The New York herald., 1873-10-07
The Meta and Vision "Outside"
Contest for a $500 Cup.
ROUGH WEATHER AND EXCITING INCIDENTS.
The Vision Retires from the Race and the Judges
Steamboat Dares Not Go Over the
Courss-The Meta Continues
No Decision Given.


yesterday, or rather the contest was begun under
circumstances that portended an exciting and
eventful day; and while the occasion was replcte
with Incidents the race was not satisfactorily fin
ished, owing to exceedingly heavy weather, when
ct an early hour caused the withdrawal OF one Of
the contestants and made the accompanying
steamboat turn back before the outer goal was
reached. For days and weeks this match has
been the general topic OF conversation In yachting
circles, and the more immediate friends OF the
respective owners wagered large sums or money on
the result Much care was taken to put the boats
in the very best trim and picked crews were sup
piled for each, the Meta being in charge OF Joe
Ellsworth and the Vision under the direction OF
Frank Baker.
Invitations to the number OF twenty-five each
had been extended to the friends OF the respective
owners, and at eight O'Clock they stepped board
the William Fletcher, selected as the judges boat,
at the barge office dock, and in good time steamed
toward Sandy Hook where the racing yachts were
expected to be in waiting. Down the bay the par
tisans OF the boats became very jubilant and many
bets were made, the Meta being slight favorite
owing to the indications that there would be stir
breeze and while this proved the case they little
expected that the day would be one of
GALES AND SQUALLS
and very angry seas. "Now, II we could have had
such day for the New York regatta, it would have
been splendid,n exclaimed two or three yacht
owners, and they really looked full of
enthusiasm, anticipating grand event; yet
it is not far fom the truth to that long before
the captain OF the Fletcher turned her head home
ward they felt they had got enough. While on the
passage down the yacht Vindex was taken in tow
near the West Bank, and held on to until within a
mile from the Hook, when she was dropped and
her owner, Mr.. Centre put on board. Now the
~ ,-SnA
and everybody said, "They'll have more than they
want" which was emphatically the case; and 1t
being seen on board the vindex that thi would
be trouble before the race was over, shl housed
her topmast. In good time the Fletcher steamed
to buoy No. s, selected to be the point OF
starting for the seventeen and o half nautical
miles to windward, and lying at the point Of
the Hook the Vision was at anchor, with full
mainsail and bonnet out OF tb, waiting
for her owner. At the same time the Meta
was seen coming out rom the Long Branch
full jlb. Approaching the Fletcher the Meta put
another reef in her mansail and took the bonnet
in her mainsail. It looked as il each knew there
would be lively times before long, and they wanted
Captain u Being came on board the Fletcher, and
upon consultation, IT was soon decided that the
70 o on tb SeaTa son tne @
Robert Dillon for the Meta, and that the judges to
be put upon the yachts were Mr. Earnest Wendt
Hoppock on board the Meta, to look after MIR.
Alexandre's interests. Then the owners went on
board their respective boats, and 1t was evident
that start would soon be effected.
Auoeanee
Meta Esss . GEORGE o;ss', l. Belins a q
Vision. y. J. Alexandra .......N y X C...4 q
The articles Of agreement, which are quite
lengthy, were published IN full in the HERALD Of
the vino was increasing every moment, ana
Ensn the aHas In t BY the point o. the Hook
HOUSING THEIR TopMAsTs,
which delayed the start At last they were ready,
and the whistle warned them to prepare to start,
Ssiid bows and seethed and loaned % angriy that it
Meta up to windward. aud standing on shore on
the starboard tack made play for the little job he
through a the water. The Visions skipper followed
her adversary's example, and with bowsprit under
q every she the Su and the
taken by the judges Is as follows:-
Nets. Il Il g g i 4 vision .... Il Il & & s. 8;
This done the Fletchers judges threw out pa
tent log and started to the southwark to run the
seventeen and o half nautical miles The Vision
IDENTITY seeking for smoother water, but not finding
1t stood on at ill., som. $685. and thirty seconds af
was thought on the Fletcher that something had
been carried away particularly as man was sent
Ss ans was @
1t was discovered that she was under 'sbOb jib,"
her head sail having been too much in such sea.
The Meta stood of on the starboard tack until
l2h OSm. 3Os, when she went about and down the
beach, and was evident that she could do better
In lumpy work.
She was steadier than the steamboat and bowled
went about but the Meta still stood down the beach,
and at 12h Ism. the bonnet Of her jib cewed up on
the bowspr1t was stowed at. NOW the lead OF the
tvn a
on the starboard tack, was lar to leeward, where
the vindex. which left the Hook. long after the
II she was at anchor. The rough weather was
little too much for the Vision. The gale was in
RTsny nss n s the % M 20 again asn SSss
on . dag s90n woad s IN
extreme We're to witness witness the the crushing Of
the contestants. The Vision was nearly mile to
leeward, and at 12h. 23m. she lowered the peak OF
her mainsail to wear ship. and, gibing around,
test Her action was at once understood by those
on the Fletcher, and though they disiked to be-
f the fact The yeiIs Of many, she's going back;
''She's ofY,n had q good deal Of derision In the
tones IN which they ~ were uttered; y At THIS Juno
disagreeable on the Fletcher, whose captain, by
the way, from this time began to nervousy cast
out sis L " was useless TO hope fhs vinSex here
squared away for home, anu there was none left
out the Meta VINO was going
LIKE A RACE HOnsEv
and carrying her mainsail and jib finely. She made
q long stretch on the starboard tack, and at l2h.
42m. went about and stood In toward the High
lands. Again, at lib. 05m., she tacked and the sea
was so heavy that the steamboat could hardly
stagger through 1t. Her captain intlmatcd to
Judges Krebcs and Dillon tGat he was AFRAID to
venture farther In the teeth OF such a gale and
sea, and, after good deal OF grumbng, at In.
Som, the steamboat went about Oh Seabright,
Notwithstanding tce strongest protests OF both
judges. Here the grumbing commenced, and
much "chin musicn and even insinuations that
matters were not s.squarev were made by some on
board. At III. com. the Meta was hailed, ana ex.
Commodore Dillon told hun Ito 90 over the
coursen "we'n go,v said Captain Bcing and
cheer upon cheer was given the gallant boat,
whose seaworthy qualities were now being dis.
played to perfection. Away went the Meta on the
port tack toward her turning point which all
agreed was about one mile below Deai. Here
rHUNDkR sQuALL