The herald., 1893-10-22
THE VIG|LANT vs., vAKYRIE,
An Angeleno's Account of One
of the Races.
A Marine Display Which Was Re-
markable in Many Respects.
The Great Gathering of all Kinds OF
Crafts with spectators-A Race
Whinh Was Never
Completed.
Ipecial correspondence to the HrRAID.

Special correspondence TO the HERAID.
New YoRK, Oct. 14.-The great ocean
race for the American cup took place
while was in New York, so OF course |
went out TO see it. 1t not only gave me
good idea of the race, but probably
was as complete showing OF marine
architecture in every way as one could
imagine. There was every kind OF
steamer at the race, from steam launches
20 feet in length up to ocoan going
steamers OF 1000 tons. had supposed,
with all the modern improvements,
that there were very few side wheel
steamers in the New York waters, but
there were dozens of them, and many
showing an unusual rate OF speed. The
boats OF every variety were we'll equipped
and we'll managed. The law in regard
to the inspection of steamers in New
York is very strict, and the inspectors
not only frequently examine the boat
from hull to hurricane deck, but also
limit the number OF passengers that can
be carried, go that on no boat was there
any crowding or discomfort. The ad-
not only in the increased comfort of the
passenger, but also in the degree exhibss
tied by all steamers. and the ease and
safety with which they we're handled.
While there were frequently dozen
boats within a biscuits toss of each
other, there were no collisions or acci-
dents OF any kind. When the boats
were running close together, there were
no signal whistles blown, but each pilot
seemed to know by intuition the route
and speed necessary. In addition to the
regular pilots, there were never lees
than three or four volunteers in the
pilot house. Besides the regular feet
OF steamers, there was sbout dozen
private steam yachts of the Vanderbilts
and other New Yorkers. They were
propellors of from 800 to 500 tons, of
beautiful model, with long, projecting
bows, and looking like greyhounds.
On nearly all the boats there were
bands of music, abe tables we're spread
all day for dinner, and in the forward
part of the boat there was bar which
was moderately pstronized. There
were, however. none that drank to ex-
cess and in fact the New York crowds
were always pleasant and polite.
The weather, which had previously
been very stormy, became calm and
warm, so that the greatest difficulty
with the race was the lack of breeze.
This race was the event OF the season,
and Thousands came from all points to
New York. The boats left very early in
the morning for the racing grounds, be-
ginning at 7 80 until $3.50. Almost
every variety of steamer was pressed
into service. There were three large
az taa oh
1900 to 1900 passengers each, three or
four of the biggest sound boate--im-
menee side-wh wheelere-probably the
largest boats OF shis description now in
existence. There were several Coney
island and Hudson river boats; one of
these, the General Slocum, carried
1000 passengers. There were certainly
100 steamers OF all descriptions, big and
little. Then there were probably 20, 900
people in attendance at the race. AS
fine sight as was seen WAS this num-
ber of steamers running down the river,
generally in line, two or three abreast.
and extending distance of two miles.
l happened to be on the fastest side
wheeler, and, while we passed nearly
all the boats, there were one ocean
steamer and new sound boat IA pro-
peller) that passed us, but think they
must have had a speed of over 20 miles
an hour. 1t reminded me very much
of the old racing days on the Missis-
sippi Our boat got SO hot around the
smoke stack and boiler chat the passen-
gers wouldn't stand very clo1e.
Every once in a while we would hear
the bell ring from the pilot house to
put on more steam, and the walking
beam would accelerate its speed and two
men with oil cans were standing on the
deck where the walking beam was, to
keep the bearings from heating. In
fact it was quite exciting till we got
down to the Sandy Hook lighthouse
there the vessels all stopped their en-
gines and waited for the signal to be-
gin.
for the yachts to start. They seemed to
have on large amount of sails but at
the signal they ran up more sails until
they were perfect clouds OF canvas. The
yachts were sloop rigged, and in addi-
tion to the mainsail, had eail on the
other side called the spinnaker, which
was nearly as large as the mainsail. The
Vigilant had also balloon jib, which
was loose jib running over the end of
the jibOoom to the top OF the main
mast, and it seemed to catch good deal
of breeze. There was very light wind,
and at the etart the American vessel
seemed to walk away from the Britisher.
All the sails drew splendidly; whereas
the Englishman didn't seem to under
stand tho art of setting sails for light
breeze. The yachts ran this way before
the breeze for about an hour, when the
wind. which had been with them,
changed to the port bow. The Vigilant
Immediately took down her flying jib
and hauled in her spinnaker, but,
in doing this, as the wind
had changed go that it was
blowing with the tide, swung her head
around and she began drifting back on
her course. The Englishman waited
little longer. then steered so as to come
between the wind and the American
vessel; as he did so he hauled in the
epinnaker. The breeze caught ell the
sails, and before the Vigilant could get
back again into the wind the Valkyrie
was over mile in the lead. OF course
we all felt as much depressed az we
were elated at the beginning of the
race.
The vessels continued at about this
relative distance to the end of the
course, 15 miles out, where the British
or rounded the stskeboat in fine style,
20 minutes ahead. amidst the cheers Of
$4,000 people and the screeching of the
steam whistles. The Vgilant came up