St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-05


| the turbulent water dancing a mad gal
lop with the brilliant sunshine.
The village stirred, yawned and was
settling down to sound nap with NUT
tered maledlctionS on the noisy war en-
CINE, when consciousness brought re-
membrance of the days exciting sport,
| and, with boisterous show of activity,
it jumped from its couch prepared for
great things.
Over on the other bluff. where the
long, white hotel reflected the glory of
the morning, the old gun was less
effective. Society slept complacently
impatiently longing for relief, noticed
man cross the Office floor and go out on
the broad veranda.
With a quick look to the eastward he
stood enjoying the fresh breeze, until an
anxious voice turned him quickly toward
the open door.
What luck. Whip
"SOutheaster." was the laconIc an
swer that sent Decring forward with
rush.
"A race 10 windward and back
Billy, my boy" hugging his friend
eXultantly, "the fateS are with us.
"Well, Jack, old fellow" and Billy
langhingly returned the impetuous
embrace, II guess the Nancy will be
true blue"
The narrow strait separating Round
island from Mackinac Is alive with
gaily-decked craft, rocking about in
manner that bodies little enjoyment for
any but seasoned tar. Tiny steam
yawls chase between larger and more
cumbersome vessels. and make futile
attempts TO sink the red buoy which
marks the opening stake. The jaunty
al cad
with mariners bold. who hide under
smart caps and blue flannel toggery a
cowardly longing for the dull, tame
shore.
The sands are lined with people, who
cover the IampartS of the fort and fill to
overlooking the broad gallery of the
white hotel. Up in the little cupola
over the red roof an anxious group of
faces watch the the desultory move
ments of two sioOps drifting SO aimleSsly
about the small basin. AT last a prepar-
atOry gun from the deck of the official
launch gives timely ending to idle
maneuvering, and having signaled for
readiness, she SteamS aWayto form the
outer wall for the start. The Phyllis and
Nancy, with reefedmainsails staunch and
taut in the heavy breeze. and single jibS
pulled out like large balloons, slowly
swing around and advance toward an
| imaginary line drawn between the
| gaudy Sinker and the waiting launch.
The Nancy has a slight advantage over
| her opponent, but is coming so quickly
with the pretty white side touching the
water that great throb of fear stirs
the Interested audience. Will she be
too soon? Must the race be lost before
starting by wrong time calculation?
| Every face is turned implorihgiy
| toward tEa SaupV steamer SO heed less Of
the catastrophe, and eyes are strained
to catch the first flash of powder. The
Nancy actually leaps across the watery
| space, widening to two lengths the dis
lance from her rival. and heads so near
the line that Sickeniug apprehension
OF defeat stirS the nervous group on the
ho;el roof. All at once bright glare
grees the view, resoundlng report
arouses the imprisoned voices on the
island. and with all instant of grace the
pretty yacht flies across the line, fol.
lowed some seconds later by the Phyllis,
and the race is on.
A windward contest is a trying eX-
pertinent for strained nerves nautically
interested but nautically ignorant. The
| ZigZag course battles all Certainty as to
the boat ahead, and the excited specta-
tor must possess his doubling soul in
patience. while sympathiZing friends
befog his intelligence with mysterious
prattle OF port and sIarboard tackS.
Consequently, when the two yachts
point directly toward the south peninsu
la instead of down the straits, watch.
erS, after the first surprise, accept
the superstition that they will arrive al
the right destination by some peculiar
process of sailing tactics known to the
man at the wheel and settle down to en-
Joy the exciting chase. The Nancy
maintains her starting lead and both
yachts spin across the blue water with
Incredible speed, careening over till
decks are washed and the spray hap
ties the men stretched along theil
sides. The heavy wind stitfens the
spare canvas bent out over the lake and
masts groan with the burden of the
weighty sails.
Across the track of merchant vessels
darts the plucky Nancy. while the
Phyllis, hopeless of catching the will
, o'-the- wisp so provOkiugly beyonC
reach, changes her helm, shifting main
:. sail and jib to the other side. There
they tremble moment, undecided a.
to the intention of the guiding hand
, then fill again and off she heads alons
Bots Blanc Island.
Bnt why does the Nancy steer 81
madly toward the Michigan shore
, | \
the little red buoy dashing in thu
breakers before Sheboygan? Has Silt
, no care for the yearning eyes and anX
, iouS hearts that follow the contest witt
fearful dread? An! Capt. Will, hav,
!. you no pity for the girl in the towe
: whose white hand brushes your violet
to still the beating of her heart?
On sails the Phyllis down the edge O
the long island, slower this time, bu
8 surely forging ahead. Still the Name
: moves obstinately toward the mainland
t scorning her rivals progress. Sailor
eager for action scan the captains fac
: turned to the nearing shore. An III
: slant of intense strain, then "Har
r a-lee" rings Justify from the stron
o throat, answered by noise of shiftin
: ropelocks that reverse mainSal au
. lib in the twinkling of an eve
A deadening second, when prog
Y ress seems despair; then tn
d winds fill the spotless sails, the lei
: edge OF the pretty model yields to tn
caress of impetuous Neptune and dow
= the broad channel SKINS the Name
with the Phyllis stern for goal. Tn
i latter boat. skirting the island Goa.
o ahead, is yet i'll a position to fear cor
petition. for the Macy, nearer the dt
:. sired shore, points into the wind NOR
k adyantageOusly, though the slight Gt
e crease in space between the sloops
IS not appreciated by the audience O
:, land, from which vantage ground tn
II distance apart is added TO the Nancy
d oSs.
AT line nearly opposite Pointe au
z Pines OH Bots Blanc the Phyllis change
ID her course. settles her canvas again
d the starboard side and steers for I'll
If Sheboygan shore. But what is this sf
1t encounters. dancing along gayly, shal
i ing the spray from her pretty skirts an
l huttering the Dennant at her head lik
s. a saucy wave OF her hani? Nancy
r coming to greet PHYLLIS. and arriving s