The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1885-10-10
THE AMERICA CUP.
Two Dollars . Year.

Prize Won by the "America" in
England, and for Which the British
Yacht "Gene.ta" Recently Raced
the Yankee "Pqritan.''
Tho year 1871 is memorable IN the histo-
y q American sport, for it was then that
~ "Amenoa easily defeated feet of
English yachts At Covas, Isle Of Wight, and
thereby won the one hundred guinea cup Of
tho Royal Yacht Squadron. From the name
Of the winner the cup has been known best
- the America cup. It il not thing Of
beauty, but the New York Yacht Club has
no more intereatipg possession, and the
.Priseilla" and the 8 Puritan have been
built expressly to defend it against the
"Genesta." After fair aud adequate trial
the Yankee boat was selected of these two
a. tie yacht moro likely than the other ia
spooeed against the stranger, and the result
has shown the wisdom Of the selection.
Everywhere throughout the country the
greatest interest was manifested in the in
ternatiopal yacht race.
A close examination of the America cup
shows that it is Of silver, about two feet
high, and weighs q hundred ounces approx
imately. It is variously inscribed ON me-
dalton spaces. The first inscription ia as
follows: "One Hundred Guinea Cup, won
August %, 1851, at Cowes, England, by
yacht America, at the Royal Yacht Squad
ron Regatta, open to all nations, beating"
and then follows the names Of all the YES
sells which started in the race of 1851. On
the next medallion is engraved "Schooner
Amerisa, 10 tons, Commodore John C.
Stevens; built by George Steers, New York,
1851" On the other spaces are inscriptions
recording the outcome of the races for the
possession of the cup, all of which thus far
have resulted in its retention by America.
From the time of its being won until
July 8. 1867, the America cup was kept by
the owners of the America" On this date
they gave it to the New York Yacht Club,
to be used "a a challenge CUP. It was thus
owned until December Is, 1882, when the
cup was returned to its donor, and not
until recently was it reaccepted a. . chal-
ienge cup by the New York Yacht Club.
To briefly recall the various attempts
which have been made to recover the cup
into English possession is Interesting and
gratifying to national pride. On August s.,
1870, the Cambria" owned by Mr.. james
Ashbury Of England, eoatended unsucoess-
fully for the coveted prize. Mr.. Ashbury
tried again with the Livonia," new
yacht, and was again defeated. In August,
1876, the "Couatess Of DuRerin" came
from Canada to win the cup, but went home
without it. So did the s'Atalanta," also a
Canadian yacht, in 1881. The "Genesta ~
seemed to be q more formidable compe-
titor than any Of her unfortunate predecee-
sors, but has been in turn defeated. She is
the property of Sir Richard Sutton. During
last season she won six races out of thirty
fopr, and was not placed seventeen times.
Our :. Puritan " was built at Boston, after de-
signs by Mr.. Edward Burgess, and has jos
titled the expectation of her admirers that
she would successfully defend American
possession of the America cup. It is in
tsreeting that the old "America" is still
staunch and making good time, when Ben
Rutlss, her present owner, pleases to show
what she can do.
----ab---
NJ