The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08

pointing 20 well. The calmer spectators were
willing to bide wee and see how things
looked later on.
But time passed and the Navesink High
lands doomed blue above the waves with the
rabid still disputing, and even putting up
more money than they could spare to back
their diverglne opinions. In only one respect
could they agree. and in that opinion tho mass
unanimously conourred. It was most glorious
race for home and close enough to wake the
veriest sluRgard.
With the crews slowed snug under the
weather rail. with slender roll Of white un-
der each bow. the racers stretched out for the
old red hulk. In equal PROFESSIONS. wide
apart the excursion feet ploughed along
beside them. 1t made all but the swiftest Of
them keep their wheels Affirming at the lin
gle speed to hold the flyers abreast. And yet.
not o white cap flashed before the eye. What
would those racers have done with breeze to
mako the rigging sing2
HALF way homo the wind permitted the
shippers to give their boats rap full. and with
quiokening speed they hastened on. The
rabid sharps were still disputine. but the
mass were coming to the side Of the patriots.
II the Valkyrie had gained. no one could meas
ure It and few were found to say that she had
more than held her own. Within less than an
hour after the turn the old red lightship hove
in view. Tho shippers OF the pleasure fleet
threw wide their steam ports and FASTENED on.
II one could guess. the race In would end in
surprising time No such dash to windward
in breeze like that had ever been seen.
Loser or winner, here were racers to stir the
blood OF every sportsmen.
ON THE HoMEsTnETCH.
Two miles away from the line the valkyrie's
jibtopsail was seen to 1utter and then slide
hastily down the stay. It had been pulling
WELL but the wind had eased of to south ard
q bit more. A minute later her balloon topsail
flashed white In it's place and pulled with q
will
The watchful sailors Of the vieilant doused
their little topsail with equal celebrity and set
the great brown one in its place. but the sharps
remarked that the cutter got more good from
the change than did the sloop.
The low-lying point Of Sandy Hook had
risen from the sea. A hundred sails-schoon-
ers and sloops merchant and yacht, reached
UP and down against the western sky. waiting
to sec the end. Tho handsome May. the flag
ship. with the committee on board. made
haste to take her place to the north Of the big
red hulk to mark the finish line. With decks
black with exultrnt throngs the great pleasure
fleet ranged UP on either side. o welcoming
host to receive the flying racers.
vIaILANT THE WINNER.
And then with the grace OF Liberty the mag
nifcent sloop sailed into the widespread arms
OF the host, leaving tho cutter far astern. and
nauGht could longer restrain the pent-up en-
thusiasm of those who saw her. The black
decked ships blossomed white with waving
handkerchiefs. ten thousand Threats shouted
and cheered. and every steam whistle bawled
aloud for Joy.
Unnoticed in the midst OF It all save by
watchful few. tiny puff Of steam gushed
from tho faeship's whistle-a puff that made
sound unheard beyond her decks. but 1t an
nounced that the line was crossed.
Well might the patriots cheer and brazen
cylinders make the welkin ring. In trife
less than an hour and forty minutes the white
sloop had stood up practically closehauled
over course fifteen miles long. and that too.
in only gentle breeze. The cutter had had tho
weather for which she had been designed and
she had been beaten.
THE VICTORY NOT DECISIVE
Nevertheless. 1t was q defeat that did not
leave her hopeless by any means, nor was tho
day wholly satisfactory llght-air test OF the
boats. To the unbiased spectators 1t appeared
that the sloop had drawn away from the cutter.
after oyertakinz her two miles from the start,
more because OF q lucky slant OF wind than be-
cause Of any superiority In sails or model or
handling. The patriots. Of course. asserted
that It was because she spread thousand
feet more Of canvas above q well proportioned
hull
And then when tho turn was rounded the
cutter showed herself at least as good boat
to windward as was the centreboard sloop
As matter Of fact she gained q fraction OF q
minute in the course Of fifteen miles. Tho
patriots said that this was due to the fact that
the wind dropped. and failing wind was al
ways more favorable to the boat astern. How
ever this may have been. the fact remains that
In the point OF sailing where centreboarders
have always won over the fixed keel the cut
ter was able to hold her own.
The cutter was as heartily cheered BY tho
hosts when she crossed the line as
the sloop had been. and she had earned the
cheers.
From the finish line sparkling trail led
away to the harbor. because the unclouded
sun still hung high above the western horizon.
Into this pathway headed the pleasure fleet
The steam was whipped in feecy whiffs from
n hundred pipes by the soft swift air. The sea
was lashed into foaming wakes by hundred
wheels. There was neither shadow nor cloud
for any eye or soul above tho horizon The
fret great race between the British cutter and
the Yankee sloop had been sailed. and fair VIC
tory rested upon the sloop.
THE RACE IN DETAIL
vigiIant Beat vaIkyrie by 8 Minutes ss
Seconds Corrected Time.
The shellbacks cast knowing eye approx