Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-13

ran up her mainsail. Then she was towed
down through the Swash channel
When on Sandy Hook there were signs OF
trouble aloft. Capt. Cranfield and half a
dozen men went up and pretty soon the tug
was ordered to head up in the wind and the
mainsail was lowered. The throat halyard
block had split under the tremendous strain.
1t was taken down and the ships carpenter
bored several holes In II and put in screws
to prevent 1t from giving way altogether.
It was repaired at 1o.&5.
While this was being done the jib. which
had been broken out before the accident.
was lowered and preparations to run up a
smaller one was made. The shippers Of the
tug boats said that the barometer was fall
ing all the time. and the Indications were
that It would blow great guns before the
race was finished.
few miles inside of the lightship and at 10 80
took a reef in her mainsail. She also took
in her jib and got a smaller one ready.
There was a good sea on. and the smaller
exclusion boats and steam yachts did not
put in an appearance at the lightship. The
wind held strong from the east.
The wind was blowing with increasing
strength all the morning from the east
until it reached the very satisfactory rate
Of twenty-four miles, stirring up a choppy
sea- The sailing vessels, with their can
vas all spread and filled, kept well in COM
pany with their more favored coal burners
Too Breezy for ExcursfOnfsts.
The St. Johns. carrying the yacht club
guests was as usual early on the ground.
but her decks did not carry the customary
throng, and many evidently sought the
comfort that the cabin grants. The falling
of in the number Of excursionists was
quite perceptible. yet there were still enough
to make a big showing and to indicate the
prevailing enthusiasm. Ever since the
vigilant cast OF her tug inside the Horse
shoe she unanswered about under mainsail
and jib on the lightship.
The Valkyrie, after getting outside, drop
ped her sails and for some time had men
aloft adjusting things preparatory to a
start. The judges boat May, as she passed
out, displayed the signal indicating the
course to be fifteen miles to windward and
return. At IL o'clock the indications point
ed to most favorable conditions for what
would probably prove the last Of contest
for supremacy that has excited the interest
and admiration Of the whole world. Lord
eAAS
what may cause him to haul in his top
sails before the course II run.
The start.
There was considerable delay in starting
the race. The excursion boats were blamed
for the delay. The wind was east. twenty
eight miles an hour. and II was therefore
known that the course would be east The
preliminary signal was fired at rs, hut
the boats did not start in ten minutes After
the blue Peter was set at II 15 both yachts
reached down by the May with the wind on
their port sides until they ran one-fourth of
q mile south Of the lightship. The prerar-
atory gun was then fired and the yachts
stood back for the line to begin the work OF
Jockeying for windward position.
Both yachts went over the line about 1a:z
on the starboard tack. with the Valkyrie to
windward. Both stood UP well. considerfnp
the strong wind and choppy seas.
Valkyrie appeared to be pointing neare,
TO the wind than vigiiant.
AT H:S0 both yachts were stiu on star.
BOARD tack. They were nearly out OF x,gh,
from here. "a sAe"'
viHlant appeared to be making bett.r
same than Valkyrie. even though the E.no-
nsn boat was outpointing her. The tida
was on tne MOOD. and therefore against the
racers. Visflant appeared to be gaining.
Inc course the boats were laying took
them well in toward the Long Island shore
Inc weather continued to thicken.
Figiiant at 2:45 was apparently outnoint.
Ing Valkyrie. having been brought nearer
into the wind
Nakyrfe was apparently getting frequent
Knock downs. and had to luff I'D to keep
steady. Vigilant looked to be getting
smaller here, and this was taken as an in
dicatton that she was well in the lead.
Valkyric still held the weather gauge.
Vigilant about an eighth of a mile in
lead was reported from Rockaway at 1
p. m. Both boats sailing with lee rails
under water. Valkyrie seemed to be a bit
sitter. At Los yachts were of Long Beach
and sailing very rapidly. still on starboard
tack.
Nigilant at lis went about port tack.
Valkyrie was still on starboard tack.
valkyrie in the Lead.
At 1:30 the Valkyrie, which had been
creeping up on the Vigilant. took the lead
and in twenty minutes had made a gap OF
200 yards.
The Valkyrie was. at 2:20. still leading the
Vigilant by a good distance. They were
then nearing the turn.
valkyrie Turns the Stake.
2:A5 p. m.-Valkyrie turns stake boat three
minutes twenty seconds ahead American
boat: wind increasing. sea rough.