Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1893-03-07
ROMANCE OF A RACE.

I am landlrbber OF the first water,
If may be allowed the simile. My fa-
miliarity with yachting is equal to my
personal acquaintance with prehistoric
man-and the more endeavor to master
the subject the more hopelessly involved
/ become. But that does not detract in
the least from the pleasure enjoy while
being upon yacht-nor does my igno
rance embarrass me. have stood upon
the sail halyards and wondered why the
sail didn't come down. have sought
to hoist the ensign to the peak and left
the rope Qhalyard, should say) SO slack
that in a few minutes the flng was
dropped to half mast, and every captain
IN the harbor has called to express his
regret at the sad occurrence.
i always throw cigar ashes and such
things over the wrong rail and receive
the words of the skipper regarding the
matter with Christianlike humility
that well becomes me. In fact, have
the true love of yachting at heart, and
hghtness of spirit that rises superior to
the difficulties with which a lubber has
to contend, and the sarcasm that is
freely poured out to him. This explanR,
ton is necessary, because the yachtsmen
who read this story will laugh at the
easy way in which get things wrong
but write not for the yacht race. for
yachts and races are subordinate to the
little romance in which took a hand.
Our feet-that is, the fleet of the Deep
Ray Yacht Club-was on its annual
cruise up Long Island Sound 1 was
guest upon the sloop Dawn, and had the
captain and owner not been great
friend of mine, fear that might have
been put ashore early in the cruise and
left to get home as best as could. A
race straightaway across the sound was
arranged for the second day, and the
boats all lay at anchor in Blackfish Har-
Dor, off the little town of Nutmeg, same
State. There were but two 40-footers in
the heet-the Dawn was one and the
Foam the other-and between the two
captains strong friendship and an In
tense rivalry existed. Until late in the
night we were discussing the race be-
tween our two boats, and heavy odds
were laid on each.
There was good breeze blowing early
on the day of the race. and we all tum-
bled upon deck about o'clock in the
morning may be allowed to state just
here that the crews of the boats were all
amateurs, and as 1 wns superlative in
that degree did land duty whenever it
was necessary; so about 7:30 / went
ashore TO repIenish the water barrel.
The skipper rowed with me over to the
landing place, where he was joined soon
after by the captain of the Foam, while
took a man in tow to gather the water.
While working thus, in very ordinary
clothes, horse and buggy came flying
down the road, and when the driver
saw me he mistook me for boatnan q
have since pardoned the mistake-it was
balm after being SO long assailed as a
lubber).
"Isay," he cried, pulling up his horse,
"have you boat2 I want to get over to
Long Island right away" and as he
spoke he glanced neryously up the road.
well, no answered, al am
aboard a yacht"
Do you see hint" interrupted a
sweet voice from beneath the hood of the
buggy, and for the first time noticed a
girl within.
"Can you not aid met" he asked; II
am er-er-"
1 saw it in moment-the pair had
eloped and papa was probably close be-
hind. A thought flashed through my
mind, and first ventured to ask Do
you want ninisterR'
Yes" the man answered, I" but I
must get into Long Island frst-the old
man is too near for fun. 4"
"Oh, Henry" called the girl, and
hearing her voice again decided me.
'F Come, I said, " this way" and in a
moment the pair had left the buggy and
were following me to the dock. Charlie,
our skipper. stared as 1 came up, but I
motioned the two in the boat, and in a
moment had told him of the case It
was just as knew, and he tumbled in
after me, leaving the captain of the
Foam to ask . More passengers3"
/ 1t was the way he said it that hurt
me, and frowned on him as ne stood
smiling on the pier AS the yawl reached
the Dawn gun, which was the signal
to get ready, sounded from the flagship,
and in a minute the eloping pair were In
the cabin, while we were occupied with
raising the anchor. The sails were hauled
| up, and just as they filed saw the cap
tam of the Foam rowing ont with a
stranger. Igave the matter NO thought.
but busted myself with the minor duties
of coiling rope, &c, which had been as-
! signed to me. until suddenly wondered
whether the old man, the father of the
girl, had been taken aboard the other
yacht
All the boats were under way by that
time, and, looking toward our rival, j
saw gray head polzing out of the cabin
door. Charlie was at the wheel. and /
Whispered my suspicious and brought up
the would be bridegroom to inspect. As
he saw him he grew pale -and his eyes
flashed.
& know cannot get lahore now, .
he said turning to Charlie. Do you
think you can beat him over to the Other
shorel''
Yes. sir. answered our skipper. eve
can and viii. orelse lose the mast, " and
Saw that he meant it.
Just then the two boats were along
side, and the old man and the young one
exchanged expressive gestures as their
eyes met,
] Banswent the signal to start and the