The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-08
THE QUEENS CUP.
How 1t Was Won by the Yacht America
Thirty-Four Years Ago.

How 1t Was Won by the Yacht America
Thirty-Four Years Ago.
NEW YORK, Sept. THE cup for which the
Genesta and Puritan are now contesting, is held
in this country by virtue of the sailing of the
yacht America. was won thirtyfour years ago,
and has never been recaptured by English sails.
1t was offered by the Royal Yacht Club in 1851,
during the great worlds fair of that year. open
to yachts from all nations. The race in which
the America carried off the cup was sailed on
Aug. %, there being eighteen entries The
A. lerica won by twenty minutes ahead of the
D of the other vessels-the Aurora
start was made at 10 o'clock, though there
was not much wind, but at 11:30 the wind fresh
ened for a short time. leaving the America two
miles to windward of the nearest yacht The
wind then almost died away, though the Amer
lea continued to widen the distance At 3
o'clock the wind freshened again, and at $40
o'clock the America rounded the Needless leav-
ing the nearest Englishman eight miles astern,
and the rest of the fleet were not to be seen.
The wind again became light. but with the tide
ahead the America came to anchor winner of the
cup at 835 o'clock P. NJ. The owner of one OF
the beaten yachts sent in protest the next day
against awarding the cup to the America, on the
ground that she passed on the wrong side Of the
Nab light. AS the sailing directions sent to
Commodore Stevens gave no instructions on
that point, and as he really by going to the
distance than did his competitor, the complaint
was dismissed.
When the America was running to her anchor
age under Cowss Castle, at the end Of the race
the Queen is said to have asked of one of her
officers, while On board the royal steamer
''Signalmaster, are the yachts yet ia sightl"
YES may it please your Majesty"
(Which is firsta"
''The America"
(which is secondW
tAh Maiocfv <havo 10 va cacNpdfO
6. The cup thus won became the property Of
the New York Yacht Club in July,
1857 the Americas owners having transferred it
to the club. In 1870 an attempt was made to
recover the cup The race came off Aug of
that year, between the English yacht Cambria,
owned by James Ashbury, and fleet of Ameri
can yachts. The Cambria came in tenth in the
race the Magic first, and the old America
second. In 1871 another trial was made by Mr..
Ashbury, who seemed determined to
get back the cup In this con-
test the American yachts Columbia and Sappho
won five out of the eight races arranged for
Twice more, in 1876 and in 1881, American
yachtmen had to defend the cup. The contest
ants came from Canada and were badly beaten
by the Americans. The day here is honored
generally in shipping quarters by liberal dis
play of English and Americans flags. The races
begun to-day will give New York and its
neighboring cities full week of aquatic excite
ment The stir that was this morning every
where observable was continuation of the pub
lie curiosity that began yesterday. At Fort
Hamilton the crowd ashore was immense.
Thence each way, the coast was lined with peo
pie Of all social grades and conditions of life