The evening world., 1893-10-11
WATCHED FROM THE HIGHLANDS
The Events OF tho Day as Seen
Through a Telescope.

CIallenSer Tor tne America y 'up' II
was Nigilant weather. IL 1t can be said
that any particular conditions are more
favorable than others for the twice
victorious cup-defender.
Early this morning 1t was reported
that the wind was steady at twenty
eight knots per hour off Sandy Hook
from the northeast. but later the wind
fell gradually, until at 1890 it had
dropped to six miles an hour and was
coming from the eastward.
Weather-wise old salts hereabouts pre-
d!cted that 1t would shift more and more
to the southwark during the day. and
that in the afternoon 1t would come
from the southeast.
The day Is clearer than on Monday,
and scarcely a cloud Is to be seen over
head. There Is little II any maze to OBJ
sky and sea meet. the divisions are
sharply and distinctly drawn. There is
Il heavys ground swell on, and a consid-
cradle sea in the neighborhood of the
l~ightship, which makes the. little. boats
toss and bob about like coclle-shells.
Both the big sinsle.stiekers got down
was first to arrive, She came down in
the, turn at the Hook. and then. with
lib set. she cast off The line and stood off
for The liEhtship, which she reached
about a15 a. NJ. Nalkyrle came down
cast Oft her line until near the red-huiled
llghtshlp. She then had her working
sails set. with a baby jibtopsail, which
Oft to the south OF the starting line.
They began lacking back and forth
below the lightship. to try the set of
their sails, and making sure that every
gle.
Nigilant frequently changed her head
sails. and seemed to be testing her new
bowsr rit and varying conditions of wind.
j~ihtopsails.
The fact that the breeze was becoming
lighter was shown by the am in
which the racers stood up under their
big spread of canvas.
The flagship May arrived Mt the light
ship. and hove to .tust to the eastward
of the dark red hulk, a few minutes
before II o'clock. So far as could be
seen she had not then set any compass
to hold from the present quarter the
yachts would undoubtedly be started
in a southwesterly direction down the
course. taking first the tlfteen-mile run
At lilo A. NJ. the excursion boats
were beginning to gather in the vicinity
to the southwark of the fleet, while Val
kyrle was standing. out to sea, a consid-
The VIM had principally diminished
in force during the last half hour, and
in the vicinity. Of the Lightship there
seemed to to be almost a lead E calm aim o The
for n long distance under the lee of the
excursion fleet. Still there was breeze
enough apparently to start the race;
her compass signals would seem to indi-
cate that the race officials were waiting
for more wind.
The fleet OF sailing vessels was not as
large as on Monday. Many of the big
schooner. yachts were towed down to
the starting line.
was inshore and coming, from the east,
while eight miles out, where the yachts
were, 1T was blowing in light puffs
from the southeast.
! No Indications were yet given that the
race would be started on time.
The flagship Mays signal line showed
always gone up promptly at Ills was
Both Vigilant and valkyrie were
STANDING in from the the east ss towards nya q Is, the the
starting line.
At 1850 Vigllant p, u close in to-
wards the nagship and how to a short
distance from her. She seemed to have
gone in for instructions.
There was almost u dead calm at the
At lbs vigilant passed slowly down
to southwark of the lightship, and as
she glided lazily along her big working
sails seemed to hang almost limp. Her
Valkyrie was hove to to the northward.
If the May had signal flags up they
were hanging limp and could not be
read from the shore.
At 1l,45 the breeze inshore was fresh
ening a trifc and had hauled around to
the south of east. The big yachts were
drifting about the stakeboat with their
fleet was lying off the lightship as If at
anchor.
south of the lightship, with the big
sol are-rigged Valiant close beside her.
There was just enough breeze to keep
about the fleet, crossing and recrossing
each others bows to Kill time until 1t
should be decided whether to try n
The movement of some Of the excur-
sion fleet back towards the Lightship
at 1925 seemed 70 indicate that there
was some possibility of starting the
race.
1t was evident, however, that on the
flagship no decision as to sailing the
race had been reached.
The sudden dropping of the wind to
almost a dead calm was n big surprise
even to the, old salts at the Highlands,
At 124 both .Nigilant and Nalkyrie
came about and lay up in the wind just
abreast OF the May: and remained close
together for several minutes. a swarm
of tugboats lowered about them, and
St'ltI'u ~ " 'EA "
one to the other.
After what seemed to be n conference
between the shippers and the Committee
on the May the yachts stood away again
and began to circle siuggishly around
the flagship.
No signal indicating a postponement of
the race had yet been set on the May
at 12.45. although the breeze seemed to
be lighter than ever.
At 1855 o'clock no sign had yet been
given by the May AS to whether the race
would be sailed to-day or not.
Nigilant took "A tow to prevent her
from drifting about. but Valkyrie was
still going II alone
The judges boat at l p. NJ. ~signalled
to the yachts:
d you want a p~ostponement of the
race?"
Nigilant ~signalled, YES"
Nalkyrie's reply could not be seen Tor
several minutes, as she was standing off
shore and her signal halyards were In
visible.
At LIS no signal had been observed on
Valkyrie. Both yachts were in tow al
that time, and were headed up towards
the lightship, accompanied by the judges,
boat May. Neither yacht had lowered
Valkyrie cast off her tow and wen
about at III u. NJ. AS she hoisted nc
signal the inference was that Lord Dun
raven had not consented to a postpone
ment.
Vigllant had also zone about. Valkyr!e
NO ptapIipu in Towards shore