The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-06
VALKYR|E WAS LEADING.
But There Was Not Enough Breeze
and the Yachts Did Not
Finish.
Vigilant Led Until She Lost the
Wind and About Fifteen
Minutes.
Both T0wsd In by Tugs--wiII Try It AGAIN
Saturday II There 10
breeze.

New YORK. OCT. b.-Bsfiied by light
winds the yachts Vigilant and Valkyris.
which started to-day ON the hrst OF the
International races for the Americas cup
we're compelled 10 sbandop shs contest.
The English cutter was shen . mile In ad-
vanoo Of the ViGilant and the point for
which they started six hours before WAS yet
miles away. II was keen disap ppointment
to.ths thousands who had stood by the rails
and cluna TO vantage ground on board
steamers all day. Tho overpowsring At
traction OF tho big race between English
and American prize winners drew tho larQ-
est fiotilla that ever sailed to Sandy Hook
to see . yacht race, and every boat was
crowded, too. From tho deck Of tho
steamer Republic Associated press reporters
dispatched carrier pigeons with the earliest
news OF the start, finish and progress of
the contest
There was, % matter Of fact, no actual
contest between tho yachts, but under to-
days conditions IL has TO bs admitted that
the Valkyris had rythtng her own way.
The little wind prevailing was close TO due
northwest aad the regatta committee do.
cidsd shst the boats should start away to
leswsrd for ths hrst fifteen miles and re-
turn TO windwa.d. Tho international
racers were lying close to the starting point,
busy with preparations till we'll on TO II
O'Clock, when they began TO make sail
There WAS general remark that the Vigi-
lant's sail area WAS QresteH than that of hs1
opponent.
When the preparatory gun was fred the
Valkyrie came around and found position
under the ViQilanIs loo quarter. Both
boats we're then headed for The line. II
was only forty seconds after tho starting
gun WAS fred whom the viRilsnt got owe,
the line tho English boat about six Lengths
behind. When two miles out the center
boarder bad gained half q minute in time
apparently. During tho frat two miles the
| breeze ffsshed mp, but scarcely had the
spurt made itself known than IL died out,
and there was less air than prevailed pre-.
vioualy. Then the boats entered into d
They were about six miles ont, with the
ViRilnnt petty nearly half a mile ahead
wher. the accident Ct ths day occurred
The ViQilant was seen to point of 10 lee.
ward as though about to enter new waters
The appearance of . row boat gave founda.
tion for the belief that the American yacht
had lost man overheard and was lying in
wait to pick him mp. The opinion was lost
In the minds Of those who held 1t when
they saw the American boat continue the
same oourss to leeward. II transpired later
that the bont had simply lost the wind. and
could not hold her helm. II was fully a
quarter of an hour before the .Vigilant
made any indication of picking up the
breeze again.
BY that time her adversary was 10 tar
ahead tt was generally needed that the
English boat must win the race unless Q
good stiff breeze should spring up. The
wind began to haul to the south aud the
yachts had to make q tack TO rench ths
outer buoy. In this work the Vigilant
gained NO little on the Valkyrie. The VAL
kyrie rounded the buoy amid wild Shrek
ings of steam whistles. 1wenty-six min
utes after this the Viailant made the turn
with even greater clamor. She was a mile
behind and had to allow over minute and
three quarters. II it had been run homo
it is doubtful IL the VigiIant. with poor
handling TO tho outer mark, could have
overcome the obstacles.
When about half Of the homeward Jour
ney was com mpleted Lord Dunraven, who
was on his own boat, hailed tug and asked
for a tow line and Was brought back to bay
under steam power. Almost simultane-
ously did Ar. Iselin, on the ViRilant, de-
termine 10 do ths Same thing. There will
be NO race TO. NOR; ow. but another attem pt
will bs made Saturday.
LONDON, Oot. b-The greatest interest il
taken In England in the race between tho
Valkyris and Viailant. Various clubs and
hotels and other resorts at which il was
possible to obtain news Of tho race were
thronRed until midnight.