Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-09

Capt. Craig, of the Neca. Accepts the
Challenge of the Charleston Craft for
the eth of July.
The ocean race between the pilot boats
Neca, Of this port. and the Francis Eliza
beth. Of Charleston, which viii probably
De sailed on the 7th Of July, IS exciting
considerable interest. The race last year
terminating in a victory for the
Seca was disappointment TO
the CharlestOnians. who had backed
their craft heavily in confidence Of GER
taintv Of winning. Some correspondence
has already taken place between the Cap
tains Of the rival boats, and on Wednes-
dav Captain Craig. Of the Neca, received
the following letter:
CHARLESTON. May g. =
CrDtrta Crafg:
DEAR sIR-I have been to sea. or would
have answered your letter sooner. l have
made no arrangements for the race, and tell
you now IL Won viii appoint daY and let me
know VIII be yerF much obliged to you, for
% VIII take me month TO get ready ano ]
WIZ not sail until ] am fixed for 1t. did not
mention the force pofnp as an excuse at all. /
wanted it understood that we should not use
force pumps, or should. as II Is as far for me
as 10 Is for .yOu providing | know it, as you
know did not the last time. And one more
thing is. as you cut up 50 short, l VIII set what
sail ] see fit, and you can 40 the same. You
race. you did the last. as you limited me TO
sails and ! gave in to everything, which
don propose to do this time. and IL YOU can
set "a 7Quaresall and call 1t staysaA think j
can 10 the same. and Will. You can
bet your last cent that II you beat
me this time there will be
no monkey business about it. You must hSe
gotten quite rich down there all Of a sudden.
for Won recOllcct I challenged YOU FOR $500 or
$1,000 last year, and YOU took us up for the
$500 and then had to get nine men % make 1t
"a Of hot fHrr-
are only myself, IgOe and Mr. Pregnall The
last named gentleman your more than $1,000
don't scare worth cent. We could not get
cent bet IN savannah last year against our
boat for love or money. You were the worst
scared lot Of men ever saw on boat. That
beat you gave us must have given yOu lot OF
assurance. which am glad to see; and re-
member / challenge yOu for $1,000, and don't
let Us hear ANY more talk about it, but name
the day and give me over month To get
ready. as ! have a good deal TO do. Put up
the forfeit and 1 VIII 10 the same. and I will
put two men on the \ eca and you can do the
came. Hoping q hear from YOU soon, re-
main ohediently yours, @. II. SWAN,
Master Pilot Boat Frances Elizabeth.
In conversation with Capt. Craig last
night he said to a MORNING NEWS re-
porter that he would sail the race for
$1,000. the amount named in the challenge,
but that he had hoped that it might be a
larger amount. He had intended the
arrangements to be cOnsummated quietly
and without the publication of any cor
respoudence. but since the letters of Capt.
swan had already been published in
Charleston he was willing that his reply
should also be published His letter in
acceptance of the challenge was sent to
Capt. swan yesterday, and is as follows:
M StrGH:
DEAR SIR received your letter OF
the 9th. and in reply would say that l
have accepted the challenge, and have depOs
tied q forfeit Of $500 ia Mr.. Wayne's hands,
which / expect YOU to cover. The date Of the
race is fixed for the 9TH day Of July, which
viii give YOU plenty Of time to prepare; fur
Their particulars you Will find in Mr.. Wayne'5
letter.
! would further state that as I am the chal-
lenged party, and not you, it Is my privilege
20 make all the conditions, and / propose to
sail under the same rules and conditions that
we sailed last year.
The sails that the pilot boat used last time
can be examined by you, or any one that you
chose To have them examined by.
Now you may end an this by either putting
up the forfeit and abiding by the conditions
mentioned in the beginning Of the letter, or
by refusing altogether.
Awaiting your answer, l am, yours respect
fully, j. Ii. CRAIG.