The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-13
DUMMY MR DUhRAVEN
VALKYRIE MERELY CROSSED
THE STARTING LINE AND tn EN- .
RETIRED IN THE sULKS.
DEFENDER WENT, SPINAaKER SET

The Freakish Earl Claimed to be Sa'is-
fed With the Decision OF Tuesdays
Race. But That His Hcat Was
Crowded by the Excur-io,s Fleet,
Which. However, Was E.alf a Mile
Away--Ciose Watchers y lid She Had
Had no Intentioa oE Racing.
NEW YORK, Sept II TIE interna
tional race between Defender AID Valy
rie for the Americas cup is ended. On
the whole it has been an extraordinary
series and while the result is satisfactory
to the American, two at least Of the con
tests that went to make up the match
were not. Defender won il q clean race
on Saturday; Tuesday last she crossed
the line behind the English boat, but
was awarded the race on foul;to cay she
had wax over. And TO days occurrence
was all the more unfortunate, not only
because great crowd had gathered to
witness the struggle, but because the
weather conditions were such as to lead
many to suppose that of all days Valky
rie would be in her element. Lord Dun
raven had said last night, and he said it
most emphatically, that he would with
draw his boat on the morrow, If an alb
solutely clear course was not provided.
He claimed that during the pre-
vious race his boat had been great
ly interfered with as everything
depended upon the outcomessof the third
of the series. He adhered to that decis
ion so closely that Valkyrie merely
crossed the starting line and then re-
tired from the contest. Defender, who
was well in advance when the starting
gun was fired, continued on her journey
and went over her course well within the
time limit By her three straight vic
tories, Defender retains the historical
cup for America.
The race scheduled for to-day promis
ed to be more exciting one than either
of the two previous, for it was to be ex
pected that every effort would be made
by Dunraven, after Tuesday dlsappoint
ment to score victory with the boat he
had brought so far. Yesterday Valky-
rie had been tuned up to the highest
pitch in anticipation of to days contest.
Several alterations had been made and
those upon whom her sailing qualities
depended most largely were prepared to
sYpend every ounce Of muscle and skill
to bring her over the victor.
Lord Dunrayen had expressed himself
AS apparently satisfied with the decision
rendered by the cup committee on the
fouling of Defender by his boat, and the
matter had seemingly been settled so
amicably that it was a question in the
minds of the general public if Tuesdays
race would not be re-saied. And the
feet passing outward in the early hours
of the morning observed afar off De
fender standing high up on her way to
the lightship and not far astern Valky
rie, moving slowly but apparently
bent on business. Tnis was sign
that pleased the hearts Of all.
Last night the observer at Sandy
Heck had reported an IS knot breeze,
and although the breeze this morning,
passing out through the narrows, was
hardly up To this, yet it was one calcu-
lated to bring happiness to yachtsmen
and the promise OF speedy run. But
there was disappointment even in the
winds. When the Hook was reached
there was scarcely breath stirring, aud
there was nc improvement at the light
ship. The course marked up was fifteen
miles to leeward and return, starting
from the light ship. There was some
little delay, aud while the racers
were circling sluggishlY around, it
was noticed that Valkyrie was lack
ing a topsall and was simply sailing
uAder nainsail and jib. At first this
caused no wonderment, but as the start
ing hour drew dear, the strange action
Of the Britisher came in for considerable
discussion and not few believed that
the race would not be sailed after all. A
great. circle Of steamboats, and yachts
had drawn up to witness the start and
III the desire to meet Dsnraven's wishes
as nearly as possible, score of patrol
boats were sent out to drive back the
lines. The preparatory gun was not fired
until about 20 minutes after the fixed
time In the meanwhile, gun was
fired fr0ra the committee boat and a
sigt al sent up denoting that q delay
would take place. The announcement
was made from the patrol boat that
Lord DunraYen had refused to race un-
less clear coarse was guaranteed by
the committee So far as the committee
was concerned it seemed impossible TO
secure moe open water than it had
alreads done, for when the preparatory
gan was fred, the nearest boat to the
racers was fully half mile way, and
the great majority of the excursion
steamers and other craft were much far
bher off in the distance. The starting
gun went at the appointed time, ard al
most at the same instant the Defender
crossed the line. Valkyrie's commander
had so N nouevred her that she was
still long way off, and just m1mept
before the handicap gun was fired she
too eros ed the line. 1t was evident to
those who had been watching the EaG-
lish boat that she had no intention Of
racing, and so it proved, for no sooner was
the line crossed than she hauled to on
the starboard tack, instead of following
her rival out, and passed under the stern
of the light ship. This action on the
part of the English boat was not an
annual surprise for events had led up tC
1t, ard her owners determination not tc