Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-07-30
THE OCEAN RACERS.
The Pilot Boats to sail at Daylight
A Great Interest in the Result of the

The pilot Boats to sail at Daylight
A Great Interest in the Result of the
Race.
The pilot boat .Neca," which was
taken out Of dock on Saturday, went
down to Tybee yesterday morning to
await the race with the Frances Eliza
BETH" OF Charleston, to-day. A lively in
terest has been taken IN the affair. and it
is probable the contest viii be one OF
the most exciting ever witnessed in
southern waters. II at first seemed that
only the pilots and their immediate friends
would exhibit a decided prediction
either in favor of one or the other
boat, but towards the close of the
week the promised contest became
the leading topic of discussion, and the
probable victory Of the rival boat the SUBJ
ject matter of a wager. Ii is generally
understood that a large number OF bets
have been made. some OF them running
into hundreds Of dollars. We have not
heard Of much odds being offered either
way. the wagers being mostly in even
amounts. Neither boat l. at loss for
backing. and neither crew Oger-contident
of winning.
The Frances Elizabeth came into
port ON Friday morning and
anchored at Tybee. This vessel is 81 feet
3 inches in length over all, Is feet beam
with a draught of 5 feet 5 inches and a
tonnage of %. She is handsome vessel
Of her class. and will carry i've sail with
greater spread of canvas in proportion
10 her size than her competitor. She will
be managed during the race by crew of
eight men. three of whom are white and
five colored. Her officers are Captain
James J. IgOe, sailing master, who,
with Captain swan, are her owners, and
Captain Frank Wyatt, all of whom are
Charleston pilots. and the most intrepid Of
navigators. Their guests. representing
the Savannah Yacht Club, are Captain
George W. Hussey. and Mr.. John ;. Co
burn.
The Frances Elizabeth has justly
earned the reputation Of being one of the
swiftest sailers in Southern waters,
but she will to-day have an OppOr-
tunity to test the merits of a
most worthy competitor, YES
sci which when first rugged took
rank as one of the fastest vessels of her
class in our waters. That was several years
ago. and she has since been rerigged
by shortening her spars and the conse-
quent lessening of her spread Of canvas.
She was built by Captain Jones, a Well
known ship carpenter, of this city. Her
model is superior in its line. and never
fails TO arrest attention on account of its
symmetry. Her friends are confident. de-
spite the apparent shortening of her sail,
compared TO the amount of canvas she
formerly carried. that she Will give the
Frances Elizabeth something to do when
attempting to OutsaiI her. She
is commanded by Captain John Ii.
Craig. who will be assisted by
Captains VIM. Proctor and Charles
Maxim. well known Savannah pilots, and
a crew of five men. Her guests repre-
Commodore ThOs. ;. Wayne and
Mr.. VIM. D. Slmkins. Commodore
Wayne Is the judge of the race on the
''Neca' while Captain HusseY will act in
a similar capacity for the Yacht Clab on
the Charleston boat. 1t is proper to state
that the ''Neca" is Of greater tonnage
than her competitor. being registered at
81. She Is. however. 81 feet long, 10 feet
beam and has draught of feet and :
inches. Hence. she is. apparently about
the same size as the Frances
Elizabeth. Under the rules
governing the race she Will carry but
i've sails AT one time.
The officers and crews OF the boats and
a large number of spectators who will
witness the start and follow over the
course in the Mary Odell Went down TO
Tybee yesterday afternoon and last night
The boats, leaving the island at daylight
this morning. viii reach Martins Indus
try Hghtship at ; o'clock. where the start
viii be made. sailing from this point TO
kattlesnake lightship and return. dis
tdnce Of los miles. 1t is expected that
the contest will take nearly twenty hours.