New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19

r.s CAUSED BY GROUNDING. But MEMBERS
or THE ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON BE-
LEvE 1T TO HAVE BEEN A SCHEME
TO AVOID RACING-LoRD VOL
vERTON wITHDRAws HIS
oFFER-A COLLISION
IN soUTHAMP-
TON WATER
rowes. Aug 1S.-The Vigilant and the Britain
MA started this morning in the match race for
.,s Woyerton Cup. The yachts got under way
=, 1890 o'clock and passed down the Solent. The
p,,ann,a after rounding The Needles. headed to
,hs eastward. into Freshwater Bay. The Vigi,ant
stben standing close to The Needles. She sud
asnly luffed up. lowered her topsail. took in her
,,sstaysail and hauled down her racing flag.
II was seen that she was disabled, and boats put
Az, from the Osborne and the Atalanta to learn
the nature of the accident boat from the
osborne conveyed the information to the Britain
MA that the Vigilant had lost her centreboard
and would not be able to race The Britannia
returned TO Cowes under sail and the Vigilant
vas towed to Southampton to be drydocked
twas ascer;ained that the sloops centreboard.
an immense plate Of Tobln bronze weighing
ust after she passed The Needles American
vachtsmen here cannot recall similar accident
IN yacht race. The Vigilants centreboard was
no. hung on a pivot. in the old-fashioned way,
Int was held in place by detachable gearing.
HOWARD GOULD BLAMES THE PILOT.
Howard Gould says that the Vigilant struck
the ground close TO The Needles. the chain Of her
centreboard broke. and the board sank. He
bhmes Pilot Diaper for running the sloop
aground. Diaper says that at the time he did not
know that the centreboard down
Mr. Gould did not think that the Vigiant would
sst another centreboard here. He thought she
would race again. however. before leaving Eng
Nsh waters toward the end of September
The original intention Of the committee in
charge of the match was 10 have the racers
tcwed to the starting point by the royal steam
yacht Osborne and Mr.. Gouds Atalanta. There
was enough breeze from the northwest. however.
TO allow the yachts 10 start from the rendezvous
here under their own sails The Atalanta and
the Osborne preceded the racers They were TO
have been started from the Osborne. which was
70 have steamed to eeward OF The Needles fifteen
miles and there anchor. Had it not been for
the unusual mishap 10 the Vigiant the course
would have been from point fifteen miles south
east OF The Needles. dead against the wind. and
run back with spinnakers set.
= SOME BELIEVE 1T A "PCT-UP JOB"
IT IS Impossible to deny that there is a general
&ling of disgust here what is believed to have
kn mere scheme the part OF those sailing
ns Vigilant TO avoid racing. Among yachtsmen
there is hardly any one who does not think that
The Vigilants centre board was sacrificed for the
nke OF appearances.
The needless tactics after the accident. the
housing Of the topmast. the ostentatious reduction
a sails, the subsequent full sailing TO South
lmpton. and Howard GOuld's readiness TO talk
about the matter, all are regarded as pointing
the moral
Lord Wovertons immediate withdrawal OF the
prize shows the opinion which prevails in the
Royal Yacht Squadron. resumption OF the
racing between the Britannia and the Nlgiiant
regarded extremely doubtful.
IN COLLISION WITH BARK.
Southampton. Aug. 1s-while the Visilant was
bearing up Southampton Water this afternoon in
Z strong ebb tide she grounded below Hythe
aewed round, and was carried by the tide at'oss
the bows Of a Swedish bark lying at anchor. The
yiglants anchor was quickly dropped lessenng
her way and some of her crew FASTENED TO the
erosstrees 10 help clear the barks yardarlns
The OF the bark also took 70 the rigging
10 render what help they could. The Nigiiants
his were lowered as quickly as possible. but
hey narrowly escaped being pierced Dy the
hrks projecting spars. The two vessels cIuhs
% each other until the steam yacht Grower
bved the Vigilant free THE Grower ana tne
steam yacht Dora afterward towed the Nigl-
ha; to the mouth OF the Itchen. where she
anchored for the night.
HELP FROM THE CHICAGO.
The United States cruiser Chicago sent
bunch to render aid while the vessels were
Eked together. George ]. Gould came UP
arller In the afternoon on board the Ataiah'a
o visit the Chicago. but had left her al the
ume Of the accident He returned 10 loves
psasng the Vigilant some time beiore 'he a'o'-
dent
London. Aug l8.-Sevcral English newspapers
print rancorous paragraphs daily concerning the
vslant They speak sarcasticay OF her ao-
seuce from recent races in the Solent. and criti-
Gle Mr.. Gould savagely for not keeping her III
every contest. Field says to-day:
BrltannIas superiority as workable sa',hs shs
sndoubted,y Is the most capable !acht t"a' e'e'
hAs been built.
MORE BITTER CRITICISM
Another datribe against the Vigant. in the
shape Of letter from a correspondent. appears
to-days "Field" The writer OF the letter
saxes wroth on the subjec; Of the VlsHah' IN
vxnai structure The Americas Cup was ue
sooed he says. by constitution which III o no
~ conformed TO British ideas OF yacht' anu
saung ballast was used In the Cup races. ne
S1n out where the Vigilant violates the brush
49, Racing Associations rules as 10 i "oou.i
1eads. fittings, etc. She was not heasui.1'
~ AVA until British patience was eXhausteu.
s I@n whether the Vigilant. with her eihP.y
~ ~ N hull. which renders her ihensipIe ~
s0npete with racing yachts, and with the Morse
Nv and English sails. shall be allowed 10 predh
W. rule OF the association. Englishmeh' ne
conclusion. boast In their nauonal p,,,es p,,oe
British ship, not a machine, with British
~aso and British sailors.
"HY MR. CLARKE WAS BLACKBALLED.