The New York herald., 1872-10-12
The Cape May Chal-
os lenge Cup.
A Magnificent Race in a Stiff
Breeze Of Wind.
The Dreadnaught Wins, Making
tho Race in twenty-five
Hours and Six Minutes.
The Palmer Not Yet A.
rived.

On BOARD YACHT DREADNAUGHT, l
OFF STATEN ISLAND, Friday. Oct. lilo +. NJ
Thursday morning looked rather promising for
an ocean race, as, Notwithstanding there was only
light broeze at daybreak, there was every indica
tion OF plenty Of wind from the westward before
nightfall Leaving New York by the nine O'Clock
boat on Thursday morning, was comfortably en-
sconced in the cabin Of the Dreadnaught by 10
A. M, and found there Mr.. L. Stockwel the brother
Of the owner, Captain Samuels and fellow-aborer
in the field OF journalism. The Dauntless was ly-
ing at anchor close by, and as 1t was understood
that the judges were to start the competitors on
the race for the
CAPE MAY CHALLENGE CUP,
from on board we quietly awaited her movements.
The whereabouts Of the Palmer, which was to be
our antagonist, was doubtful. as some asserted
she was at anchor or the foot OF Wall street, while
others stated we would find her In the Horse Shoe.
Shortly alter eleven O'Clock A. M. the Dauntlcss
and Dreadnaught weighed anchor and had pleas
ant little sail up to the Hook. On the way out we
sighted the Palmer coming round Governors Island,
also outward bound. Arrived at the Hook, we
luned up in the wind, awaiting the arrival OF the
Palmer; but as she appeared to be nearly becalmed
| outside
THE NARRows,
we ran outside and, hauling in the wind, had
| brush with the Dauntess. On our return we found
| the Palmer had just arrived, and she looked as
shapely and graceful as ever. After q short chat
between the captains on board the Dauntless
the latter started or and anchored to the eastward
OF buoy No. g. of the Point OF the Hook We waited
for few minutes to let the Palmer get ready, and
then trimming down In the wind crossed the line,
followed o couple OF minutes later by our antago-
mist. The yachts crossed the line as follows:-.
nroa%ns,c, MGms 0~ssr captafn s,, nagsG sg.G AMS
Palmer r. Stuyvesant. Comstock lgi. 90 25
The tide was running ebb and the wind light from
the south-southwest. We were under the four
lower sails and two working topsails, and the
Palmer main and foresal, fore staysail, jib, main
club topsail and small working topsa. Both yachts
crossed on the starboard tack and for this first few
minutes, in the light breeze and smooth water the
Palmer closed up on the Drcadnaught and tried
hard to claw up to windward; but, after patient,
determined trial OF that point Of sailing, the
PRIDE OF sToNINGToN
bore away and took up position of our lee
quarter. We sent up small maintopmast stay
sail at 540 and about ten minutes later the Palmer
clewed up her foretopsail which did not appear to
set well on the wind. In the meanwhile mass
Of dark, gloomy looking clouds were gathering to
the westward, much to the delight Of the old salts,
who pr0gnosticated spec ly removal OF all kites.
The Palmer kept dropping of to leeward, and when
about two miles distant she was a good half mile
to leeward The sun had now disappeared, and as
twilight set in around us the breeze began to maui
more to the westward and freshened every minute,
until at 80 the
sQUALL STRUCK
us, and then the fun began in earnest. The
Dreadnaught behaved nobly, and although Knocked
down by the first gust until her lee-rail was well
under and volume OF Kissing foam rushed along
soon eased Of both topsails and flying jib, she was
dashing through the water at about twelve knots
an hour, with sheets lifted Darkness had set in
so suddenly 1t was impossible to see how the
Palmer acted In the gust but as her port light was
plainly visible for minute or so, we supposed she
had lufred up In the wind to reel. When the squan
first struck the peak was lowered, as Cap
tain Samuels gave orders to double reef
which he afterwards modified to single reef, and
then, before point was tied, he countermanded
both orders and set full mainsail. At Gas we set
the flying jib, and sighted what we supposed to
be the
PALMER's LIGHTS,
about two miles astern. The breeze had now
settled down about northwest, and at 6:52
we were or Long Branch, running about twelve
or thirteen knots with sheets started. The
wind kept hauling round more to the northward
and at seven p. M. we gave her more main sheet
as the breeze right on quarter and We
were laying our course Tor
BARNEGAT.
At 1880 we shook out the working main
tOpsa and made some pretty sailing along
sea on this part Of the coast and drizzling rain
setting In made 1t rather damp on deck. We ran
then set ji5topsall, ioretopsaii and mantopmast
staysal In quick succession. We were now doing
Than thirteen knots Barnegat Light soon alter
war wards , loomed d,,, up In the distance ana at
IN fraQb
little, and, as we were pretty certain the Palmer
was some distance behind, and there was no ne.
we took in the jib topsai at about ten 2. M. Ten
minutes later we were well abreast OF Barnegat
couple OF points, heading southwest by south for
ABsECuM LIGHT
coa M 9in"teS ats a toa IN ny NY west anu
staysail. The breeze was now about northwest by
north, and we were slipping along very fast, at
least so the captain OF coasing schooner steering
the same course must have imagined, as lie hung |
out light over his talrail so AS to let us see
where lie was. He was under double-reeed main |
sail and jib with the bonnet OFF, We went by him |
as II he was standing still, and ! dare say that |
worthy mariner was ieit under the impression he
FLYING DUTcHMAN
or vessel manned by lunatics We had now lost
sight of the lights we had taken Tor the Palmers |
aud were travelling along through the murky night
Ii soitary grandeur. AT HAS we passed Little
run down from Barnegat, a distance OF eighteen |
or nineteen miles, In one hour and thrty-1ve min
qes The next point Of interest a was was Aosecum
OH the starb0ard bow at 1885, The wind now be-
gan to be little shfty and came down in pretty |
strong gusts, which were thickened with the driz-
zling rain We were now bowling along OF Abse-
cum, ana at IL :46
sQUALL STRUCK U5
from the westward, and as 1t appeared to hold on,
we clewcd up both topsas. Heavy showers OF |
drift broke over the weather bow and the gallant |
old yacht showed her rail under water once more,
but soon righted up again aud sped |
along her course. At 1852 we shook |
out the foretopsail and, with the wind abeam, lay |
course south southwest) to the Five Fathpm |
Lightshp. For the next two hours the breeze |
held steady from the northwest by north, and we |
made good work, passing by
GREAT EGG HARBoR
and sighting the Five Fathom Liehtship at |
2:4o A. N. There was Q pretty nasty