The herald., 1894-08-05
LET THE EAGLE SCREAM.
The Vigilant Redeems Her
Reputation.
A Great Victory Over the
Britannia.
The American Yacht Easily Beats
the British Cutter.
Great Rejoicing Among the Yankee
Grew After the Race-George
Gould Narrowly Escapes
Drowning
By the Associated Press,

George Gould's yacht, Vigilant, has
redeemed the promise of her sailing
master, that given deep water and
strong wind, she would defeat the Prince
OF Wales crack boat, Britannia. The
race today was 80 miles, twice over the
queens course. The prize was s100.
The race was the 14th between the two
boats, of which the Britannia had won 10.
The start was in a stiff westerly breeze.
A large crowd watched the frst half Of
the race from shore, but about the time
that was completed, O drizzling rain set
in. Some seconds advantage WAS with
the Britannia in the sead-off at 10 40.
but the Vigilant quickly overcame it
and got the lead, which she held to the
finish, only once coming near being put
IN second place. a.
There was great excitementas as the two
yachts, with ordinary top sails and
medium jbs and foresails. glided grace.
fully along. pointing eastward until they
passed the fiagboat, which. out of com.
pliment to the Americans, was flying the
stars and stripes opposite the Royal
Yacht squsdron's castle. When they
swung round virtually together. in order
to pass the line, the yachts looked beau
tiful, powerful and swift as they sped
along beam for beam, with the Britain
MIA on the Vigilant's port side end hold
ing the weather position. Their sails
were well filed and nothing prettier
could be imagined than the sight they
presented as they went on the start back
toward the opposite shore, sailing
through an immense fest of yachts and
affording all on board the latter splen-
did view of the two racers, before the
struggle was commenced. But the fact
that the two cracks were obliged to
thread their way through the, feet OF
pleasure craft prevented the Vigilant
from getting out as readily as her oppo.
nent.
When the boats had got into less
crowded water, however, the Vigilant
opened out and soon drew level. Then
for half mile fret one boats bowsprit
and then the others showed in front.
With two tacks they passed the Lepe'a
buoy landmark as follows: Vigilant,
10 :55 :05; Britannia. 10 :56 100.
As they ran back for the Warner
lightship the Vigilant WAS still gaining,
passing the home mark about minute,
IL seconds ahead.
At Ryde pier, going eastward, tho
Vjgilant had q lead of minutes, SEQ
onds. showing a gain OF nearly min
ubes.
Running eastward the Vigilant gained
rapidly, but in beating back against the
wind the Britannia gained slightly. as
che passed Ryde pier, on the return
from the Warner lightship, only 2 min
utes, 10 seconds, behind the Vigilant.
A long reach brought the yachts back
to Cowes for the completion OF the first
round, the time being as follows:
Vigilant, 2:27: 10; Britannia, IL al :05.
The Vigilants lead here WAS minutes
55 seconds, only 20 seconds more than
her time allowance to her rival.
The wind had hauled around slightly
southward and was strong enough to
heel the yachts over most gracefully,
every inch of canvas being filled and
their bottoms showing up clearly.
After rounding Lepe buoy on the
second round the yachts returned in a
free reach and they passed Cowes with
Vigilant minutes s seconds ahead.
The American yachs, on going out OF
sight around the eastward point of
Cowes on the final round, had further
incressed her lead by 2 seconds. Passing
Ryde pier, going to the eastward on the
last round, the Vigilant was minutes
15 seconds ahead. Warner lightship
was hidden in fog when the yachts
passed it. Returning they came in
alght Of Cowes, about mile from home,
with the Vigilant minutes 55 seconds
in the lead.
The times at the finish were: Vigi-
liant, 2:37 40; Britannia, 2:44 80; con-
sequently, the Vigilant won by + min
utes 30 seconds, actual time, and by 4
minutee 4S seconds corrected time.
Taking the starting time as 10 40 and
tho finishing as 2:37 40, it will be seen
that that she won't over tho course,
slightly less than so miles, in hours 81
minutes 40 secoads. or. roughly speak
ing, at the rate of II miles an hour.
In addition to the prince OF Wales,
the duke of York and Commodore Nor
gan. the latter as Mr.. Gould's repreeen-
tative, were on board the Britannia.
George Gould and Howard Gould wore
on board the Vicilant, with Commodore
Ieen and Lord I.onsdals az their guests,
while Secretary Paget. who WAC also on
board, represented the prince of Wales.
On the Vigilant, Mr.. Isen was given
charge of the head sale, and his excited
condition, at some stages OF the race,
cccasioned friction, and once led to q
little tiff with Pilot Draper, who ap-
pears to have reaented this alleged in
reference with his department On
board the Britannia every thing eecmed
to work perfectly.
A representative of the Associated
Press boarded the Niailant shortly after
the race was finished. IL would be i'm
possible to describe in fitting terms the
slation of Capt. Hank Half and the
Y ankee crew over the days victory. Ii
was wsll-msrited caee of ''let the eagle
Scream" and the noble Dird did 30 Wig
,rously and continuously. Captain
Haf, discussing the race, said:
I'VE are especially proud Of the VIC
,ory, as it WAS won over the Prince Of
Wales' own course. He insisted that it