The New York herald., 1879-02-03
ICE YACHTING ON THE HUDSON.

A REMARKABLE CONTEST OF sPEED-TEN MILES
IN TEN MrNuTEs--JuMPING A SNOW HUM
MOCK.
PoUGHKEEPsIE Feb. 2, 1879.
Ice boating on the Hudson. here and at New Ham,
burg for the past few days has been of the most
citing and thrilling character, twenty-five thirty
big. handsome yachts being engaged in the wild
sport daily. Strong westerly gales have greatly in
ensed the fun and the yachtsmen have entered into
it with will exhibited by them before for years.
1t has the desire of all to get the annual
as soon possible, but the condition of the ice has
prevented, as there large tracts of and
many hummocks upon it. and therefore
a clear. straight cannot be laid out. From
here to New Hamburg there is clear ice all the way
the east Shore but boats cannot GO it unless the
wind is west northwest, and even then the course
deviaes enough to make the distance over it to New
Hamburg ten miles, when really in straight line it
is but nine
A REMARKABLE RACE.
1t was over this that one of the most thrill
ing iceboat races witnessed occurred yesterday
and the affair is the chief topic i'll the ice boat talk Of
the associations Jacob Buckhout the iceboat builder
busy at odd times last summer constructing an
ice yacht for himself one little smaller than the
first class boats. but provided with all the mod
improvements, beauty III model ana
rigging and sails, and he made her as light as he
possibly could. One day last week he pat her tho
ice for the first time and her speed was noticeable
Yesterday three yachts of the New Hamburg Associa
ton came up from below, namely The Phantom
Zephyr and Magic the first two named being enrolled
among the first class boats OF the New Hamburg
CluD The wind blowing big guns from the
west and q dozs yachts dartrg hither and
thither with the speed Of lightning but all seemed to
ignore each others company. tearing race till
about four p. NJ, when the New Hamburg yachts
started for home. 1t was at this time that Buck
hout resolved to give his new yacht u iair
trial. and he immediately gave chase to the
Zephyr, Phantom and Magic. starting little way
behind all three Buckhoat lay ut ful length III the
cockpit, with his hand at the helm. Captain Brinck
crhof stood upon the wndward runner plank and
Emory Smith to lecward both grasping the shrouds,
and the other boats also had each of thcm three per-
sons board. Squall after squall hit the yachts.
and they lifted" and swayod as tLey wliiried south
war past the city piers with lightning rapdity the
men the runner planks holding on for dear life
and holding their hca,ts down to eaten breath. Now
and then tine boats would dash through miniature
snow hunimocks, leaving behind a fog OF hue snow
and ice. The Buckhout boat was doing splcndidiy.
quarter mile from the city she overhauled the
for supremacy, and the Phantom fell to the rear
Right ahead of Ter the Zephyr. the crack yacht
of the New Hamburg Club. and the Buckhout boat
picked her up aso and then dashed ahead Tor
the Magic. The sails OF all the yachts,
each carrying jib and inainsail were close
hauled the air was kccu and frosty. the wind
shreked and whistled in the rigging aud the hum
ming runners played merry tune. The speed at
tanned terrific. On the clear, smooth ice they
making more than mile minute, and the
the runner planks kept the boats down and
steady. The Magic was not SO easily caught as were
her cDnsDrts Dut the BucknOut Doat SOON iaprcu
her. then went to the windward and VIGOROUSLY led
the fleet. Again the Magic came up and shout or
cxultation went to the from her crew as she
swept by the Buckhout boat aud once took the
lead. ON Barncgat Ave miles from Poughkcepse,
the yachts all close together and they had not
been away ivo minutes. Buckhout's boat had again
passed the Magic and the latter put into Milton. vr
tually giving up the contest. The Zephyr was now
giving chase to Buckhout. and the crews of both
yachts on the alert for every advantage. The
terrific speed not in the least abated.
JUMPING A HusfMoCK.
on Van Renssclacrs Point gradually sloping
snow huminock nearly two feet deep in the centre,
lay directly In the path of the Buckhout boat When
L was first observed the boat close to IL that
there was no time for dcliberaton and the hemsman
took in the situation at glance. To put his yacht
short around quick would lose him the race, aud,
possibly the Zephyr coming like lightning close be-
hind him, might dash Into him and some one he
killed To Jump the hummock wns to take the
chances of losing his mast and the race. He took
the latter horn of the dilemma and yelled to the
men on the runner plank to "Hold last: look
out now /" and braccd himself for the shock.
With the velocity of whirlwind the yacht
struck tho humnock and bounded II to the clear
ico beyond the flying I'm sprays in every dircc
tion and not cord in the rigging being broken
rious yacht passed on and that she close to
New Hamburg scores of people were watching her
closely OF Marlborough the wind came strong rom
the gorge along Jcrvis Creek and she lifted ana
swayc,i but Buckhout KEEP. her down nicely, and she
rouide, the iiag Hamburg quarter OF mile
ahead OF the Zephyr and much farther ahead OF the
Phantom having come ten miles In just ton minutes
Ii was a handsome race and big work. and win long
be remembered.