The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-14
vlGILANT WON THE THIRD.
Defeated the vaikyrie in a
Closely Contested Race.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13.-The best in
formation from the New York yacht
race at O'Clock was that the Vigilant
had won by twelve seconds. 1t was re-
ported earlier from Sea Bright. N. j.,
that the Vigilant had won by forty Sec
onds.
On account OF the wires being down
between Richmond and Lynchburg THE
TINES could receive no later returns
from the contest. The afternoon dis.
patches of tie Southern Associated
Press give some of the details of the
race.
The contest into which the two yachts
entered so eagerly to-day was fifteen
miles to windward and return. More
than half of the course was covered
Wednesday and which ended in fluke,
The superstitious old shell-backs along
the beach pointed out this morning i'll
omens of to-day for the race or any
other venture. 1t was not only Friday,
an unlucky day on their calendar, but
it was the 18th Of the month as we'll.
This combination made the sea dogs
wag their heads in an exceedingly ugly
manner, as they predicted something
would surely happen before the dav
way over.
Those persons who laugh at supersti-
tious fancies and make the wish father
to the thought, were firm in the belief
that the something" that was to
happen in this particular case was an
other defeat for the Valkyrie, and q
final victory OF the saucy white sloop
that, blow high or blow low. has full
filled the hopes OF every American in
the land.
On the Valkyrie several changes were
made yesterday which Lord Dunraven
thought would make her better foe for
the Vigilant than she has been. An
extra ton OF lead ballast was placed in
her hold amidships. This made her set
lower in the water and increased her
load water line.
After the additional ballast had been
put aboard and made fast the Valkyrie
was measured. The increased length OF
water line cuts down the Il ne allowance
which the boat received from the Vigil
liant from one minute. torty-eight
seconds to one minute, thirty three
seconds. IL was expected that the loss
Of fifteen seconds in time allowance will
be more than compensated for by the
improved sailing ability of the yacht
AT 1l:l5 a. m. the preparatory signal
gun was fired from the May. Tho
yachts had their mainsails, ibis and
gatfsails set and Immediately pointed
TOR their positions.
The excursion boats getting in the
course OF the yachts caused some DELAY
in starting and the signal on the May
was not run up until l2:ls p. w., at
which tho yachts made for the lightship
and were prepared for tho start. At
l2 81 the race was begun, the Vigilant
taking tho lead she maintained for some
time.
The two yachts we're on their star
board tacks off Atlantic Highlands
when the weather began to thicken and
it was difficult to discern their progress
from the shore. AT 1910 tho Valkyre
appeared to be getting several duckdews
and had to luff up to keep steady. The
Vigilant ploughed along and increased
her lead. Off Rockaway Beach, l.. L.,
at o'clock the Vigilant was about an
eighth OF mile ahead. Both boats
were sailing with their lee rails under
water, the Valkyrie apparently being a
little SITTER than the American.
The wind continued very fresh and
the yachts were spinning through tho
water. At l:49 o'clock they had COW
cred twelve miles of the distance, but
not on their course. The yachts seemed
to be coming together, but at 2:l0 tho
Vigilant seemed to be outfooting her
rival in the race for the stake boat. At
2:15 the Valkyrie appeared in tho lead
and continued To increase tho gap be
tween them until they rounded the boat
the Valkyrie leading by three minutes,
the Vigilant passing ii at 2;43 p. III.
The yachts could be seen from Far
Rockaway at . 50 p. IN. ploughing
through the water at tergific speed
Then the Vigilant began to gain slowly
but surely on her rival until at 3.1a when
the two boats were running about neck
and neck with the Valkyrie maintaining
her own. AT 1915 the Vigilant passed her
rival and headed her to the end OF the
course.
LArER.-The Vigilant crossed the
line at 3:52:44. The Valkyrie crossed
the line at 2:h5:3n Thn Vipilant wins