The New York herald., 1874-10-11
GREAT YACHTING EVENT.
The Msgic-Comet Race for the Com
modore's Challenge Cup.
HISTORY OF THE YACHTS.
All About the Cup and the Preparations
to Witness the Contest.

Now IOrk CluD course, IOF tue COmmO0Ore'S Cl0l-
ienge Cup, Is attracting much attention in yacht
ing circles, and bids fair to become the aquatic
event Of the year. Ever since the match was FIRST
alluded 70 the friends OF the owners have been
earnestly discussing the sailing qualities OF the
respective vessels and advancing reasons why the
Magic should beat the Comet or the latter defeat
the former. At any rate, snould the breeze be
fresh and the weather pleasant on the day In
question, the contest will merit attention on all
sides and the winner receive that need OF praise
which such victory Will justly demand.
THE SCHOONER MAGIC.
The Magic is an old lavorstc, and none can fai.
TO remember her and some OF the brilliant sri-
umphs TO her credit. She has long been on the
register of the New York Club, and passed through
the hands OF several OF its opuent members, been
reconstructed and repaired to such an extent
that her original builders long since failed to rec
Ognize the sloop Madgie-ior such was the name
OF the now famous Magic-or that small portion
remaining in the hull of the latter when she was
frst launched in Philadelphia, in 1851, at the yard
Of Messrs. Thomas Byerly Son. Her owner,
Commodore II. F. Lopcr, was not wholly suited
with her q sioop, though she Won the second
prize or her class October l. 1867, the deferred
regatta OF the second and third casses OF the New
York Club; so In the winter OF 1858 Commodore
Loper caused ten feet to be added TO her keel ten
on her, and changed her rig to that Of schooner.
In this trim she entered for the autumn regatta or
the club. October 3, 1858, and came in second the
sioop Rebecca being the winner OF the "drst
class, !" In which there were entered four sloops
and i've schoOners. Four years longer Commo-
dore LOper continued TO use her. entering in but
regatta during the period, that Of 1859, when she
secured the prize for first class schooners on
time allowance. In the winter OF ls63-e4 she was
sold to Mr. w nliam H. Mcvicker, who placed her in
the bands OF Mr.. Henry Steers, with directions to
give her new stern ana deck, which was
Gone, and in the season OF 1864 the yacht
was first represented In the New York Club by
the name Of Magic. That season, in the June
regatta, the newly.christened craft won the prize
in her class, beating the Julia and Juniata, in
the following years. June reunion OF the club won
q great victory over the big schooner Maria pass
ing the home stakeboat side and side with her,
and as the Maria was compelled to allow the Magic
2m. 3ls. the victory OF the latter greatly dis
cussed In yachting circles and much credit given
to The dainty boat. At the next general election
OF the club her owner was made Commodore, vice
Edwin A. Stevens, who declined reelection. In
the regatta OF this year (1S66) the Magic was
beaten by the Haze but she redeemed her lost
laures the same season by defeating the Josephine
IRON the Hook. The carpenters measurement OF
the Magic at this time was as follows:-Length on
OeCk. Of Icet, pTedutH sOl De8m. Il Iects 0epLu
hold, feet; draught OF water, feet tonnage. old
measurement sLQ2 tons; malnmast, Il feet; lore
mast ;e 20 es' az ms % ee
ownership, Tits time becoming the property OF
Mr.. George l. Loriilaro. who sailed her during the
her to Mr. H. W. Gray. The latter gentleman
cruised to the eastward with the Magic all the sum-
mer OF that year, when the false bow beginning to
leak she was taken to the yard of David Carll City
Island for repairs. Upon examination OF the hull her
the Magic of the made MaCye
or the present, az she was entirely reconstructed
nothing OF the original boat being used but twenty
feet or the old keel The original dimensions were
preserved. and the tonnage or the new Magic was
registered the same as that OF the old craft. she
month OF April, 1889, and at the time she left the
ways, or on that day. MI. Gray sold out to Mr..
toweO to Staten Island. where he fitted
her up In handsome manner. She did not take
N s n ~ egaa Swner Of e e I
over the club course Tor 1000 side, Mr.. Osgood
accep,ed the challenge and the Magic beat the
cruise Of the club the same year the Magic won
the sweepstakes race from New London to New
port. and in the run from Newport to Holiness
Hole lea the feet beating the Phantom, Palmer,
Ider, Eva and other crack vessels.
for sae auTns
the English representative yacht the Cambria,
and thirteen other craft. The same summer she
TO Block Island and return, crossing the finish line
half length ahead OF her. and with
seconds. The rest OF the Reet were six or seven
miles astern. In september OF the same year Ash
TO end N ha es
at once accepted; but the prevalence OF southeast
gales prevented the consummation OF the match
and It was declared of by mutual consent That
winter Rear Commodore Osgood determined to
Dulld the Columbia-the invinc1be Columbia-and
sold the Magic to Mr.. Lester Wallack VINO retained
her until the winter OF 1S7l-72. when she became
the property OF Mr.. Rulus Hatch, who caused her
to be Thoroughly overhauled She was given a
m
boom and ntted with new sails throughout
In the August cruise OF 1879 she won the
Island course. Early last winter Mr.. Hatch sold
the yacht TO her present opulent owner and en-
thusiastlc yacntsinan, Mr.. William T. Garner, who
put her in racing trim early in the season. She
won the second class schooner prize IN the June
the Comet her antagonist IN the present match.
the carpenters measurement or the Magic having
been gwen above, the club measurement is ap-
pended to make the records complete Length
on deck SIS ieet; length water line, rs. IS feet;
breadth OF beam, 209 leet; depth of hold 6.21 feet;
draught OF water 662 feet cublca contents 6O7779
1eet; tonnage, go 70 tons; mainmast, II feet
mast, 20 ieet inches; maintopmast, 80 feet;
foretopmast, 30 feet; mainboom 81 ieet; lore.
boom, 22 ieet 8inches: malngan, rs feet; foregan,
u ieet inches; bowsprt tontboardl, 10 ieet;
lying jibboom toutboard), Is feet
THE SCHOONER CoMET.
The Comet, though not SO well known as the
Magic as she was built this year. has first class
her size q lively tussie Tor victory. She Is owned
by Mr. William Il. Langley, formerly OF the saucy
soop Addie, and was launched on the 18th OF May
last from the yard or AlonZo f. Smith, Isllp L. l.,
being modelled by Phiip Ellsworth, OF Bayonne.
by carpenters measurement she Is OF the follow
ing dmensions:- s:-Length on deck, 81 feet; length
on water line. ~ feet inches; length on keel,
II feet incHes; length OF centreboard, 20 feet;
breadth OF beam, ~ feet; depth OF hold. 9 feet;
draught OF water, 5 ieet inches: tonnage, 107.0l
tons; mainmast, SO feet; loremast, 90 ieet; main.
topmast 33 ieet; ioretopmast, 10 .eet; mainboom,
A. feet lOrebo0m, "a ieet mainga % feet foregaf
"a eet whole length OF Dowsprlt 20 feet; flying jib.
boom outboard), IL feet. Tne club measurements,
as given in the Measurers certlncate, Is as ap.
pended Length over all, s1.95 feet; length on
water llne 1908 feet; breadth Of beam, u 95 icet
depth OF hold 500 eet; draught OF water ASS feet;
cubica contents, A662 "A feet tonnage, S308 tons.
Immediately alter launching Mr.. Langley put the
Comet in racing trim, and In the June regatta OF
the Brooklyn Club she gave the Tidal wave merry
chase. being beaten by ner for the 1rst prize by
only thirteen seconds. In the Ladies' Regatta OF
the New York Club she proved victorious, beating
the Magic and several other well known schooner
facnts Her next important work was that OF
leading the Brooklyn neet IN the race from New