly
start. It was Just 5 O'clock. The two yea
scls then, without stopping their engines
after obtaining position as directly opposite
one another al possible theIr whistles
as an "a1l.right' signal: the colors wero run
up, and the race was fairly begun. At 0sst,
70 O. spectator from the lighthouse at the
clo.ely I did they giido aloas toeother. But l. i
Was only for moment. Faster aud faster the
Wlnooski commenced to leave her opponent.
For asecond her bow alone WIS stretched
few feet ahead Of that Of her antagonist.
Soon her stern WIS opposite to the middle Of
the Algonquin, and at last clear open space
the bow Of the other. In the space of twenty
minutes the WinoosN led the Algonquin BY
full half mile. Every stroke Of her paddle
seemed to 1engthcn the distance that eepara-
ted her from her competitor by as many feet.
Another quarter Of m hour passed, and the
Wlnooekt was lost 10 tho view In the distance,
while the hull and masts Of the Algonquin
10 al IN
horizon beyond. 4 few moments more, and
she also bad disappeared from the view ofthe
spectators on shore
TIE WINNER OF TIE FIRST HEAT.
At Throggs's Neck, Hart's Island, Sands
Point, and, IN fact, at every point Of land
where good view Of that part Of the Sound
over which the contendlng vessels we're to
run could bo had, hundreds Of spectators we're
assembled. At Throgg's Neck, some eight
nooski hove In sight with her antagonist
steamiDg up far In the rear, the officers Of tho
gnrrison and the visitors present cheered lus-
tily, and hats and handkerchiefs were enthu-
tfastically waved In token Of congratulatfou.
At an early bour tho next morning, notwith-
standing cold drizzling rain that fell, chilli
lpg every one to the hearts core, there were
on either sido Of the Sound to await the
return Of the vessels. AT Sands Point bet
ting was freely indu1ged in by several cnthu-
stnstic gentlemen As to which vessel would
come in the winner Of the tlrst heat. Ten to
one On the WinnoosN WIS the go, with no
takers. Eight O'Clock came, and no sign Of
either Of The vessels. Nine o'clock, and the
spectators become impatient. HalEpast nine,
and everybody prepares for departure. Ten
t. o'clock, and-a morfng something Is limly
shadowed aggainst the eastern horizon Ez-
Pectation is Gu up-toe. The barely discernl-
ble mass becomes more and more distinct as It
approaches. At last tho sound Of the pad-;
and In few minutes the dark hull Of
the WfnooEki is clearly discernible.. In
about half IN hour from the time she
WIS first seen she steams up to Sands
Point, rounds the buoy, md Is of ngafn on
her second heat-the winner Of the first, and
the Algonquin nowhere to be seen. "What
is the mntter," and this question wasrepeatsd
" many as the WinoosM disappeared In the
distance for the SECOND time, and no Algon-
quin in sight. Could m accident have hap
pcneds An hour passes BY, two hours, three
hours, three hours and a half-and at last she
half aftcr hcr competitor had rounded the
buoy at Sands Point she commences her
second heat, at least twenty eight miles be-
hind i.
In Wow Of the great distance which sepasa-
ted{hv two vessels on the completion OF the
AIst neaI> uo accIAeuL sncul0 AaPPtN u
either craft, there can be little doubt IS to
which vessel will Layc tho honor Of towing
the other homewurt- Before the race began
large number OF those who had considered
the Winooski the better vessel Of the two
from tho outset Of tho FIRST contest, were OF
the opinion that the Algonquin would not be
beaten without severely contested struggle,
II given trial IN clear open sea-: These
persons, however, were greatly taken aback
on seeing the vast difference Of time between
the arrival Of the two vessels at Sands Point
on the first heat.
Tie results Of the three last heats, whish
will be completed IN three days and nights at
the very utmost, WIN no doubt be known be-
fore Saturday morning, which, no doubt,
Will put at rest for ever the mooted ques.
ton Of the Algonquin peTsM the WlnoosA,
The Second Day..
Average speed Of the Winooski, IA miles pei
hour; Algonquin, II miles per hour.
The following is the account of the second
days race by the N. T, Trioune's reporter on
board the Algonquin: =
The start was accomplished precisely at s
O'Clock p. M, but owing to misunderstood.
Ing, the WinoosA wes allowed to gain q con,
siderable advantage over the Algonquin. II
xas understood by the civil engineers II
charge of the Algonquin, that as soon as ahe
arrived ut Sands Point the vessel was to
| anchor, haul tlres, and at given signal, both
vessels were 10 get under weigh st1nultane.
ously. Consequently the engineers Of the
Algonquin allowed the steam TO run down, IL
order to Gire them IN opportunity to put the
! engines ID proper trim hut on seeing the or.
der from Capt. Cooper commanding the
Wfuooski, to 60 ahead. word Was passed ia
Mr.. Underhiil to start his engines under
which wna only 5s pounds. On The
other hnnd, the WinoosH was all ready unde,
q full head Of steam, regularly ''bottled up"
and at the word :gu', bounded off like q race
horse, and in less than ten minutes left rs
clean astern. Much enthusiasm WAS mani
tested by those on board Of tho Wlnooski
when she was passing ns, while on board o1
I the Algonquin much dissatisfaction was eyin.
I ced ut the manner in which the start was
| effected and the WtnoosH allowed to gain
! such m advantage. Immediately after the
! Winoosk had passed US, the loE was hove,
and 1t vas found that under INC small pres
sure Of steam we were only running knots,
| willie 1t WIS considered by competent Judges
that the Winoosk, under . full pressure, was
| making IL knots easy. In \ short time the
| log was again hove, when We found that We
| had increased our speed to III knots with u
| per minute; but the Winooskt steadily
Tidcned the distance between us, and al
about i P. NJ, she Was about Ave miles aheaG
with u good chance pfincreasing TIE distance
when On again heaying the log It was fount
that ne we're making 12 knots with 10 revolu
t'ons per minute. Everything was working
to the greatest satisfaction, and great hopes
were entertained ofour being able to overtakt
our swifke1ooted opponent, when the counter
balunce to the eccentric broke and let th'
weight fall 80 as to be Of no further use. This
added to our previous misfortune, caused ,
great change IN the minds Of those who p1 evl
ously entertained some idea Of being a6la I,
oveEtake the Winoosh. .dt dusk, set: th
usual lights, with the addition Of two re.
ones at the fore crosstrees; this precautio1
vas for the purpose OF enabling vessels VIII
we're steering in our track to keep clear Of tn
Of the Winooski, Ne aupposing that she ha,
rounded Faulkner'a Island, aud had passe'
us on her return TO Sands Point. At $50 +
m, made Faulmer's Island, bearing west
having rounded it, stood on our return couss
70. the starting point, engines making 1ss
IT, -.lA u l.