Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-07-06
THE YALkYRIE WENT DOWN,
hut THE BRITANNIA BEAT THE
AMERICAN YACHT.
The satnnita CoIIided with the VAL
kyrie, sinking Her-rbe Start Was
Made in n Mist--The Races and
other Sporting News Items.


| CLUB today opened amid n scene OF eN-
element which was soon after intense
fed by a collision between the Val
kyrie and the satinlta, which resulted
in the sinking OF the former yacht and
the serious disabling OF the latter. A
| fever heat Of excitement had prevailed
previous to the start for the Muir me-
mortal cup. No such interest has ever
been before shown In a yachting con-
test, for the American flyer Vigllant
was to meet for the first time the
admitted to be the fastest yacht IN
| Europe Every point OF vantage about
the course was packed with slghtseers
from early morning, and their number
was constantly added TO as the day
advanced. Hunters quay, Innelan,
| Toward Point. Skelmorlie Wemyss.
Gloch Point and Kilcreggan were the
main places from which the races could
be best seen and to these points the
crowds hocked in wholly unprecedented
numbers.
The start was fixed for 1880 a. m,
and just previous to the hour fair
wind was blowing and 1t was expected
that the race would be concluded by
p. m. The Britannia. Valkyrle and
satinita lay at the Holy Loeb anchor
age. Il small bay close to and q little
northward of Hunters Quay.
Ready for the Race.
All hoisted their racing flags at sum
rise and commenced active prepare
fI.t.ss 6 h.. Has, 20 10,
Nigilant stayed at Gourock bay dur
ing the night, but shortly after .
O'Clock. with nag nying proudly, and
under her lower sails. the American
clipper reached across the bay. coming
swiftly through the water which her
bows cut with knifelike sharpness.
Never did yacht look trimmer or
more 1T for race than did the Vigllant
this morning. The government steam
ship yacht Atlanta, with large party
on board. followed the Vlglldut 10 the
Holy Loeb anchorage.
The breeze began freshening untll
rafting southerly wind was blowing
and no doubt remained that fine
days racing wac in prospect The
breeze had been coming along the firth
In gusts all the morning and the ex-
perts had II that II would freshen and
hold out at least long enough for all
yachting purposes. But just previous
to the start. the clouds which had
been gathering with the wind, grew
blaclSer and Il became showery. All
the yachts set their mainsails and
small top sails The start was made
In binding mist. the wind. however,
stlli holding good. The Vlgllant, Brit
ANNA and Satanita came up In line on
the port tack To turn the mark boat,
while the Vnlkyrie reached down from
Holy Loeb The Satanita was too soon
By half minute. On the other hand
the Britannia was able to luff on the
line for a capital start The vigllant
turned It Handsomely and was on the
mark boat shortly after gun TIRE. But
the Britannia was quicker and got off
three lengths ahead.
The NnilSyrIc sunk.
Then came the accident Of the day
which threw out ~ the race and out
Of racing for some time TO come she
Valkyrie and satanlta These craft.
NAAAAf RAhldAAlNh lhl we SAAAII became
locked together and In few minutes
| the Valkyrie settled down and sank
while the satnnita was 80 badly dam
] aged that she was obliged to retire.
Some time passed before the people
! ashore fully realized what had hap
| pened. The Satanltn It appears was
luftlng fol the start and was unable to
I get out OF the Balkyric's way as the lat
ter was coming up on the starboard tack
The Volkyrle's bowsprlt ran across the
satanita's toresall aud the collision
which ensuod carried away the
satanita's howsprit and topmast Ieav-
Ing her u wreck covered with tangled
/ rigging and collapsed sails. The force
/ of the collision cut the Valkyric down
/ to the waters edge and she slowly set
tied and sank In three minutes Ashore.
owing to the mist It was difficult 10
] immJ din;ely ascertain what had hap
pened eNGep; that there had been a col
llsion and the Valkyrle had gone down.
Loud cries were heard from the crews
OF the two yachts and Tor q time Il
was feared that number OF the crew
Of the Valkyre had been drowned.
4 Happily this was not ;he ise as gcrd
Dunrayen Watson and the officers and
crew Of the Vallsyrlc were picket M by
boats which put out rom the shore
aud from The many sailing yachts and
steam yachts In the yiclnity Oh the
scene VI the accident.
Crowded by obtrudIng crafts.
The captain OF the satanlta sald he
did not have room to turn. owing to
the large number OF steam and other
yachts which gathered abons the
starting line. When the valkyrle te-
gan to Ill., some OF her crew lnnpod
overheard; a few succeeded IN seramb-
ling ON board the satanita, others
were taken OF by steam yachts and
some were picket up holding on 10
floating objects. One OF the Valkyrle's
seaman, William Brown. was caught
between the Valkyrie and steam
yacht and had his leg badly crushed.
1 The Valkyrie lies in twenty-five faith
oms 81 weter, The satanlta carried
away six yards Of her starboard bow
and beam above the water line. The
cook OF the satanita had his arm
broken.
Ia the meantime the Vigllant and the
{ britannia had gotten away, not know