The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-12
fov DETAILS OF THE RACE.
A Long Wait, Followed by n Drifting
Match Into Darkness.

: NEW YORK, Oct. 1I-What gave promise
of being the final yacht race in the interna-
tional series for the Americas cup turned
out to be no race at all. It was the fourth
contest between the Vigilant and the Val
kyrie. and, like the first, was not finished
within the time limit. and therefore was
not counted. The fotilla that followed the
yachts down the bay returned long after
sunset, leaving the racers far behind to
fight it out in the darkness. The result
Of that fight the thousands of excursionists
cared nothing about, for they had made up
their minds before, in the first place, that
there would be no race, and. in the second
that the Vigilant would win it if there was
A lack of wind was the cause of all the
trouble. At noon it seemed as though the
contest would have to be postponed. The
disappointment was greater because early
in the day there was nice breeze blow
ing. Yachtsmen and landsmen looked know
ingly at each other the steamers speeded
down the bay, and extended congratulations
all around that the conditions for an ex-
citing trial of skill looked SO promising
but as the hour for the start approached the
wind died out almost entirely. The VAL
kyrie drifted slowly about, circling around
the flagship May, with the Vigilant in tow
of her tender, following closely in her
wake. There was hardly a hatful of wind,
although there were wind clouds in plenty
in the sky. The expansl of ocean looked
like great lake without motion, save
where the paddles of big steamer and the
propeller Of a yacht churned up the water
and sent a long swell under the surround
ing boats.
1t was almost calm and the regatta
committee could do nothing but wait be-
fore 1t gave the starting signal. The wait
was a long one, after the usual hour Of
giving the preparatory signal, Ills. There
were certain signs that breeze would
spring up later from somewhere between
the south and west, and for this delay
was caused s1,, About SeiocR the commit
appearance of a breeze strong enough to
send the yachts over the course within the
stipulated six hours, and a signal was run
ants IL they would assent to a postpone
ment for the day. The Vigilant answered
no response by flag, and the committee felt
II incumbent upon them TO start the boats.
A little breeze, one of about six miles an
hour, had. come out from the south-south-
west In the meantime, and at 1:30 O'Clock,
the preparatory gun was fired from the
flagship. The racers were both above the
line, and at once began the usual maneu-
vering for the best position to be obtained
at the time of the starting signal. The
Valkyrie had the best of this figuring and
when, at las, the starting gun was fired
she crossed the line with a length of clear
water between her taffrail and the end OF
the Vigilant's bowSpr.t The American
boat had pinched up hard to gain wealth
er position on the Briton. but was unable
to do The cutter was well to windward
Of the centerboarder when they crossed the
line. They went over on a short tack close
hauled to begin the journey of fifteen miles
dead to the wlndward. They had scarcely
gone over when both went about, the Val
Ar.lx ard nd hoxy nod
two or three hundred feet in the footing.
Both yachts were carrying. besides their
club top sails and main sails, -four stay sails.
jibs and baby jib top sails. When they
came about again they ran far over to the
New Jersey shore on the port tack.
The Valkyrie was the first TO CO. about
$40. The Vigilant followed suit immedi-
ately. AS they both headed off shore il
was seen that the Valkyrie was fully half