The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-09-14
vlaILANT HAS FINISHED.
The Career Of the American Yacht in Englisl
Waters Is Over.

year Tor the Cape May Challenge CuI
held by the Britannia on account o
the loss of the Vigilants centerboarc
while on her way here yesterday. The
Sailing Committee of the Roya
Yacht Squadron late this afternoon
sent letter to Mr.. Howard Gould
who was on board the Vigilant here
saying that under the circumstance.
the Prince of wales will consider the
challenge for the cup withdrawn
Both the Messrs. Gould, Captain
Hank Half and the crew of the Viei.
lant generally are greatly depressed
at this last accident TO the American
yacht.
Howard Gould, discussing the
matter said " 1t is most unfortunate
that we should be compelled to end
the seasons racing in this manner.
The only explanation | can give for
the loss OF the centerboard is that the
casting made at Southampton was
defective.
The accident occurred yesterday,
Just as we were inside the Needles.
We were sailing in FIVE fathoms of
water A friend and l were sitting at
lunch when suddenly the machinery
OF the centerboard began revolving
backwards. The cogs failed to hold
the wheels and they flew around at a
great pace. it was then evident that
the board has dropped and was hang
ing by its chain. The board gave the
Vigilant several very hard bumps as
we dragged it along for some distance
and then suddenly it broke entirely
off.
"There is absolutely no truth in
the statement that | had very narrow
escape from injury by the crank or
any other part of the centerboard
machinery flying off. Not only was
not In danger, but nobody else had
narrow escape from being injured. OF
course, if any one had placed them
selves in the way when the handle
was flying around it would have made
very short work of them.
HAPPENED IN CALM WATER.
AS to the cause of the accident, /
do not believe that we struck a rock
or anything else and the pilot was in
no way to blame. The chart plainly
showed that we were in five fathoms
Of water, and it is a mystery to me
that the accident did not occur while
We were in open sea. Coming from
Dartmouth the sea was very rough
and there must have been a great
strain upon the board. But, when the
accident occurred we were in CON-
parative calm water and it was calmer
still when we lost the board entirely.
Alter our arrival here we made up our
minds to race, centerboard or no
centerboard, so long as we were
allowing the ship extra ballast enough
to make up for the loss of the center.
board. We had shipped an extra crew
and were going to do our best to re-
capture the Cape May cup. We in
formed the Prince of Wales of our
purpose, but an hour ago l received
this note from committee, informing
us that under the circumstances the
Prince OF Wales would consider the
challenge wihdrawn.
"Of course, if we had insisted
Britannia would have raced but
felt that we bad no right to jeopardize
the cup in this way. We could hardly
have hoped to do ourselves Justice
without any ccnterboard, and had the
Britannia won, as she probably would,
Americas chances Of seeing the cup
again would have been small, as
Britannia would only have to win once
more in order TO become its pos
sessor."
Throughout the interview Mr..
Howard Gould showed how greatly
disappointed be was at the accident
to the Vigilant; but he talked in a
manly, sportsman.ike manner of the
yachts illfortune, adding: "There
seems to be fatality about our center
board over here and / don't wonder
that the English don't like them l
don't like them myself now. Why, one
OF the things we hoped to prove to
them was the dcsirability of using
centcrboards. But / guess that the
lesson must now be taken the other
way. Centerboards are certainly the
last things one wants on most of
these courses The pilots here can
never realize how much we draw with
them and there IS constant danger
from that source.
vIGILANT's SEASON OVER.
"Vigilant viii be laid up immed.
ately and her crew will be shipped
home so soon as she is dismantled,
and this will probably be within
week. We shall never race the Vigi.
)ant again. / must admit that she is
not suited for English waters. We
shall not attempt to recover the