The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-08
VIGILANT IS THE VICTOR.
Her Heels Shown The BritiSheT From
the Start.


Ahead of Her Rival in Crossing the
Line at the Finish-The Superior
Speed of the Center Boarder Appar-
ant 70 all But the Seamanship on the
valkyrie Far Better Than on the
Amerioan-Hundreds of Steamers
Groaning Under Thousands of Spec
tators Follow the Race.
New York, Oct. 7-Bowling along un-
der fair wind, the American cup de-
fender Vigilant, crossed the line at
Sandy Hook lightshfp at $3.50 o'clock this
afternoon winner in the first of the in
ternatioual races for the American cup.
The Valkyrie arrived home almost
minutes later, and both were at once
taken in tow by their respective tenders
and hurried to their place Of shelter off
Bay Ridge.
It was magnificent contest from a
naval point Of view and demons trated for
the day, at least, the superior construc-
ton of the center-boarder over the cutter
as well as the superior craftsmanship of
the men who handled the English boat.
One thing only was lacking to bring out
men uand yachtsmen alike, the fullest
meaure of enthusiasm during its progress,
and that was the wind Never more than
light wind prevailed during the day and
some times it was scarcely more than
puff now and then.
THE START
Neither Of the yachts had intimated
desire for a postponement, and at II a.
m the signal went up on the flagship for
the course east, southeast.
Fifteen minutes later the preparatory
gun was fred and at II :25 the boats went
over the line.
They had maneuvered like two great
birds at the start, and few bare seconds
separated them. They were away to-
gether and kept within easy range of
each other for an hour or more. Round
ing the stake boat, the Vigilant had
nearly ten minutes the best of
it, and even on mile reach,
which followed the turning of
mark, the cup defender was seen to creep
away from her opponent.
AT THE FINISH.
At the home line the flotilla had again
formed q crescent, which was increased
in size by the steamers that left their
docks at noon to see the finish Some of
them were loaded until the water
reached their rails, and yet thousands
of spectators braved the dangers
of chance immersion and clambered to
every part of vantage. They showed JOY
in their countenances, as the Vigilant
came nearer and nearer the goal. Their
joy burst its bounds as the brave little
Vigilant dipped gracefully through the
waves and long before the
screaming of whistles told of
royal battle ended, hundred
thousand tongues proclaimed in true
American accord, that as yet the
queen of the center-boarders and cutters
is here, and has still speed and strength
to bear the name of cup defender in real
ity.
When the committee in charge of the
race, who were stationed on Commodore
Morgan's flagship May, decided that the
course should begin with lee run to
the east northeast before the
west northwest wiud, signal
On the May was run up
to announce that fact. This was at II
am.
TACKING FOR POSITION.
The shippers in charge of the races
having accepted the conditions of weather
and the Judgment of the committee,
which was to the effect that the race
should be started, they began to skirmish
1or favorable position above
the line in order that they
might get over the mark that opened the
race under the most favorable advan-
tages. The Valkyrie had stood some
what further up to the northward than
Ihe American boat and came to it in the
WIND some three lengths behind the
American boat. The English boat con-
unued and the American boat came
about
THE START.
lne preparatory gun had been fred at
lilo a. m shortly on time, and when the
starting gun was touched off there was
Unly question of about $50 feet between
'ne TWO yachts, the Valkyrie having the
Udo' At that time the wind
was blowing at the rate of about
seven miles an hour. Almost
simultaneously the yachts lowered
Sls" spnnaker booms and set their big
siue sails and began the journey Up to
S-a' ume the Valkyrie had not only held
ner own, but had increased her lead
peI'y nearly half her own length. The
.us'er Kept increasing her lead At the
slu oI mile she was good two lengths
aneao On each boat the sailor work
"aS splendid. The Valkyrie increased
nc IeT lead at least one more length during
'ne first two miles.
THE YIGILANT TAKES THE LEAD,
ron. from that point up to distance Of
,Our and a half miles the Vigilant held
O"h' AT the end of the fourth mile
4 LLONeyer, change came. The American
Sag nad been on the lee quarter of the
t,.nsNsnman, and sailed before some dis
Ts M behind. Suddenly she shot ahead.
We Ge Ngilant had caught slant Of
y. ''U' although she was considerably
,o,., .ee"ard and the Valkyrie was not
11Ueu oy it. 1t was in measure a
s,,. ''al OF what had occurred on Thurs
il ,t however that may be- the Vigil
bor Il' went ahead pounding the water with
8 w.. 'i"2n bow and within IS minutes