St. Landry democrat., 1885-09-26
WE RULE THE WAVES,
SO Far as the Peaceful Pursuit of
Yacht Sailing is Concerned.
Second Unsuccessful Attempt of the En-
elish Yacht Genesta to Capture the
American Cup-It Was "a Fine
Race and Close SHAVE.

-
NEW York, September 17.-The race
Yesterday decided that the American cup
shall remain in America. 1t was grand
contest, and it can not be said that the
result proves that the cutter is superior
TO the centerboard The Puritan's Win
ming was SO small that the slightest
slant in favor of her opponent would
have turned the tables. The Puritan
was the better boat by only one minute
and tnirty-eight seconds. The breeze
early in the morning was from northwest
and only fair.
At eleven o'clock the preparatory sig
nal. FIVE minutes before the start, was
given. The yachts were the same dis
lance away. The starting signal was
blown at 1905 q. IN. The Genesta
crossed the line first at 11:05:1G a. m.
AS she crossed ther spinnaker was sci,
and it bellied out in the fresh breeze.
Atl1:o6 :0I a. m. the Puritan crossed
the line, and also set her spfnnaker.
They both looked like black birds with
enormous white wings. The Puritan
drew upon the Englishman at once,
and got so close that from directly in
fhe rear they looked like one boat. Then
the Puritan got on the Genesta's port
quarter and gained gradually, until they
were on even terms. As they passed
the Scotland light the Genesta was
under mainsail, spinnaker topsail, lb,
lib stay sail, and jio topsail, and the
Puritan under mainsail, spinnaker, club
topsail, and jib.
At lI:42 the Puritan looked to be
ahead about five lengths, but the Genes
ia caught puff directly and drew up
with her. The Geuesta took in her Jio
topsail Both started with sptnnakers
out to starboard, but at 1907 the Genes
ia took hers in, and at twelve O'Clock she
iibcd, and TWO minutes after ran out her
spinnaker on the port side. She seemed
to do better than before, but there was
no advantage on the part OF either. Inc
Puritan continued under the same sail.
The wind freshened o little and white
cans appeared. This was what every
body was wishing for. Probably all
wanted scutter day" SO that the speed
of the Englishman could be shown.
Atl2:15 p. m. both Were even and
about half mile from each other. Fol-
lowing them were four excursion steam
ers, four steam yachts and lew tugs
and sailing vessels. These latter Gid not
go far, however. The champions went
too fast, and they concluded to go back
ana see the finish.
At l2:4S p. m. the Genesta took in her
club topsail, and 50 did the Puritan, half
a minute later.
At12:52 the Genesta put up spirit
topsail. They were nearing the turning
raft. The Genesta was leading about
quarter of mile, and at one &C ck she
took down her spinnaker, aud her sallers
swayed up the boom. At :0l p. m. the
Puritan took in her spinnaker. The
Genesta's boom was over to star
board, and as she had TO go
to the starboard of the raft, it was nee.
essary for her to iibe. Everybody thought
she would lose some ground by this, but
she didn't She ilbed and went aronnd
the raft so neatly and quickly that what
ever she lost was not perceptible. She
stood away on the starboard tack, having
turned Of l :05:30. The Puritan turned
at :07 :36.
At 1890 the Puritan went about on
the port tack, and half minute later the
Genesta followed. At1:25 the Bostontan
housed her topmast and went along
under mainsail lib and jib staysail.
Under the ten-knoG breeze both bowled
through the water, and the Genesta was
at an angle of forty-ave degrees. The
Puritan began to outpoint, and got
nearer her rival.
At 1877 the Genesta set her working
topsail. 1t began to blow great guns,
aud the spray dashed over the decks of
the judges boat, SO that it was I'M
comfortable.
At 2:16 the Genesta went about on the
starboard tack, and ut 2:I7 the Puritan
followed. This was the last tack and
both laid their courses for the finish.
The waves dashed over their bows, and
they bobbed up and down as
they rushed along. The Puritan had out
pointed the Genesta, SO that she was
ahead little and gaining all the time.
She was about three-quarters OF mile
to WindWard, and eight miles from the
light-ship, when Captain Croker let ont
the mainsail little and let her go and
she ran up close to the Genesta.
At 3:46 there was little lufing match.
The Genesta was behind, and she went
TO windward evidently trying TO get up
and ''cup" her opponent. She lost
ground in this. The Luckenbach
went ahead and anchored about thirty
yards to the north of the lightship. The
end was approaching, aud the steamers
got ready to blow their whistles and the
yachts to fire their guns. The Puritan
crossed the finish line at 4:09:l5 The
whistles blew, the guns were fired and
everybody cheered. She Immediately
Iuffed and watched the Englishman come
up.
The Genesta crossed at 4:l0:39, and
she also was cheered and saluted.
1t was all over, and 1t can hardly be
called defeat The tug Scandinavian