Omaha daily bee., 1893-10-06
STAT RED IN A THICK FOG.
Vigiiant had "a Good Lead When she Al
lowed the valkyrie tn Pass Her.

lowed the Vaikyrie tn Pass Her.
NEwYoRK, Oct. 5.-Valkyric and Vigilant,
Great Britain and the United States, John
Bull and Uncle Sam, the stars ard stripes
and the "blood and CUTS faced each other
today for the Americas cup.
The weather at 8 a. IN. was dull, damp and
dreary. a hight northwesterly breeze was
blowing and the weather sharps had it
that n clear day was in prospect later on,
People hercabouts have gradually oeen ed
ucated up to n point in aguatics where a man
or woman is classed as several thousand
years behind the age who cannot tell the
difference between sloop and cutter. schooner
and yawl. clubtopsail and balloon lib,
spanker and ~staysail, mainsall ana gafftop-
sail. The visits of the Genesta, Galatea and
the rest from over the water have done
much toward educating our people in mari
time matters, and so it was a well posted
crowd that made its way at an early hour
this morning from New York. Brooklyn.
Jersey City, Philadelphia, Boston and many
other places to see the greatest of al. yacht
races.
Rules for the First Race.
According to the sailing directions the
start was to be made off Sandy Hook light
ship, the preparatory signal being given at
I:l5 a. IN. AT the starting signal, ten min
utes later, the yachts were to get off as
quickly ms they could, that being the start
ing Tune OF both, no allowance being made
to either boat for failing to get across the
imaginary line quick enough. The course
determined upon for the first race was fiji
teen miles TO wlndward or leeward and re
turn, both yachts turning around n mark
anchored NJ the fifteen mile post, and start
ing and finishing across an imaginary line
drawn between Commodore Morgan's flag
ship, the May, and Sandy Hook lightship. The
marks were floats displaying n red flag with
a white stripe; the position of the float was
indicated by Il tug showing Il req ball anu
stationed about 100 yards beyond it.
Admirable Police Arrangements
About the Battery, Fort Wadsworth ana
the Highlands of Neversink thousands who
were not lucky enough to get away to the
race on a steamer or sailing vessel, gathered
to witness the grand procession of large and
small craft laden with excursionists bound
for Sandy Hook. Never in the history of in
ternatiOnal yacht racing has so much inter
est been shown in an aquatic event. and il
was soon seen that the police force on the
Aurora, chartered especially for the contest
In place OF the regular police boat Patrol,
would have its work cut out to keen in order
the immense fleet of boats that was out to
see the race.
me police arrangements were admirable.
Fifty picked bluecoats manned the Aurora
under the command of Inspector Williams,
an oii phllbI lllc NlOlei OTtb DplIg unupr
the direction of Superintendent Byrnes.
The policemen were divided into four crews,
ready TO man the life boats at n moments
notice. In addition two men were stationed
at each gangway with a large supply of life
preservers, ana five police surgeons formed
part Of the Aurora's crew. Finally,
Commander Kane of the race committees
chartered seven tugs for extra patrol
duty, with instructions to cooperate with
the Aurora. The six patrol boats at Tho
Hook had already taken nm thair limo ,yitl
the excursion boats north of Sandy Hook
!ightship. The precautionary measures also
include the presence on each of the eXcur-
sion craft, OF custom house officers, and all
The revenue cutters which could be spared
lent a hand in the police work.
l he New York Yacht club members and
Their friends were on board the steamer St.
Johns, the Atlantic Yacht club people char
tered the steamship Gayhead, the Sewan-
haka Yacht club was on board the Al Fos-
ter, the L%archmont club was on a large tug,
the Providence Yacht club selected the
Cygnus as their flagship, and the Eastern
Yacht club was on board the Block Island
These were only a few of the yacht clubs
represented.
In addition, excursion boats brought
crowds of people from the sound ports, and
from many places in New England states
and New Jersey.
As the Half Hours Passed.
About o O'Clock the Valkyrie, in tow of n
Tug, passed outside of Sandy Hook. At the
same hour the Vigilant was in the lower
bay, hosting her mainsail. The wind at that
hour had changed to north northeast. n
slight breeze was blowing about five miles
per hour and Il slight sea was running. The
ioggy atmosphere prevented IA good view of
the yachts.
About 0:30 the Vigilant was seen coming
out of the Hook. BY this time the wind had
again changed, this time to the north north
west with slightly Increased velocity, reach
ing ap TO six miles per hour, The weather
was still foggy, aud everybody wished for
more wind and clear skies.
AT 10 Il. IN. the haze was drifting slightly
ana the wind was due north. The Valkyrie
was at the Scotland lightship, and the Vigil
iaht had just passed outside Sandy Hook.
Getting Anxious for the start.
HIGHLASps OF NEvERsINK, oct. Sat
1880 there seemed a prospect of no race.
The wind was only five miles an hour. The
weather sharps, however, had it that the
breeze might freshen. Both yachts were
about the Sandy Hook lightshlp and the
patrol boats we're keeping the big feet
OF excursion steamers, tugs and yachts
wen in order. The haze was lift
ing slightly and II long stream of
late boats loaded with excursionists was
pouring down the bay and out past the Hook.
The fleet gathered outside the Hook AT this
hour was larger than ever before seen at n
yacht race. The excitement was intense.
BON OF the competing yachts showed up
hnely, ana there was little or 40 betting on
the race except at even money.
Al the yachts We're standing about the
line playing Tor position, with u light wind
blowing. The fog had cleared slightly, but
not enough to warrant the assertion that
the first OF the series of races would be
sailed. The old salts are busily whistlin
for Il breeze.
" ii ;lOtwo guns were fired, but the fog
was too thick TO determine if the yachts
We're preparing TO start. la the haze they
could ne seen moving about.
Atll:lo the preparatory gun was fired and
people began beginning to feel they had not
como'out for nothing,
At Last They Got Away.
FAR k~oCKAwAN, l.. L., Oct. 5-The yachts
nave started over the southern course. The
,Nlgllant crossed the liue to the windward,
but the Vaikyrie appeared to be closing up
the gap between them, The wind was very
nght, ana everything pointed 10 the pros
pert of there being no race.
HlGHLANns ofNEyERsISK, Oct. 5.-l2:02 p.
MI anything, the wind is dying still more,
ann, Ia use an old sea dogs expression, the
sea IS smooth AS a maiden's check 1t is
only from four Ia six miles an hour and il
VIII not be surprising if todaY's heat Is too
slow &c come within the siX-hour limit neces.
sary 70 make il race.
The eyric OF the Associated press is the
hosI favored Of all the perches from which